February Spotlight

Meet Molly!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Growing up, studying and exercise didn’t excite me. It wasn’t until I joined the Navy that I started to see that maybe both of those things could benefit me personally. I started taking college classes and running a lot. I kept studying and running, and after many years, I ended up finishing medical school and became a pathologist and a distance runner. I ran a lot and lifted weights, mostly just to be better at running; (it didn’t help me at pathology). Then, I remember going for a run on the day I turned 40 and suddenly realizing, “oh wait…this is boring.” It was my Forrest Gump moment: “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”
How did you get interested in CrossFit?
My husband, Brian, was doing CrossFit at Beyond Limits in Copperas Cove for a year before he finally convinced me to give it a try. I didn’t want to drive that far, so I came in and talked with Dan Jackson for an hour. I met Josh and Jenna, and after all that, I still came back. Just kidding. From the start, I struggled with just about every movement, but I’d never had so much fun working out, and CrossFit was just a perfect fit for me. Brian was right, as usual.
When your motivation is down, how do you find the drive to get up and come in?
There are so many reasons to come in, even when the motivation isn’t there. I feel accountable to my 5 pm crew. I want to protect the progress I’ve worked hard to make. I’ve never regretted going when I didn’t want to. Class is the perfect transition between a crazy day and the peace of home. Everyone else is tired too, but they’re at the gym anyway. And one of the most important reasons is that I want my kids to see their parents making this a priority. I want them to take for granted that physical activity is an important part of life. I don’t want them to be intimidated by it, because I always was.
What is your least favorite movement?
Double unders. I think everyone has heard me explain why.
What is the next goal you hope to reach with CrossFit Cataclysm?
I want to be able to do all the Open workouts RX. I’ve worked on it over the past year, and my goal is next year. We’ll see. I have a long way to go, but CrossFit is teaching me to be patient and honest with myself.
What would you say to someone that has never tried CrossFit and looking to get started? Any tips or Advice?
First of all, I acknowledge that I’m spoiled. CrossFit Cataclysm is the only box I’ve belonged to, and I’m learning from members with more experience that this place is unique. But, I think the biggest misconception out there is that you have to be in great shape BEFORE you start CrossFit. I’ve talked to people who think that a regular day in a CrossFit box looks like an event in the Games. CrossFit isn’t a result, it’s definitely a process. We’re all in a different place in that process, but we’re all here just getting better every time we come through the door.

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