Maria is an exceptional dedicated and hard working individual. Never shies away from a challenge and always ready to conquer the next wod!
Below is Maria’s journey is her own words!
We all know you have a full-time job and juggling two beautiful children. It can be tough at times! How do you manage to balance it all out and what advice would you give to a mum that perhaps has lost motivation along the way?
I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a constant struggle, as most parents would tell you. However, I am very lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who sacrifices a lot to allow me the time to train. He never lets me waver, telling our kids, “Discipline comes first; motivation is just the byproduct.”
My advice would be to surround yourself with an amazing family and gym community like we have here at Metal Therapy! I can’t tell you the number of times Coach Logan has turned into a babysitter to give me an hour of sanity, all with a big smile on his face. Or how Coach Gab comes up with the most fascinating car games to distract my disgruntled 2-year-old, catching the attention of every male in the class who eagerly wants to ditch the workout and join in!
Even then, sometimes none of that works and I feel defeated. That’s when the 9:15 superheroes step in, reassuring me with a caring smile that they can’t hear the excruciatingly loud screams. They proceed to sacrifice their training and rest to hold my son and run around playing games with him while I train. Special shoutout to Em, Kristy, and G, to name a few! And the numerous members from the 6 AM and Saturday crew ❤️ who encourage me, give advice, and push me to be a better version of myself every day!
You are an extremely dedicated person. I remember running being one of your weaknesses until last time we ran together, and I could see your ponytail getting further away from my eyesight by the second. What are you focusing on or what would you like to improve at the moment?
There is always something I want to work on, like muscle-ups and handstands, but my biggest focus right now is improving my mobility. I’m trusting my coaches wholeheartedly; once my mobility improves, the rest will follow!
You have been doing CrossFit for a very long time now! What keeps you coming back and what are your best memories?
I love CrossFit because of the camaraderie! There is nothing like the feeling of doing a gruelling workout and looking over to see these incredibly strong humans on the verge of tears, pushing through one rep at a time while motivating each other. I have so many fond memories, from competing and doing 6 AM dress-ups and breakfasts to some extremely challenging yet memorable workouts like the one Sarah made the Saturday crew do six months ago.
But my fondest memories are from when I first started CrossFit. As a typical new CrossFitter and a tribute to how CrossFit makes you feel, I thought I was tough and could play with the big boys. So, against my husband’s recommendation, I joined in on an SAS workout. I proudly finished the workout three and a half hours later, then went into anaphylactic shock. You would think I would have learned my lesson, but I was hospitalised three times that year for the same thing!
If you could start over your CF journey, would you make any changes and why?
If I could start over my CrossFit journey, I would take it very slow. I would spend a few months at a CrossFit gym learning technique with a broomstick and working on mobility. I’ve found that trying to strip back now and unlearn poor technique is a lot harder than getting it right the first time.
We’ve all got that one movement that makes us groan. What’s yours?
BOX JUMPS!!
What are your other favourites and what’s to love about them?
Like most people, I obviously love all the movements that I can do, like double unders and strict pull-ups. But I secretly also get excited when handstand push-ups and muscle-ups are programmed in, thinking today will be the day that I get one...still waiting for that day!
In the middle of a WOD, what animal would best represent you?
I’m a SLOTH…especially when an Erg is involved!
You’ve been asked to write a sales pitch for CrossFit. How would you pitch it?
Get ready to join CrossFit: lift weights, climb ropes, swing kettlebells, and conquer gruelling obstacle courses with running, jumping, and crawling. Sweat, laugh, and cry all at the same time—now your through the warm-up and ready to start the class! but don’t worry because CrossFit is a team sport, and you’ve got the strongest and fittest team around!
CrossFit Inc. decided to name and design a WOD in your honour. What would the “Maria” WOD be?
“MARIA”
For Time:
15-13-11-9-11-13-15
Thrusters 35/50
6-8-10-12-10-8-6
Lateral Burpees Over Bar
*Part A must complete the first set of thrusters and burpees then part B ill complete the same set.