Meet Heather

Over the next 7 weeks I am highlighting 1 of the 7 coaches from Team PURSUIT. This week meet Heather Reed. I met Heather about 4 years ago as a client, and now we work along side each other, and I consider her one of my closest friends.

Heather is one of the most dependable and caring people I know. She sees potential in others, which explains her active role as a Mentor to new coaches. Also known as her Developer strength. Heather is someone you want on your team when you are lost in the woods, no food, and need to survive. She will pull you through until the end. You should see her toolbox in her truck. Impressive.

Futuristic is another one of her 5 Strengths. The more I am around Heather the more I see this strength shine. Heather recently bought a house in her dream community. Now the goal of raising a family right where she wants in Austin can happen! She saves money better than most people I know and has helped me in the same capacity on how to plan for the future and not simply live in the here and now.

Watch out for this girl. She is the Lead Trainer for Relentless and her role is ever-expanding. Big things POPPIN!

I am blessed to call Heather a friend, co-worker, and a curly-hair goddess for life!

Ab Wheel

Hollow rock. Tight mid-line. Strong core. Mid-line stability. These are all words coaches use to bring more awareness to the mind and muscle connection when doing all kinds of exercises within CrossFit.

Recently, Coach Crystal Mac, Heather, and I created a challenge consisting of 30 days of 30 ab wheel roll outs. Basically, 5 days per week for 30 days we are performing 30 ab wheel roll outs and specifically focusing on the hollow rock position. No lordosis. No dropping the belly to the ground and popping up quickly. Controlled, hollow position.

I am on Day 6 and going strong. The 1st day I was extremely sore. I am excited to work on connecting my upper and lower body strength with my powerhouse and to improve on the hollow rock, kipping pull-ups, handstand pushups...and the list goes on.

I also joined a pilates studio last week. I am learning how to use the Reformer, Tower, and a whole host of exercises I have never done. I see this as a good complement to my current CrossFit training. More updates coming soon. 

Do you have any fitness challenges or goals you are working towards at the moment? Share below.

7 minutes faster

Aimee attends my Tu/Th 5:30am class at Deep Eddy park, and she also goes to Coach Heather's 6:30am MWF class at Deep Eddy every Monday and Friday. Aimee has only been in class for 2 months and has seen tremendous performance improvements!! Aimee writes--

I wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I PR'd at 3M with a 2:10:48 - which is about 7 minutes faster than my best half.  I was really excited, and I know just training with you both in the last few weeks has made a huge difference in my fitness, and helped me suck it up for the last three miles when I started hurting.  So - yay!  And thank you!  I just am enjoying your boot camps so much!

Does Relentless Boot Camp work? clearLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLy! I dare you to join us and watch your life change.

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Coach Heather and I each bought 1 gallon tubs of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil and our order arrived today. Woohooo!!! I am so excited to have this oil just in time for Thanksgiving and to start implementing again in my diet. It is by far the best coconut oil I have ever bought. I tried all kinds of different brands from Whole Foods and Sun Harvest and none match up to the flavor and purity of this oil. I dare you to try it and see what you think.


TOP TEN REASONS Why I love Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil: 

1) Unrefined coconut oil. 

2) This coconut oil is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. 

3) Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines.

4) Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world!

5) Testing done in independent laboratories reveals higher levels of phenolic antioxidants than other coconut oils. 

Kayak Kraziness

Yesterday Coach Heather Reed and I went kayaking with the CrossFit Kids Summer Camp. We were with rambunctious boys for 2 hours. We ended the trip with a race to the dock. Heather and I came in a close 2nd but one of the campers won due to his fun "cut-us-off" tactics =).

The other day I read this paragraph and it really hit home...

It's easy to get caught up in ALL of the things you need to do to run a successful business. Always remember the reason you became a trainer in the first place. This business is about helping people- giving them the confidence and tools they need to make their lives better. We hold people accountable when they are not able to do that for themselves. I cannot think of a more important job!

Those 2 hours yesterday were precious to me. I am guilty of getting caught up in the Go-Go mentality 24/7 and only thinking of myself, what I need to get done each day, and only "my" clients. Yesterday I was reminded of one of the many reasons I became a coach at CrossFit Central. Less of me and more of others and life starts to make sense. I am blessed.

1:15 is my new favorite time

I did my 1st workout at SicFit Austin today and absolutely loved it. I worked out along side Heather, Chad, and Walt. I have been back and forth about joining a class for a while due to my schedule; however, today I decided that 1:15 every Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri is Showout Meg workout time with Big Mike. When I first started at CrossFit Central I was a client of Mike's. I remember leaving my previous job each day to drive up to Central to get in a workout with my class and being so excited just to be there. Today I had that same feeling again. I honestly fell in love with working out all over again. It was great!!! Training my weaknesses...ring pull-ups, ring dips, handstand pushups. Big Mike could not have said it better...I need my upper body strength to catch up with my leg strength. All in due time.

I left today with my butt kicked but with a new found energy. I did not feel bogged down, mentally drained, nor beat down today. I forget at times how important it is to have a coach. To have that time each week for someone else to train you up and make you better. The pictures above do not do much justice. We all were filthy, sweaty, but rejuvenated.

How do you feel after you leave a CrossFit Central Indoor or Relentless class? Are you renewed and ready for more in 2 days?

Crush It

Norma & Jesse crushing it in the Tu/Th 6pm Dick Nichols class

"Your ability to learn faster than your competition is your only sustainable competitive advantage." -Arie De Gues

I still remember the meeting I had with Julie Ward at her house after boot camp one day in March. I was seeking advice/guidance/help in all forms of fashion to take Relentless Outdoor classes from Good to Great. I have this innate quality that comes out when I am doing what I love that makes me want to crush competition. She brainstormed with me on legitimate growth goals, potential new locations for classes, dynamics of a new coach, new competitions/challenges, marketing ideas....the list goes on.

Needless to say one of my top 3 career goals this year is to lead the troops in making Relentless a household name for outdoor class (boot camps) in Austin, TX. Since then I have been working with an amazing, motivated group of coaches to take our Outdoor programs to a new level. Just this month we were ranked in the Top 3 in Rare magazine for the Rarest of Them All June 2010 issue. Check us out on page 58.

The newest event for this year is the Garage Gym Throwdown, which takes place on Saturday. I have had the opportunity to help plan this event along side Heather Reed & Jeremy Thiel and it's been a blast. I pinch myself sometimes to make sure my life is a reality, because I truly get to do what I love. Not only coach, but also help with organizing/implementing hard-core, fun outdoor events. I must admit, however, I have definitely been pushed out of my comfort zone in this capacity. Completely new territory.

I want to personally invite everyone in the CrossFit Central community, Austin, and neighboring cities to come out to the Garage Gym Throwdown this Saturday. The event kicks off at 9:00am and runs to 11:00. We will then head across the street to Abel's on the Lake for celebration.

I am looking for the #1 Spectator. Do you have it takes?

Top 5 Winning Ways to Spectate:

1) Wear your favorite team's colors

2) Use megaphones, streamers, & cowbells

3) Create a team to cheer/chant all the way through to the finish line

4) Make signs/banners

5) Show up EARLY and stay LATE!