Athlete of the MonthMarch

Rachel Braun

Shifting Goals

Congratulations to Rachel Braun, the March 2022 BSC Athlete of the Month!

Where were you in your fitness journey before BSC and where are you now?
Before coming to BSC, I was getting pretty burnt out from traditional bodybuilding, hypertrophy style lifting and physique-based goals. I've always enjoyed competing and started running half marathons but didn't enjoy it. Now, my goals are performance based and I'm loving training again.
What were your goals when you started, and have you achieved any of them?
My goals have completely shifted from when I started. I really didn't know what I was getting into or what I was capable of, so any improvement feels like a win. Competing wasn't on my radar when I started but I really want to do more competitions in the future. Throwing it out there now, RX division for 2023.
What about BSC makes you keep coming back?
My friends!! One of the biggest rewards has been meeting so many amazing people. I love being able to drop into any class and knowing that there will be someone I'm excited to see. I'm also highly motivated to keep getting stronger and faster so being consistent is crucial. A large piece of my identity comes from being an athlete, so BSC is somewhere where I feel at home.
When/what was your "ah ha!" moment?
For the first few months, I had the biggest mental block when it came to squats. I don't remember what cue Mike Ford gave me, but it worked! I'm still waiting on a few ah ha moments, specifically snatches, rowing without using my shins, and jumping. How anyone can do a tall box jump blows my mind. Another ah ha moment was being included in early conversations regarding the CFV competition. Having coaches support and believe in me made me realize that my bigger goals are valid.
Does anyone at the gym (member or trainer) inspire you and why?
There are so many people who inspire me, and not just the people moving the fastest or lifting the heaviest. Anyone showing up, putting in effort, and going out of their way to be kind makes me want to keep doing the same.

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