I am honored to be chosen as the May athlete of the month. I’ve been a member at BCF for about 3 and a half years now. Before coming to BCF, I did HIIT workouts utilizing bodyweight, suspension training, and kettlebells, which provided a solid base, but I started wanting to do something different. At the time, I was firmly in the Crossfit-haters group – I thought it was just a bunch of gym “bros” with poor form and constant injuries – so I didn’t even consider it an option. Humorously, I was also plagued with injuries due to muscle imbalances from poor form. The irony was apparently lost on me. Anyway, after doing some Crossfit-style workouts with friends, it started to grow on me and I wanted more. It offered all the variety and intensity of HIIT workouts, but included strength training and more technical movements that appealed to me. Shortly after that, I started coming to BCF, where I jumped right in.

I didn’t really have any goals when I first started. I liked the idea of competing, but I had no real idea whether I would and no plan to get there. Instead, I just kind of moved through the workouts. I was making progress, but nothing earth-shattering. The first small change in that mentality happened two years ago, when I competed in the Portland Highland Games and became more excited about competing. After that, I started focusing more on my technique, especially in the power movements that are essential in those events. However, even that small change didn’t have much effect. Over the course of 2016, I competed in four different competitions and was disappointed with my performance in all of them. It took a little bit, but I finally started making some changes. The last 6 months or so, I have cleaned up my diet, incorporated some essential oils into my routine, put even more emphasis on technique and strength, and stopped sandbagging movements I suck at (pretty much everything bodyweight-related), all of which have had a serious impact.

Everyone at the gym is an inspiration. Coming in every day is not always easy, but getting to work out with a great bunch of people makes it worth it. Even when we’re all sprawled out on the floor after a particularly tough workout!
A special thanks to all the coaches. We are privileged to have a great group of coaches that are knowledgeable and committed to being there for everyone. You guys seriously rock!

-Robert

First off, what an honor it is to be chosen by my favorite community as April athlete of the month! I joined Beaverton CrossFit in December 2014, just six months after my first CrossFit class. I’d tried several different boxes during that initial six months in an attempt to find the best in the area, and BCF stuck out immediately. Instead of a single metcon on a Saturday morning, we would do three. People gave me crap for checking RX in Wodify when I didn’t achieve full upright position at the top of a box jump or get deep enough in the bottom of a squat. There was never a shortage of people offering to help me with things. Everyone joked with each other during warm-ups and this amazing community became quickly apparent.

I lifted weights and played sports during high school, which kept me in decent shape in my younger days. During my wilder 20’s, the sports fell to the side, but I’d still hit the gym for weight-lifting sessions. I would mountain bike, ski and surf on the weekends for a cardio fix. It was when my partner got pregnant four years ago that things began to change. All of a sudden I wasn’t able to get away for entire weekends to do those outdoor activities, and for the first time in my life I developed the dreaded love handles. A buddy of mine heard my grumblings and invited me with him to give CrossFit a try. Since joining BCF, I’ve worked up to training 4-5 days in a row, with one day off for active rest or yoga. I’m now 38 years old and consider myself to be in the best shape of my life. I feel full of energy and ready to take on anything that comes my way. The buddy that encouraged me to try CrossFit now probably regrets that decision when I beat him in something.

I always aim to be faster than my previous benchmark time and lift more than my previous max limit, assuming that I’m not risking injury with bad form. I still regularly one-up myself, which demonstrates that I have not yet achieved my maximum physical potential. My main driving goal is to achieve my maximum potential, where I have optimized my body and mind. The mental part is something that I’m excited to push further in the years ahead. I also love trying to beat all of you in whatever we’re competing at! From Dawna’s patience, Rich’s keen understanding of body mechanics, Drew’s constant encouragement, Dan’s technical tips to Mike’s walk of the walk (never just talk), the coaching at BCF has been extraordinary during the past 2.5 year journey, and I credit my progress to this. I always get a boost when they’re yelling at us during the heat of the WOD.

I’m inspired by the older folks that we train with, and particularly by Kirby. That dude busts his butt every day giving it his all. I hope that I can be somewhere close to the competitive level he is at in a couple of decades from now… or even now, as he just smoked me on a metcon earlier today.

Thanks again for this honor. The BCF community is one of the most enriching parts of my life, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to train and goof around with each of you.

Where were you in your fitness journey before BCF and where are you now?

I’ve been doing CF type workouts on my own sporadically for the past 5 years. I would use the CF main page wods or just make up my own workouts. Since finishing my college swimming career, it was tough staying motivated working out by myself. I joined Beaverton Crossfit because I needed something more than just working out on my own. My sister and her husband started doing Crossfit together over the summer, my boss encouraged me to work out more consistently, and my wife Paige was the one who suggested BCF.

What were your goals when you started and have you achieved any of them?

Goals? Generally to get fitter and stronger…be able to do multiple pullup reps, lift heavier weights, do a muscle up. I think my ultimate goal is to be comfortable enough to “pop my shirt off” during a workout. I’m nowhere near that point yet, but I’m closer than I’ve ever been. I know that losing my flubber is more nutrition than fitness, but I definitely feel better about myself when I look in the mirror now. I know I’m in better shape.
Those are my big goals, but I keep making more little ones every day. When I started, it was to always do at least the Women’s Rx, now it’s to always do more than whatever the Women’s Rx is. Eventually I hope to be able to everything Men’s Rx. It always feels like an accomplishment when I can click that button!

I love being on a schedule, seeing the same people every day, having a coach again to help me hold myself accountable

What about BCF makes you keep coming back?

I love the variety of CrossFit, but I also really appreciate the consistent strength pieces that are addressed week to week in the programming.

When/what was your “ah ha!” moment?

I don’t know if I’ve had any big “ah hah” moments, just little ones at the end of workouts where I’ve thought, “that sucked, but I love this”. I also had a great time at the Christmas party drinking and gambling, and thought, these are my people.

I am a swim coach, I’ve become a better coach since I started with BCF. Being the athlete, interacting with the coaches has opened my eyes and helped my interaction with the swimmers I coach. I am constantly using the lessons I learn from class in the pool and especially in dryland. There are some really good teachers at BCF.

Does anyone the gym (member or trainer) inspire you and why?

It sounds cliche, but I’ve been inspired by everyone I’ve come into contact with at BCF. Its been fun starting as an outsider looking in, seeing everyone’s dedication to their own fitness. I was immediately inspired and intimidated. All the coaches have helped me in some way, and they are all really cool people that I enjoy interacting with. I love being recognized for a good effort or being given a technical correction. As far as the other members… Dave and Lisa are a bright spot in the 8:45am (now 9:00) class. Their friendliness and positivity is comforting every day. I love seeing all the couples that CrossFit together (coaches and members). Nat is a MetCon maniac, he is SUPERFIT and I am always trying to stay with him. I remember during one of the snow days, someone’s dad (the Gooding’s?) drove around in his truck to pick up whoever wanted to go and bring them to class. There is a real family and community vibe that I really enjoy. Every class has a different feel to it, but they all feel like family. My life is better since I started with BCF. Thank you.

Where were you in your fitness journey before BCF and where are you now?

Jackson: Before I started CrossFit, my way of working out was through basketball practices 2 or 3 times a week. Now I’m sticking to CrossFit and trying to go 3-4 times a week. I definitely feel like I’m gaining more from CrossFit than I was from basketball.

Tyler: Before I joined Beaverton CrossFit, I was a competitive gymnast for five years next door at OGA.  We trained 20 hours per week year around so I was used to working hard in the gym. My parents are members at BCF and when I decided to stop competing in gymnastics they told me that playing video games could not be my sport of choice.

What were your goals when you started and have you achieved any of them?

Jackson: What I wanted from CrossFit was to get me stronger in general and also increase my endurance which have both been improving.

Tyler: When I first started CrossFit I didn’t have any specific goals.  But I quickly learned that it was a good place to keep up on some of my gymnastics skills and I wanted to make sure that I would continue getting stronger.

What about BCF makes you keep coming back?

Jackson: My favorite thing about BCF is that it’s just fun! There’s not very many gyms where you have a lot of fun and still feel like you got a really good workout in. I always want to keep improving which is another reason why I keep coming back.

Tyler: I keep coming back to BCF because I have a lot of fun, especially when I hit a PR on a lift.

What is your favorite part of being a member at BCF?

Jackson: The best part about BCF is once you start consistently going to the same class, you really get to know the people along with the teachers.

Tyler: My favorite part of being a member of BCF is being able to go to the teen classes during school breaks and in the summer to work out with my friends and meet new people.

When/what was your “ah ha!” moment?

Jackson: Getting to be the Athlete of the Month!

Tyler: A real “ah ha” moment for me was realizing when I miss too many days I lose a lot of strength so it is important for me to be here consistently.

Does anyone the gym (member or trainer) inspire you and why?

Jackson: Everyone I’ve ever met at BCF is super nice, no matter if you’re completely new at CrossFit like I was or have been doing it for years. So I would say that everyone here inspires me.

Tyler: One person that inspires me at the gym is Drew because he pushes himself and he pushes me to do better than I think I can. It is an honor to be nominated as Athlete of the Month because there are so many impressive athletes at BCF that deserve to be nominated.

Where were you in your fitness journey before BCF and where are you now?
When I joined BCF, I had just moved to Portland, and had taken a few months off from CrossFit. Lucky for me, Drew was a coach at my old gym in Eugene so I had an easy decision to come check out BCF. Before I moved here, I had been doing CrossFit for a couple of years and was really looking forward to getting back to it. In the year that I’ve been at BCF, I have grown so much! I have gotten stronger, faster and overall more fit than I could have ever imagined.

What were your goals when you started and have you achieved any of them?
Originally, I tried out CrossFit as a way to lose weight. What I didn’t know is the amount of strength I had in me! Once I was a few months in, my goals started shifting dramatically. I’ve definitely lost weight, especially the past couple of months, but I now try to focus more on performance based goals. Currently, I’m working on nailing my pull-ups- it’s been a struggle but I’m so close!

What about BCF makes you keep coming back?
First and foremost the coaches. I’ve learned so much from each and every one of the coaches and I feel like I’ve gotten to know almost all of our coaches well enough that I can trust them and know when to ask for help or advice or anything. I feel so lucky to have had coaching from such quality people!

What is your favorite part of being a member at BCF?
The community! I usually go to the 6:45pm class so I definitely have a different view of the ‘community’ aspect but honestly, I feel like I could show up to any class and have a couple of friends. Everyone has been so open to new faces and super supportive! I love being able to have so much fun while training.

When/what was your “ah ha!” moment?
Since I started CrossFit almost three years ago, I’ve definitely had a few “ah ha” moments. I remember the first time I went for a 1 rep max deadlift and I was blown away by how much I was able to lift! I think that was my first major “wow I can really do this” moment. More recently, I’ve been working with the coaches at Working Against Gravity to help improve my nutrition and that has helped me in more ways than I can even express. I’ve become more focused on my goals and feel better about myself than I have in years!

Does anyone the gym (member or trainer) inspire you and why?
As cheesy as it may sound, I’m inspired by everyone at the gym every day. I love CrossFit because people from all walks of life are able to come in and train together and learn from one another. If I had to pick a few people, (I can’t narrow it down to just one) I want to give a shout-out to Colleen, Kindra and Kayt. The three of them train so hard each and every day and it’s incredible to watch. I can only hope that I’ll be half the athlete they are one day!

– Katelin

Where were you in your fitness journey before BCF and where are you now?
Before I would work out at a big box gym (24 hour fitness) and found I lacked motivation by being there. I would get bored with the daily mundane routine and was looking for something challenging, that would keep my interest, that would be ever changing, and that put me back into a competitive environment. Now I am highly motivated, excited to be at BCF, and really enjoy working out with everyone. Being here has helped me reach new goals I had for myself, and the coaches and other athletes always push me to be my best.

What were your goals when you started and have you achieved any of them?
Continually hitting and setting new goals depending on what I want to accomplish. My goal when I started was to be as fit as I could, and I work towards it every day. I set a lot of stepping stone goals to help me reach my big picture ones. I find that helps me keep the path to being fit and strong.

What about BCF makes you keep coming back?
The community. The coaches. But mostly the community. At our first CF gym, there was no sense of it and I found I was not as motivated. Being in a place where we work out with a strong sense of community has helped me grow. The people at BCF really make me excited to be there.

What is your favorite part of being a member at BCF?
Getting to mess with Mike every day. Kidding. I love having fun while staying focused and working hard. The coaches and people make it fun, yet when it is time to work, they help you get as best you can. The coaches really take time to help each person, no matter the skill level. Everyone has something to learn.

When/what was your “ah ha!” moment?
My first time doing Fran was humbling. I thought I was fit when I first did it, then I looked at the times of other athletes and realized I had a long way to go. I knew I had it in me, but it was going to take a lot of work and effort. So that’s how I started trying to be competitive. I think it was day 4 of Crossfit! Ha!

Does anyone the gym (member or trainer) inspire you and why?
Can I have two answers? The first one is Hayley Gooding. I really admire her work ethic, she is one of those quiet workers that comes in, works hard, doesn’t make a big show of things, and she just dominates. I love working out with her because she pushes me to be the best athlete I can. Hayley being at the gym has helped me be a better athlete. I see her work ethic and realize what it takes to be a regional athlete and I am working towards that. My other inspiration is Kirby Doyle. He is a beast, I hope I can continue to work and be like him. He is another one that works really hard, he focuses on so many different aspects of training. He has the slow and steady mentality, like me. Strength is not built overnight and he takes all the steps to do it right and to constantly make improvements.

– Joe

I came to BCF in September of 2013 with my then-boyfriend, now-fiancé (and maybe husband by the time this goes out) Sam. We both played sports in college and were feeling uninspired when it came to fitness. We were on the hunt for something new when Sam found the Groupon for BCF. I immediately loved everything about BCF and CrossFit. I loved the workouts. I loved the people. I loved finally feeling like an athlete again. And clearly we still love it because we have been at BCF for nearly 3 years. We have also made some amazing friends here and I know they are a huge part of what keeps us coming back. The 6:30 (now 6:45) crew has gotten me to the box on many days when all I wanted was my sweatpants and wine. And there are many 4:45 am alarms I would have snoozed through if it wasn’t for Molly reminding me that I better be there.

When Dawna told me that I was athlete of the month, I was so excited! And I was happy that it was for the month of June because we are getting married this month! Our wedding is what made me step-up my CrossFit game. The 6:45 crew has been giving me grief for not pushing myself harder for a long time so I finally decided it was time to see what I was capable of. I committed to getting my nutrition in check and making training a priority. I’m so happy with the results and I’m grateful that my BCF family has supported me through it. My only regret is not making these changes about 2.5 years ago.

The list of people at BCF who inspire me is long but the person who inspires me most is Dawna. Dawna gives her all to BCF and to everyone who comes through the doors. And not only is she a fantastic coach, but she is an amazing athlete herself. Dawna pushes me to expect more from myself and inspires me to work harder each day.

Thank you to you all the coaches, Mike, Christine, and Mel. I’m so grateful that we found BCF and I feel lucky to be a part of this community.

– Haley

Wow, when Mel told me I was Athlete of the Month I was beyond flattered. BCF has a group of wonderfully talented and kind individuals all of whom have inspired me.

I’ve been involved in sports, specifically competitive swimming, since I was 12 years old. I swam in high school, college, and now on a masters swim team. I’ve recently had a very successful meet this past April and will be competing at the U.S Swimming Nationals in August. There is no doubt that CrossFit has helped me tremendously in reaching this goal.

I started CrossFit in October 2014 when I hit a plateau in my previous training program and could no longer run with my two boys in my double stroller. I researched several gyms and programs around the Beaverton area and kept coming back to CrossFit. I needed something that was going to test my limits and complement my swim training. I’ll be honest I was so nervous the first three months of CrossFit I think I sweated more on my drive to the box than I did in class. But, slowly over time, I realized that it’s not about how fast you run, or how heavy your lifts are. It’s about improving yourself and going on an amazing personal journey.

When I started at BCF I knew absolutely nothing about Oly lifts, competitions, couldn’t do a pullup, climb a rope, and many other elements. My Oly lifts are progressing and I can now do pullups and get up the rope. I thought there was no way on earth would I ever do a CrossFit competition, but my husband Fred and I competed in the Valentine’s Day Massacre and we had the best time. I’ve been bitten by the competition bug!

I was asked what Coach or person inspires me at BCF, and without sounding too corny, everyone has. Every Coach has given me great information to get me one step further in my journey. We all lead busy lives and the fact that we are all making time to better ourselves is inspiration in itself.

Thank you to the coaches, Mike, Christine and Mel. Your passion for fitness and people truly show and we are lucky to have a place like BCF.

– Julie