[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”17488″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_rounded” qode_css_animation=””][vc_single_image image=”17470″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_rounded” qode_css_animation=””][vc_single_image image=”17467″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_rounded” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
July’s Athlete of The Month
Jennifer Kastl
Why Jen?
When Jen came to us she was a duck on the pond. On the surface she was cool, calm, and collected. Underneath the water feet were running a mile a minute! Jen had her reservations if this was the thing for her. She trusted her husband and trusted the coaches. Jen is and has been consistent about showing up and doing the best that SHE can that day. She refuses to cherry pick. In fact she embraces what she once feared.
One of the most gratifying and addicting aspects to coaching is watching progression and transformations. Jen has absolutely blossomed. She’s dropped 15 pounds, went from jumping on one 45lb plates to a 20” box. She went from dreading running to being upset to miss “Murph”. At the age of 41, Jen is growing physically and mentally. What more could you ask for? Oh yea, she’s one of the nicest people around…that’s the cherry on top.
Jen’s Story
I have wanted to try CrossFit for a few years. It just always seems so intimidating to me. I had tried regular gyms before, but never lasted more than a month because I hated the same monotonous routine every single day. It was the same boring thing over and over. I just couldn’t do it. Then Ray talked to me about wanting to start CrossFit as a family since we all needed something. I was a bit scared at first because CrossFit can be intimidating to outsiders, but knew that if I had my family there it would help. So we all joined and I couldn’t have been further from the truth. Everyone was so welcoming and super helpful. All the coaches took their time to make sure we knew what we were doing and made sure we felt comfortable with everything. I fell in love with CrossFit right away because it was something different every single day. It’s never the same routine. There was no way I could ever get bored here. I love the new challenges every day. My goals in CrossFit are just to continue to get better every day. Better than I was the day before. My personal goals are doing a pull up eventually, gaining upper body strength and being able to run an unbroken mile. Before CrossFit I had never ran a mile in my life. Not even when I was a kid playing sports etc. I always found a way to get out of it because I hated running so much. Well, now at age 41, I am ready to accomplish this. I just need to keep working up to it.
What Inspires Jen?
My biggest inspiration is my two youngest boys. They both have Tourette Syndrome. When I have a rough day at the gym and feel like I want to just throw in the towel, I just stop myself and think about them and people like them who can’t just “throw in the towel” and give up just because they are having a bad day. They have no choice. I do and it makes me give up my negative attitude and get my head back in to the right spot. Another thing that inspires me as silly as it sounds it Nick’s quotes that he posts with each daily WOD post and his blogs. I swear it’s like he is reading my mind. It’s like he is ready my doubtful thoughts as I am ready the WODS and then he throws in a quote just for me. Lol. I love his quotes. Lastly, the coaches and members all play a huge part in inspiring me. Everyone there is so amazing at 8 Mile. Everyone wants to see everyone else in there succeed and I love that.
-Jennifer Kastl[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]