Athlete Profile: Rose Alexander

One word comes to mind when thinking about Rose. Consistency. Her and her husband, Chad, are always coming in for some solid workouts. She might be quiet, but Rose never only gives 80% during her WODs. Always 100%, and super eager to learn more and make sure she’s moving well! Get to know her!

What’s your athletic/fitness background?
Prior to joining DCF, I enjoyed outdoor running and doing long distance races. I focused primarily on cardio type activities and classes at the gym such as cycling and Zumba. In addition, i was a member of a bootcamp class that met 3 times a week at 6am. It was a great way to start my day and get a quick workout in before work. Unfortunately, I was never one that enjoyed lifting weights. I read various articles that discussed the benefits of weight training but I always felt intimidated by the weights machines in the gym. Unclear on how to properly perform weight lifting exercises, I focused primarily on cardio.

In June 2013 I was blessed to find out that my Husband and I were expecting our first son! Following doctor’s orders, I scaled back my running and tended to do more prenatal yoga and stretching. In January 2014, our son was born!!!

Once cleared by my Doctor, i began running again with hopes of loosing my last 15 lbs of baby weight. One evening, I was out for a jog in my neighborhood and I happened to run past the DCF gym and saw the chalkboard announcing a free introductory class on Saturday. I decided to attend the class and the rest is history.

What was your first CrossFit workout and what did you think of it?
My first Crossfit workout was the introductory class and it consisted of a 10 min WOD of burpees, wall balls, and box jumps. I was shocked that just after 10 minutes of working out I was out of breath and exhausted. I thought since i was used to doing cardio and running outdoors that the WOD would be fairly simple. The workout really humbled me and made me realized that I was out of shape and needed to step it up.

What’s been the biggest change for you since starting CrossFit?
Since joining cross fit, the biggest change has been a boost in my confidence. Having a baby earlier this year, I felt out of shape and uncomfortable with my body. Since joining cross fit in May 2014, not only have I shed the extra pounds of baby weight but I have noticed my strength increasing when performing various strength training exercises. I’ve learned how to properly execute various movements and that has been invaluable.

What’s been your favorite DCF moment up to now?
My favorite DCF moment thus far was during test week, when i was able to back squat my PR of 150. This was a big accomplishment for me because I was shocked that i was able to squat more than my body weight! For someone who rarely lifted weights, i was pleasantly surprised at what I was able to accomplish in a matter of months. I look forward to getting stronger and achieving a new PR in the near future!

Least favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
I’m not the most coordinated person, so I would have to say the Clean is my least favorite Crossfit movement. It really takes a lot of body coordination to do a clean and being a bit goofy this movement can be a challenge for me.

Favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
My favorite CrossFit movement is the burpee. I enjoy this movement because it works your entire body and gets your heart rate up relatively quick. Being a new Mom, time is of the essence, so I enjoy movements that achieve results fast.

When did you know you were hooked?
I realized I was hooked when I started to plan my week out and started allotting time for cross fit workouts into the family calendar.

Any advice for people starting out?
As with anything in life, practice makes perfect!! Walking into a class can be intimidating but hang in there. The DCF coaches and members are extremely friendly and will really help you master the movements. The more you attend class the more confident you will feel in performing the movements which in turn will increase your fitness level.