Go check out the PR board. Like, all the time. Melissa Moss is in, day in and day out, lifting heavy and working hard. Oh yeah, she’s having fun too.
What’s your athletic/fitness background?
I played softball competitively growing up. My parents really invested in me with a private coach and weight training starting in sixth grade. In high school a friend convinced me to try track, too, and I loved it. I fell in love with the runner’s highs and the portability of the sport. For the next several years running would be my go to sport, and I did a few half-marathons and 10k races.
What was your first CrossFit workout and what did you think of it?
I first tried CrossFit back in 2011. I do not recall what my first workout was, but I knew I loved the complex movements and group workout environment. I also love that the programming is done for me, and it will always be a good workout within an hour.
What’s been the biggest change for you since starting CrossFit?
The biggest change for me since starting at DCF has been how I show up in the rest of my life. Working out consistently has been really helpful to perform better at work, I sleep better, and I have more fun socially.
What’s been your favorite DCF moment up to now?
This has nothing to do with working out, but there have been a few moments in the ladies’ locker room with some of the other wonderful women at the gym. There are several conversations in particular that have made me really feel at home at DCF. It’s great to be among others who are doing great things with their lives, who have excellent goals, who are in action in inspiring ways, or who can just share some fun conversations about life.
Least favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
Burpees have to be my least favorite CrossFit movement, but they are everywhere! Luckily if you do enough of them they get better over time. I am not saying I will ever like them, but perhaps they become tolerable.
Favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
I love the clean. I find the Olympic lifts to be fun in general, and the clean is my favorite.
When did you know you were hooked?
I knew I was hooked when I set a goal to do an unassisted pull-up. Since Labor Day I have gone from needing three green bands to get over the bar, to getting over the bar with just a green band and a blue band. There is still a lot of work for me to do, but that progress is encouraging. A few of the coaches have worked with me to give me ideas about which other movements would help develop my overall strength for unassisted pull-ups, such as ring rows and overhead presses. And all the WODs and most other movements we do also contribute to my overall fitness. I will keep working toward my goal a little bit each day.
Any advice for people starting out?
Keep coming in often and do as well as you can each workout. Write down your workouts to track your progress and consider your goals. You will get stronger. It is nice to be able to see how far you have come over time. Also, do not be afraid to scale down if you need to. I think scaling is part of the beauty of CrossFit; there will always be room for improvement no matter your fitness level, and it is okay to be where you are.