Anne Caprara excels both on the barbell and applying peer pressure to get her fellow DCF’ers to make the early Saturday classes…even when they’d rather be cozied up on chilly mornings. Not only has Anne blossomed into a dynamite CrossFit athlete, but she also dominates in her work’s flag football league. Competitors don’t want to mess with her!
What’s your athletic/fitness background?
I played basketball all through grade school and high school. And then like most people, became less active after college. I took up running a few years ago and went through the normal gamut of 5ks, half marathons and one actual marathon until I just got really bored with it. In the beginning I found achieving new distances and times to be a real challenge, but once I found myself not excited at all about getting up for a run, I started looking into Crossfit.
I like a challenge and, despite my best efforts, am a really competitive person so Crossfit has been an ideal fit.
What was your first CrossFit workout and what did you think of it?
From what I remember we did a lot of burpees and pushups. I remember thinking I would not do well as a spy because all anyone would have to do is make me do that workout again and I would spill state secrets.
What’s been the biggest change for you since starting CrossFit?
This is the strongest I have ever felt in my life. At the same time, I’ve been doing crossfit for a little over eight months and feel like I have a lot left to accomplish and a lot of personal goals left to reach. Which is good because it keeps me motivated.
What’s been your favorite DCF moment up to now?
I came back from a couple of days rest two weeks ago and realized I was 3/4 of the way to an actual pull up. I got so excited I accidentally dropped off the bar.
Least favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
I hate weighted lunges. My knees and I always have a bad conversation after a lot of lunges.
Favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
Kettle bell swings – we have a lot of mutual respect for each other.
When did you know you were hooked?
When I started arranging my social calendar around workouts.
Any advice for people starting out?
Don’t be scared and learn how to make CrossFit a priority. I think people in DC work intense jobs and often think they don’t have time to workout. My job is crazy, but I put my workouts on my schedule and find a way to make them happen every day.
Describe your favorite part about DCF?
The people. I have “CrossFit” friends now and I like that I get to meet people here that I likely would not get to know anywhere else. And I think the coaches are great. Except for Amon who has promised me that we were going to get to play dodgeball during a Saturday class and it has never happened.