March 2020--Philomena Peters

1.Tell us about yourself, your family, your occupation, hobbies/interests.
Born and raised in Kansas, I’ve heard just about all the Oz-related jokes out there! I’m the eldest of a family of 6 girls: everyone feels badly for dad, but he really is pretty spoiled and lucky, of course 😊 I have been a travel agent for nearly 10 years, and have just recently taken on a role as project coordinator on the communications team for our parish’s Immaculata Church that is beginning to be built. In any leisure time, I enjoy travel, classics trivia, adding to a collector scrapbook of black and white movie autographs begun by my Grandma, and doing anything and everything with family.

2. When do you start CrossFitting? Why did you start? Why do you continue now?
I enrolled in CrossFit with the new year, 2019 and am proud to have just celebrated my first anniversary! I started because I was stuck in a rut and needed something different – and CrossFit seemed to fit that bill. I had heard about the venture for a long time, since it had begun here in St. Marys, and was determined that it was NOT ‘my cup of tea’. But a work project opened the door to the opportunity to participate in a walking tour to the Holy Land which I resolved to be a part of and needed to be sufficiently fit. So with that goal in mind, I signed up. But I keep coming back now because I’ve actually come to enjoy the whole thing, in spite of the preconceived ideas!
3. Do you remember your first WOD? What were your thoughts after your first WOD?
The first WOD to really stand out in my memory is the On-Ramp #4: it involved a lot of burpees & thrusters -- and my heart goes out to anyone joining each new On-Ramp who has to suffer through that day!

4. What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
The infectious energy and camaraderie, and the ability to have a physical challenge scheduled into the daily agenda, allowing me to get off my toosh after a day in the office.

5. What is your proudest CrossFit moment?
I believe that day is still yet to come!

6. What is your favorite movement or lift? What is your least favorite?
I’ve come to like rowing and jump rope, since they are both moves that can be perfected outside the box; I really dislike wallballs. But honestly, the best part is learning brand new moves and techniques such as weightlifting -- I definitely never did anything like that growing up in a family of all girls and attending Catholic girls school!

7. Have you had one or two challenging CrossFit goals that you've achieved recently? What are your current goals and how close are you to reaching them?
I’m still working on the achieving part: my current goals are to do consecutive pull-ups and double-unders.

8. What makes CrossFit different from other fitness programs that you might have tried in the past?
The people -- the positive energy resonates when you step on the mat and say the opening prayer. After that, even if it was pulling teeth to make yourself get to the box, you know you can take on whatever is thrown at you.

9. What impact has CrossFit Benedictus had on your life, in and out of the gym?
The personal impact has been gradual, but I’ve noticed that in addition to now making physical fitness more scheduled, it has become more focused and is therefore no longer an optional part of the day.

10. Tell us about your nutrition and how it has changed, if any, since starting CrossFit?
I must admit that in spite of all the inspiring reading materials on the subject, I still struggle with this one -- so hello New Year’s resolution!  So far incorporating CrossFit as a lifestyle has made me more conscious of what I eat, but this second year on the program I intend to focus on maintaining a balanced menu + dining schedule.

11. If you could write a WOD for the classes to do, what would it look like?
Team WOD: E2MOM, 10 rounds alternate with teammate - Row (250m), OHS (85/45), Box jump (10)

12. What advice do you have for others about the importance of the dedication of taking care of yourself, of investing in yourself?
We’ve each been given the responsibility of taking care of ourselves; it’s not something you have to do alone, but it is something only you can do. By building stamina we can keep alive within ourselves the ability to accept whatever life throws at us, be it a cross or a crown.

13. What advice would you give to someone new to CrossFit or who is thinking about giving it a try?
It’s easy to love to hate it, but once you give it a chance you might just learn to love it too!

14. Open Forum: Thanks y’all!