March 2023--Desirae Compton

1.Tell us about yourself, your family, your occupation, hobbies/interests.
​I’m Desirae, born and raised in New Jersey and living in Kansas since 2012. Wife to Rob, mom to five and new grandma to one beautiful little boy. And I love to spend my time with all of them. I’m a homemaker, but also do some part time bookkeeping. I enjoy reading and writing ( advance and sincere apologies if that comes through a little too much in the wordiness of my answers ). I also enjoy trying my hand at a variety of arts and handicrafts and the occasional float on a kayak. When I have time, I like to try to recreate the foods I grew up with on the east coast that just aren’t readily available here.


2. When do you start CrossFitting? Why did you start? Why do you continue now?
​I started CrossFitting in April of 2021. The surface answer to why I started is that a friend of my daughters’ said, “ Hey Mrs. Compton, want to join CrossFit with me?” And being the impulsively acquiescing (fool?) sort that I am, I didn’t take even a second to consider if it was a good choice or not and said “ Yes”. It was a good choice (Thanks, Bernie!) The deeper answer is that for a long time I had been feeling like I needed to purge myself of the rust and deepening complacency and CrossFit seemed like a good place to do that. I continue for too many reasons to list; but the first thing that got me hooked was the immediate increase in energy and decrease in aches and pains that I experienced ( the normal kind that you get as you age, not to be confused with the still present, yet semi-satisfactory aches and pains you get a day or two after a good WOD).


3. Do you remember your first WOD? What were your thoughts after your first WOD?
I do remember my first WOD. It was a Strict Press 5x5 and I knew I got off easy. But it was still hard.


4. What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
I enjoy the uplifting and positive attitude of the Box community most. The utter exhaustion after a really difficult WOD is also oddly enjoyable. It reminds me of that delightful tiredness of childhood that came after a day of playing in the ocean.


5. What is your proudest CrossFit moment?
​ I scale quite a bit and very often, so it kind of feels like a happy and proud moment whenever I can complete a WOD in one of its written forms. But specifically, I think my “proudest” CrossFit moment was doing Box jumps. I know it sounds pretty silly, but when I started I had been scared to even jump on a bumper. Really, ridiculously scared. The kind of scared that you get when you’re at the top of a roller coaster and your palms sweat. But then at the banquet last year, Theresa gave a speech and she mentioned choosing a goal that scares you. And that was that. I knew what I was going to do. The next time Box jumps came up in a WOD I didn’t let myself make any excuses and just did it, even though I was scared. And it was exciting! The kind of exciting that you get when you go down a really big hill on a roller coaster, and then you look forward to the next big one. I started low and have even gotten up to that 20” jump for a few WODs. It feels good to know I did it, despite the fear.


6. What is your favorite movement or lift? What is your least favorite?
​ I don’t have a favorite or least favorite movement or lift. Generally, I like anything that is not written in large quantities and I dislike anything that is written in large quantities. 5 burpees? No problem. 50 burpees…eh…no. I am partial, though, to movements that are more slow and methodical such as man-makers and devils press.


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 not naturally coordinated, so a continuous goal is to execute the movements correctly. The current goals I am working on are a little bit generalized, but nonetheless:
1. To keep progressing and not stagnate, whatever that means for each particular WOD and, when possible, going back to read my stats and adding a little more weight, scaling a little less, working a little bit faster ( a difficult thing for me) or a little bit better. Sometimes I can move forward and sometimes I cannot. But I’m thinking about it and I’m trying.
2. To not be too introverted, and be a good Boxmate to all the wonderful ladies that I have the privilege of working out with.
3.To be conscious of my breathing during WODs, as I have a tendency to hold my breath
4.To keep up my attendance over the summer months.


8. What makes CrossFit different from other fitness programs that you might have tried in the past?
I think definitely the accountability of having to sign up and show up, the fun variety of the WODS, and the camaraderie. Also, having trained and certified coaches who really know their stuff and make it clear they are there to help you is up there at the very top of the list.
​

9. What impact has CrossFit Benedictus had on your life, in and out of the gym?
I think the biggest difference that CrossFit has made for me started at the Box and then flowed from there. The things written on the whiteboard at the Box are hard and seem impossible. Until you do it. And then it’s not so hard and impossible. And then that “ dig deep and persevere and gain a new perspective” mentality starts popping up in many other areas of life. On the physical side, I have experienced such an improvement in the chronic breathing problems that I had, it’s quite remarkable. I would say it is no longer a chronic issue.
​

10. Tell us about your nutrition and how it has changed, if any, since starting CrossFit?
I’ve always been pretty conscious about nutrition, and have tried to raise my family with solid nutrition based on whole foods ( admittedly, I am fighting a losing battle when it comes to trying to pack healthy school lunches for my school-age kids). For myself, I have been doing intermittent fasting in some form or another for the past year and really like it. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I generally would rather have “food” than sweets. Still, I probably eat too many carbs and not enough protein. I would like to change that, without sacrificing too much of the enjoyment that comes with gathering over good food and drink with loved ones.


​11. If you could write a WOD for the classes to do, what would it look like?
​ Haha…I actually did write a WOD. I started CrossFit in the spring. There was, what I thought to be, a diabolical amount of running in the WODs at the time in preparation for Murph. I actually don’t mind running that much now, but this was before my brain and body had become acclimated to it. So I wrote a WOD expressing my contempt for running above all else. I called it “ Hey Girl, Why Run When You Can Row?” Jacey probably has it somewhere….

12. What advice do you have for others about the importance of the dedication of taking care of yourself, of investing in yourself?
I am one of those people who is guilty of feeling selfish for taking time for myself. It is still something that I struggle with regularly. But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I’m more capable and prepared to tackle my duties because of the regular time I spend at CrossFit Benedictus. Sometimes I’ll be feeling the strain of life’s inevitable and necessary crosses and the stress release of a WOD really helps with relieving that built-up tension before an emotional explosion/implosion occurs. Or during a WOD, my mind sometimes clears of everything else, and the answer to some heretofore unsolved issue becomes crystal clear. My rep count is lost, but the problem is solved. So I guess I would say that for someone like me, it helps to view something like CrossFit ( a positive “me” activity) as a tool that not only helps me for the benefit of myself and my own health, but also helps me for the benefit of my people.


13. What advice would you give to someone new to CrossFit or who is thinking about giving it a try?
If you are new, I think that CrossFit, and CrossFit Benedictus specifically, speaks for itself. The often repeated “ sign up, show up, shut up” and let the program do the work are often repeated for a reason. Everything else will fall into place with those sentiments leading.
For someone thinking about it: As someone who pretty much vowed to never join CrossFit, the way that I see it now is that once you break down all the reasons for not joining, there really aren’t too many solid reasons.
The money? It makes you accountable because who wants to pay for something and then not use it? If you crunch the numbers, it’s really an awesome deal. At three times a week, it works out to each class costing about the same as a large fancy coffee out. I know for myself, I get much more out of CrossFit than I do out of a big Frozen Mint Blended Coffee.
The time away from your duties? See previous question/answer.
Don’t know anyone at the Box? You will, very soon, and they will be cheering you every step of the way.
Your physical limitations? It can be scaled by your coaches to fit your abilities. Literally for anyone. At one point Mindy shared a video of an elderly man, in a wheelchair with very obvious muscle atrophy doing a CrossFit Open workout that had been scaled to his abilities by his coach. If he can do it, there is no doubt that you can, too. Sure, it might be humbling. But, really, is that such a bad thing?
If you want to take a step in the right direction to improve your mind, your body or your soul, consider joining. Actually, don’t consider it. Be like me and don’t take the time to consider, just do it. In the words of Mr. Monk…you’ll thank me later :)

​14. Open Forum:
What a blessing to have a place like CrossFit Benedictus in this rural area. So many thanks to those who make it possible and enjoyable. Thank you to Doc and Mrs. Doc for the beginning and to Joe and Bridget and Andy and Mindy for the continuation. Thank you to Rob and the kids for encouraging me and being interested in hearing all about it. A special thanks to Jacey for all of my private mother/daughter post/pre-WOD coaching and counseling sessions. And to all the athletes and the coaches, thank you so much for showing up and staying positive. Like all of you, I would never do this alone. May God bless and Holy Mary protect each and every one of us as we continue to grow stronger in mind, body and soul together.