BJ Cailteux AOM

B.J. Cailteux—March 2025 Athlete of The Month


1.Tell us about yourself, your family, your occupation, hobbies/interests.
I have lived in St. Mary’s for over 30 years now, been married to my beautiful wife Katie for over 18 years, and have 11 children ranging from 17 years down to 3 months. I have worked at Onyx, in various roles, for over 22 years.

2. When do you start CrossFitting? Why did you start? Why do you continue now?
I started CrossFit in November of 2023. My mom had tried to get me and my wife to join because she loved it so much. She convinced Katie, but I was not so easily swayed. A year later I made a semi empty promise that I would go to the next on ramp. I thought I would have time to make up excuses. An on ramp was announced a few days later. It didn’t help that Luis was constantly trying to convince me as well.

3. Do you remember your first WOD? What were your thoughts after your first WOD?
My first WOD was 45 minutes of deadlifts. It was just a check in and I remember thinking “This isn’t as bad as the on ramp made it seem.” That feeling didn’t last long.

4. What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
The accountability, camaraderie, and organization. Signing into a class, seeing the workout beforehand, knowing that everything needed will be there, and that the coach is prepared, all make it easy to show up. Then having the other men there to push you makes for a good workout (even if we all say we are done after the warm up).

5. What is your proudest CrossFit moment?
That’s a hard one. Probably just the fact that I keep coming back. I mean that should be the main goal anyway.
6. What is your favorite movement or lift? What is your least favorite?
Favorite: Pull ups. Least favorite: Burpees

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?
Just getting past an injury that was limiting me in workouts and day to day life. Now I can’t use that as an excuse anymore. I recently progressed to C2B and would love to someday achieve a Muscle Up (long term goal).

8. What makes CrossFit different from other fitness programs that you might have tried in the past?
The fact that the workouts are continuously changing. There’s no getting comfortable here. Also, doing the workout as a group, even with our varying abilities, and having knowledgeable coaches who can guide us through the movements.

9. What impact has CrossFit Benedictus had on your life, in and out of the gym?
It has gotten me to think about my fitness again which had long ago taken a backseat to everything else.

10. Tell us about your nutrition and how it has changed, if any, since starting CrossFit?
Knowing that everything I eat can help or hurt me in the next WOD makes it harder to make bad choices. Harder, but not hard enough . At least it has me thinking about it though.

11. If you could write a WOD for the classes to do, what would it look like?
EMOM 20:
Even minutes: Pull ups
Odd minutes: Push ups
Score is total reps.

12. What advice do you have for others about the importance of the dedication of taking care of yourself, of investing in yourself?
You only get this one body. No matter what you have done to it, or what has happened to it, it is in your best interest to improve it. It won’t happen overnight. Like anything important, it is worth putting in the time and effort to improve it.

13. What advice would you give to someone new to CrossFit or who is thinking about giving it a try?
Sign up and just keep showing up. There will be what feel like good days and bad days, but if you show up and do what you can, then they are all good days.

14. Open Forum:
CrossFit Benedictus is one of a kind. Thank you to anyone who has had any part in starting this and keeping it going, no matter how big or small.