April- 2026 - Katie Cailteux

1.) Tell us about yourself, your family, your occupation, hobbies/interests.
I’m a lucky wife to BJ (who you might know as CrossFit Most Improved Male Athlete of 2025) and mom to Jack, Charlie, Ben, Gabby, Owen, Penny, Max, Calvin, Dani, Linus and Cici. I’m also a librarian at the PWRL here in town. My favorite thing to do is watch my kids play sports, act, sing, and play instruments. I also love watching the Denver Broncos, playing poker and spending time with my friends and family.
 
2.) When do you start CrossFitting? Why did you start? Why do you continue now?
I started CrossFit in September 2022. I’d had a very very small desire to be a part of it years ago but I have never been good at sticking with anything in my life. My mother in law, Ces, had been in it for years and was always asking us to join her. After the birth of my 10th I was having an emotionally hard and stressful postpartum and my Dr was heavily suggesting exercise to help me deal with it. It seemed to all fall into place at the right time and I thought, I’ve got nothing to lose. My Dr and my mother in law weren’t wrong. I’m much less stressed since starting and bonus…I’ve managed to gain some muscles too!! I stay for the stress relief, for the calories burned, the strength gained and for the amazing people I get to spend a little time with every week.
 
3.) Do you remember your first WOD? What were your thoughts after your first WOD?
I don’t remember even a little bit of my first WOD but I sure do remember how sore I was after and thinking that I couldn’t wait until I have been around long enough to not get sore after class. I’m still waiting.
 
 
4.) What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
The people. 100% the people. But I also like the scheduling of classes. I have a feeling I’d find it easier to skip class if it wasn’t as flexible.
 
5.) What is your proudest CrossFit moment?
The last workout with back squats, I was 3rd place ALL TIME! I don’t usually care about the leaderboard personally but that sure felt really cool.
 
6.) What is your favorite movement or lift? What is your least favorite?
 Favorite- Push Jerk
Least Favorite- Overhead Squat

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 don’t know if I could call them goals, but I always just want to do a little better than before and this year I did 2 of the 3 open workouts RX and that felt like a huge milestone. I’d would really like to be able to add some weight to an overhead squat. Last week I put 10 more lbs on than I have been doing for about a year so I’m getting somewhere.
 
8.) What makes CrossFit different from other fitness programs that you might have tried in the past?
The variety. The schedule. The encouragement.
 
9.) What impact has CrossFit Benedictus had on your life, in and out of the gym?
This box has literally and figuratively saved me from therapy and medication. I was really was struggling at the point when I joined and it’s just so much easier to deal with life’s frustrations. I don’t know if it’s the endorphins, the support, the prayers, the encouragement, or being able to get frustrations out through pounding the pavement or dropping a bar, but it think it’s all of that and all of my fellow athletes and my coaches.
10. Tell us about your nutrition and how it has changed, if any, since starting CrossFit? That’s been a very very slow process to be honest. I have learned a lot of things from a lot of people in class and my biggest takeaway has been adding protein wherever and whenever I can. I have a long road still when it comes to nutrition but I feel like I’m on the right track. I don’t want to think my work in the box is being wasted!
 
 
11.) If you could write a WOD for the classes to do, what would it look like?
While I’d normally chose a strength session, for the sake of pushing myself I would do an 18 minute AMRAP called Mile High Magic. 18 Alternating Dumbbell Snatches, 10 Pushups, and 7 Box Jumps.  I don’t know about anyone else but for my weights and height I would choose 25lbs, and 20”.
 
12.) What advice do you have for others about the importance of the dedication of taking care of yourself, of investing in yourself?
We all have a duty as children of God to take care of what we have been given. Specifically as a mom, if you don’t take care of yourself you really can’t take care of others. Do what you can to be around for a long time and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Enjoy retirement with your spouse, play with your grandkids, stay active in your community. That’s my plan at least!
 
13.) What advice would you give to someone new to CrossFit or who is thinking about giving it a try?
Take your time, have fun, make goals, ask a lot of questions!

14.) Open Forum:
I think it’s well known among the women that if there is a sarcastic comment to be made, it’ll make its way out of my mouth. But for a brief serious moment, I’m so thankful to every single person that has made and continues to make this Box a success. It is a wonderful place to be and I’m so happy that I get to be a part of it.