November Athlete of the Month – Joan Gibbs
Meet Joan, CrossFit Round Rock’s November Athlete of the Month! For over 7 years, Joan has been a consistent staple at CFRR. Her dedication to a life of movement and living a healthy lifestyle is beyond impressive. During lockdown she didn’t miss a beat and she still hasn’t. She has continued to show up each week to her ZOOM online class with nothing but a smile and ready to work. We are so proud of you Joan and are grateful for you drive, consistency and dedication!
1) What is your biggest motivation?
>> My biggest motivations are to play (tennis, cycling, kayaking… to name a few) & share joy with my family/community. Being a Boomer, my intentions are to stay actively fit and strong so I can keep doing the physical things I love to do, indefinitely.
2) Your favorite quote or words to live by?
>> Always try to find at least one positive connection to another person, even if you don’t agree with their behavior or beliefs.
3) What is your current training goals/PRs?
>> Tough to answer since I am training strictly at home. Primary goal now is to do as many workouts as possible with CFRR with a goal of getting back to the box someday. Also, I want to increase my weekly mileage on my bicycle from 25 miles per week to 30 or more.
4) Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
>> Ha Ha! I actually thought I was pretty fit before starting CrossFit (and not knowing much about it) only to find out there were so many areas for improvement. But I really enjoyed it when I would reach new PRs. The workouts today are still relevant to my goals of staying fit. The main difference between when I first started 7 or so years ago is that there weren’t defined levels to choose from (only the equivalent of today’s L3), so it was a little harder to pick a challenging range if the L3 was unattainable.
5) What advice do you have for new athletes just starting out in CrossFit?
>> Completing a workout is just as important as hitting a PR so don’t get down on yourself if you have to drop a weight level or finish last. Just keep coming back and you will see a difference.
6) Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout?
>> Hitting my first really good snatch.
7) What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
>> As mentioned above tennis, cycling, kayaking and most any outdoor activity. Also, I am a big fan and supporter of live music – I’m member of Black Fret which is a local non-profit that provides financial grants to local emerging musicians.
8) What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Round Rock?
>> The coaches and fellow members of course!
9) If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
>> (I’m still thinking about this one)
10) How has your diet changed since starting CrossFit (if it has), and what foods do you rely on most?
>> I am definitely more protein-conscious now. This is a real challenge because I have never eaten much animal protein. Also, I rely heavily on plant-based proteins, vegetables & whole grain source of carbs – I grind my own nut butters, mill my flour and bake whole grain bread (sorry Paleo folks!)