June Featured Athlete: Beth Fauth

 

1. How did you find out about CrossFit?

I had two wonderful friends (Raegan and Klair)  who were members of this crossfit and they spoke highly of it. They also look great (which is good marketing for the gym!).  It seemed like a good fit for the things I like in a workout.

2. What is your favorite Crossfit exercise or WOD?

I love the workouts where the intensity is high and the movements switch quickly.  I feel like I can do anything for 30 seconds, or for 10 reps, then come back to it over and over, as opposed to doing something 50 or 100 times in a row (which I will do, but not quite as enthusiastically). In fact I think that’s what keeps me coming back.  If every workout was 100 burpees and 200 wall balls I would have been out of here I long time ago. :)  I push myself a lot harder and enjoy it a lot more when I realize I actually accomplished a lot of movements, but  it switched often enough that I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself.

3. How long have you been CrossFitting for?

I started about 5 years ago, for a few months after my daughter was born. When I was pregnant with my second I was on exercise restriction for the duration of my pregnancy so I took time off and came back after my son was born.  So I guess I’ve been coming consistently for three and a half years.

4. What do you do for a living?

I’m a professor at Utah State University in the department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development. I teach classes in Aging and do research on dementia and reducing stress for family caregivers, and functional ability in older adults.

5. What are your hobbies?

I love to garden, cook, ski, travel, fish, and hike.

6. What are your goals?

In general my goals are about consistency.  When I come to crossfit often, I feel great and pants fit better.  When I try to do too much in a week, my husband is out of town and I can’t get a sitter at 6:00 am,  or otherwise “don’t have time” for workouts I fall behind.  So my goal is to keep this momentum going, even when life gets busy.  I also have a fantasy of someday being able to do double unders (3.5 years and a $25 jump rope hasn’t helped).

7. Why do you CrossFit?

There are MANY reasons this works for me.  The fact that I am working out in a group keeps me accountable and helps me push myself.  When I run by myself and there is a steep hill, I’m perfectly happy to walk (“walking is good for me!”) , but when I’m tired during a crossfit workout I keep going to avoid looking like an idiot.

I am terrible at things like step classes or Zumba.  Jami and Brad have never asked me to shake my bootie (although I would do it if they asked me to).

I have always been a jogger but even after completing a ½ marathon I still didn’t feel like running was the “thing” I was going to get into.

The time component is important to me – I love that I can feel more exhausted in 12 minutes at crossfit than after 60 minutes of other workouts.

I love this gym – I enjoy the people I work out with (sorry I’m so grumpy at 6:15am –  If you saw me later in the day you would see that I actually am a very happy person), and the coaches are amazing. They push me but I always feel safe.  I have never had an injury (unless you count being REALLY REALLY SORE as an injury).

I also love the focus on healthy food. Crossfit has changed the way I think about food, and the way I cook.  I love food, especially sharing meals with friends, and if I’m not exercising enough or being smart about food especially when I’m socializing a lot, I gain weight.  About 12 years ago I wanted to lose 10 pounds and tried  weight watchers, and even though it worked, I was hungry and unsatisfied that a healthy meal meant fake food (fake fat free cheese seems to be a staple in many WW recipes). I have never done a full blown Paleo diet, but I adopt a lot of the core principles and I have done several challenges through the gym and they work.  And the food tastes great.

8. Any advice for future CrossFitters?

You need to stick with it for 3 months before you decide if you want to stay… I was so sore in the beginning and I was tempted to take some advil and quit coming. After 3 months I really saw the results and I wasn’t sore every single time I went. Also, for people that think it will be too hard, or who hate group workouts, I would say that it is a great program for any level of fitness.  Even though you are working out in a group, no one cares if you finish first or last – everyone is just focused on their own workout.  It’s a really supportive environment.