Wednesday, November 4th 2015
“WEDNESDAY WINS”
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
Each Wednesday we will celebrate the “wins” (whether they be big or small) that are achieved by our Cove athletes with the support of this amazing CrossFit community. Today we shine a light on Ashley G, an avid runner and overall amazing woman. She recently smashed some PRs outside the gym and we asked her if she thought any of this was a result of what happened inside the gym. Here’s what she had to say:
ASHLEY G:
My favorite quote is a South African proverb, that I use all the time for many different occasions, but it is always so applicable, even to CrossFit. The proverb goes “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” which means people are people because of other people. For all that we do, we are always better when we have some support behind us, and that can come in many forms. Coming to the Cove was definitely a case of finding support and a place to find inspiration and motivation to achieve goals. My fitness story started when I began running five years ago, I was 45 pounds heavier, and barely made it through a 10K. I ran my first marathon a year after that first 10K, and have now run 9 marathons and 2 ultramarathons. Crazy, right?
For me it’s not so crazy, running is a form of therapy, a way to stay grounded and a time to process the daily stresses of work and sometimes life in general. So in this fitness story, I decided I wanted to get faster in my marathon time, so last year I decided to enter the CrossFit world and see what would happen. The results were a vast improvement in my marathon time, and improved strength overall. My goal for qualifying for Boston was achieved, I ran the Boston Marathon last year and I took 18 minutes off of my marathon time, and the only change I made was Crossfit! Coming to the Cove in June, I have further decreased my running times and brought home my very first trophy! I have placed first in my age/gender category in a 12 miler and a 20 miler, and managed 3rd in my age/gender for the Baltimore Half Marathon 12th female overall, and it was a large field! It is such a great feeling to cross that finish line stronger and faster than I have ever been before. The next goal for me is qualifying for the NYC Marathon, which I will attempt at the Philadelphia Marathon on November 22nd!
But this I will say, being able to get faster is not just about the training, it’s a mindset and it’s so important to have people around you that believe in you and your capabilities and inspire you to be better, faster, and stronger. That’s what all of the coaches and members of the Cove do well, provide that support, because after all we are all people because of other people. Coming to do WODs at the Cove I always look forward to being pushed and challenged to extents I sometimes don’t think are possible, but then with some support they are! So think fast thoughts for me on the 22nd, I will need them, and thank you for being a part of my story!
SKILL WOD
WOD
