Justin and Jackie Wisniewski

Justin & Jackie are our spotlight athletes. They have been consistently coming for almost a year now.  They have made vast improvements since starting CF and are always up for cheering others on.  

Jackie recently became our Peak Kids Fitness Coordinator and we couldn’t be more happy with how the program is going! Here is what they have to say about CrossFit so far!

Jackie:

How long have you been Crossfitting?
Since August 2016

What made you start CF?  
We were gym rats and loved living an active lifestyle but started to get bored with the gym atmosphere – i.e. doing the same workout style day in and day out with people who could really care less if you were there or not. We knew we needed a change, so we decided to check out CrossFit. I am so glad that we did, we have made new friends and each day there is something new and exciting to look forward to with the programming.

What changes have you seen since starting CF? 
My body image. Since starting CrossFit I have noticed a shift in my mentality. I am more focused on what my body can do/achieve rather than just what it looks like. Getting stronger physically is great but my mental game has improved so much! 

What is your favorite/least favorite movement?
My favorite movement is my strongest movement… the deadlift. Whenever I see a workout with a heavy deadlift and some sort of high intensity component like burpees or box jumps added in – that’s my jam!

My least favorite movement is anything to do with gymnastics. I am learning and slowly improving but it’s definitely something I have to work hard at. 

What is your favorite part of CF Conway?
The community. The people in the box actually want to see you there, they want to see you succeed, and they endure tough workouts right along with you. It’s encouraging and really what makes it fun! 

What are your long term goals? 
To continue getting stronger mentally and physically. To PR some Olympic lifts now that the movement patterns are becoming easier. And to get this dang gymnastic stuff figured out! 

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF?
My advice would be to just come try it. I think people are scared of CrossFit for various reasons. I always say to never let what other people say determine your opinion of something. 
Seriously though, working out in a fun environment with people who quickly become your best friends while being led by a great coaching staff… how bad could it be?!

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Justin:

How long have you been Crossfitting?
Since August of 2016

What made you start CF?
It was something new and everything about it looked more like the workouts we did growing up playing sports.  Working out for a purpose seemed more fulfilling than to be strong in one movement.  And of course because the wife was into it before we even signed the waivers. 😊

What changes have you seen since starting CF? 
I’ve begun to focus more on function and form rather than merely how much weight I can lift.  I am more focused on how the lift “feels” rather the amount of weight I’m moving.  I’ve learned that I didn’t know proper form as much as I thought I did.

What is your favorite/least favorite movement?
Favorite lift is snatch
Least favorite - running

What is your favorite part of CF Conway?
the camaraderie and healthy competition

What are your long term goals? 
don’t die

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF?
Be willing to give it the effort and time to see yourself improve, as it may be difficult at first

Angie Price

Angie Price is our spotlight athlete.  When she first started CF she had to modify everything due to bad knees and poor mobility.  After lots of hard work and persistence Angie can squat below parallel and loves to lift heavy weight!  She hardly ever misses a day, never cuts her workouts short, and never scales her reps.  She has a smile on her face and encourages everyone!  I don’t think she would mind us telling her age - she should be proud that at 53 she is an inspiration to us all.  She is also signed up for the CrossFit Open - we can’t wait to see how she does!

Here is some more about Angie:

How long have you been Crossfitting?

I started in June of 2016.  

What made you start CF? 

I wanted to try something different than attending a “gym” every day.  
I also was trying to find something that would help me with mobility in my joints/arthritis.  

What changes have you seen since starting CF? 

I’m a lot stronger, feel over all heather, and it has helped with mobility in my joints.  I actually have improved my range of motion in my knees.  I have to modify movements, but with help from the coaches I have learned ways to do the work that is still effective.
I’ve also lost several inches in my waist and hips, which is a plus.  

What is your favorite/least favorite movement?

Deadlifts are my favorite-I have this movement figured out where I can lift properly.
Burpees/Wall Balls—I’m still in the process of learning the proper form and BREATHING.  

What is your favorite part of CF Conway? 

My favorite part of CF Conway is the coaches and the people (community feeling).  We all keep each other accountable.  Kevin and Kelly have been great teachers/coaches/mentors.  

I also like the challenges and I’ve done so much with my body I didn’t EVER think I could do before.  

What are your long term goals?

I would like to continue to attend CF Conway to improve my health and mobility.  I would like to be able to conquer some of the movements, such as the burpees and wall balls.

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF? 

It really doesn’t matter how old you are, you can modify movements to fit your body.

As Kevin says, check your ego at the door. Take it slow and don’t get discouraged, it’s a lot to learn, but definitely worth it!

Cherrylyn McCastle

Our spotlight athlete this month is Cherrylyn McCastle.  She started out just coming a couple days a week.  Slowly she came to more classes and got more involved with CrossFit.  She has done several competitions and picked up double unders like a pro!  

Cherrylyn is always smiling, always pushes herself, and always encourages others. Here is what she had to say about CrossFit:

How long have you been Crossfitting?   

I have been Crossfitting for 18 months.

What made you start CF?  

I had not been working out for almost two years.  I knew I needed re-establish a regimen to get me back on track physically.  I could not bear the thought of going back to a gym and doing cardio and weight machines...boring.  Some of the group classes I have tried in the past did not motivate me either.  I learned about Crossfit through an email that was distributed through the Wellness Center at work.  I discussed it with a co-worker who was attending classes and decided to check it out.  

What changes have you seen since starting CF?  

I have lost weight, gotten stronger, and have more energy.  I have also seen some positive changes in my overall health.  

What is your favorite/least favorite movement?

My favorite movements Deadlift and Back Squat.  My least favorite Overhead Squat.

What is your favorite part of CF Conway? 

My favorite part of CF Conway is the culture has been been created by the coaches.  Their guidance through the workouts and their consistent encouragement has made a big difference for me.  As a result, I have accomplished more than I had expected.   

What are your long term goals? 

I would like continue to improve my form for the different weightlifting movements and continue to increase the amount of weight I can lift.  I want to be to be able to do pull-ups. 

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF?

You do not have to be "fit" to start....start as you are!

Laura Beth Bloomfield

Laura Beth Bloomfield is our spotlight athlete this month.  

Laura Beth is a collegiate swimmer at OBU.  She came to CFC at the beginning of the summer and has quickly improved all of her lifts and fitness.  She pushes hard every WOD.  Laura Beth always has a smile on her face and encourages everyone around her.  She is leaving to go back to college and we are going to miss her light in the gym SO much!  Good luck this year in the pool!

How long have you been Crossfitting?  

Close to 3 months 

What made you start CF?  

In January ’16 I severely injured my back from lifting weights, setting me back in the season and I was unable to compete in conference. The idea of CF would turn my focus toward correcting the little things and gaining my strength back which this was something I couldn’t overlook. I saw the beauty of CF in how it was going to work and focus on your entire health which was something I admired. 

What changes have you seen since starting CF? 

Strength in both the box and the pool. I gained confidence in lifting more weight than I had imagined. 

What is your favorite/least favorite movement?

My favorite movement would have to be the snatch, it's come a long way but there is plenty of room for improvement. My least favorite is the Strict Press. 

What is your favorite part of CF Conway? 

CF Conway has given the best environment during every class I attend making it easy to enjoy and learn. The friendships I  have made in such a short amount of time have made these 3 months such a blessing.  

What are your long term goals? 

Long term goals include improving each movement in form and weight. I hope after swimming to make CF a year round sport to see what more I am capable of learning and achieving.  

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF? 

Be OK with pushing beyond your comfort zone and facing failure. It’s important know that it is a process and not something you gain overnight. With that said, always have FUN!!!

Merissa Beard

Merissa is our spotlight athlete of the month.  She did CrossFit during her entire pregnancy and credits it for her quick recovery.  Since delivering her precious baby boy Xander in November she has been killing WODs at the box. Just four months after having a baby she placed in the top 100 in Arkansas for the CrossFit Open.  We are all in awe at how strong and metabolically fit she is.  Way to go Merissa - CrossFit looks good on you!

When she is not at CrossFit she is keeping us all aligned as our chiropractor. Merissa and her husband Brian own Beard Family Chiropractic. Go see them!

How long have you been Crossfitting?   

I first tried it over two years ago when we moved to Conway, but started doing it seriously (and dropped my globo-gym membership) a year and a half ago.

What made you start CF? 

I had always wanted to try crossfit! When I was in high school, one of my best friends went to CrossFit. She’d always invite me, but I thought I couldn’t afford it. I wish I had started then! I began CrossFit because I was getting bored in the gym with my 3 sets of 10 exercises, and wasn’t seeing great results. 

What changes have you seen since starting CF?

I am more well rounded than ever before! Although I’ve always gone to the gym, and I appeared to be a “fit” person, I could barely do an overhead squat! My butt is totally different, too :-p Most importantly, I now workout to get better and fitter, not just to look better in the mirror. I don’t care as much about the appearance of my muscles, but rather I care what kind of work those muscles can do. 

What was it like Crossfitting while pregnant?

It was really awesome. I felt like I had such a wonderful pregnancy because I stayed so active. I also think do CrossFit while pregnant helped me bounce back much more quickly. It was also sort of fun thinking of different ways to modify things to accommodate a growing belly! I got the benefit of being a bit heavier too, which made me stronger in some of my lifts. 

What is your favorite/least favorite movement? 

If I see burpees or box jumps in a WOD, I get excited because I know I can knock those out. My least favorite movement is the muscle up  because I just can’t seem to get it! It’s like my CrossFit nemesis.

What is your favorite part of CF Conway? 

The people!! I love the community aspect so much more than I thought I would. I was always an “ear-buds in, don’t talk to me” kind of worker outer, but not anymore! I have met my best friends at this box. I have also enjoyed the partnership we at Beard Family Chiropractic have with CrossFit Conway. I love getting to see someone move at CrossFit, and then being able to help them in the office.

What are your long term goals? 

To do a muscle up before next year’s open, and for my baby to work on his snatch ASAP so he doesn’t have the same issues I do! 

What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF?

To just come try it out! Some people think they need to ‘get fit’ before they start, but it’s simply not true. Any workout can be modified. Likewise, if you’re already a fit person and you love a challenge, you can make any workout more difficult but working faster or lifting heavier! From a health standpoint, this type of functional exercise is so important. People think that as a chiropractor, I would hate CrossFit. Not true! I recommend all my chiropractic patients to do it because it strengthens your spinal muscles and core, and also works with your hormones to help you achieve better health. Plus you meet so many great, healthy people. So get off that treadmill and join me at 11:30am!