CFL Open Awards 2019

The CrossFit Open is eagerly anticipated every year among the CrossFit community and the 2019 Open certainly didn’t disappoint at CrossFit Leyland. The atmosphere was electric, the support amazing and the sights of members pushing themselves beyond their perceived limits, in order to achieve new personal records was unforgettable. Each year the CFL staff have the unenviable task of narrowing down a long list of candidates to receive our annual open awards; the CFL ‘Progress Award’ and the CFL ‘Spirit of the Open Award’.

This year we sat on the proverbial fence, selecting two members to receive the CFL Progress Award. Jools Jennings and Su Quirk were the deserved winners, having devoted lots of time this year to developing their skills and fitness. The CFL Spirit of the Open award was a no brainer this year, Sharon Tsang only joined CFL relatively recently, but has fully immersed herself into the community spirit. We asked each of the award winners a few questions about their CrossFit journey.

How Long Have you been doing CrossFit? 16 months

What was your health and fitness like before starting CrossFit?

I was the kind of person who would join gyms and never end up going because I hated them and found them boring. Therefore, hardly exercised at all and couldn’t run much further than 400 metres without becoming out of breath. I would also yoyo diet and go from one extreme to another. When I found Crossfit I was pretty unfit and didn’t really have any muscle definition.

How has your health and fitness changed since starting CrossFit?

Its been unbelievable watching my body change and my strength, endurance and fitness improve to levels I didn’t think I would ever get too. A recent health check at my Doctors left them extremely impressed with my stats which I 100% put down to my consistent CrossFit training. My energy levels have improved massively and every week I surprise myself with what I am capable of which gives me such an amazing sense of pride and achievement. Crossfit has also helped me with my mindset and helped me becoming mentally tough too.

I actually look forward to that one hour a day that i train at CFL.

What do you love most about training here at CrossFit?

The people, coaches and community spirit. It’s what keeps me coming back. The support is amazing from both members and coaches and it’s a place where I feel welcomed and accepted.

I have made friends for life at CFL.

Do you have any health / fitness / CrossFit Goals that you are working towards in 2019?

For 2019 I have challenged myself with pushing myself outside of my comfort zone which I have already started doing. I am also working on my strength and gymnastics for 2019 so watch this space!

How long have you been doing CrossFit.

It’ll be 4 years in July 2019.

What was your health & fitness like before starting CrossFit?

Shocking. I had suffered with 2 nasty sporting injuries and so from about 2010 had not done any exercise at all. I had put on a few stone and was extremely unfit due to being immobile with my injuries. I needed to find my mojo again for fitness and had no idea what to do. I had been involved in competitive netball since college until aged about 35 yrs. After attempting to get back into netball… and tearing each of my Achilles, I was at a loss at how I was ever going to regain my fitness.

A friend (Cathy Wilson) suggested CrossFit to me. She sent me some YouTube videos and persuaded me to give it a go. I hated a normal run of the mill gym so decided I had nothing to lose.

How has your health & fitness changed?

When I first started I couldn’t even hang from the pull up bar for 5 seconds. I couldn’t run more than 200m or do more than 10 single skips without getting severe calf cramp. I could only manage to step up on to the small boxes never mind jump up onto them. And a burpee… seriously!?!

I had told myself this wasn’t going to be an easy journey and that I was going to have to grin and bear it if I wanted to get fit again. After just 4 weeks I was hooked and signed up for an unlimited membership.

Now I feel fitter and stronger than I did in my mid 30’s. Does it get any easier? No, it doesn’t, but that’s because I now move faster and lift heavier than I did when I first started.

What do you love most about training here at CrossFit Leyland?

I love the friendliness of members, the banter we have in classes and the social aspect of being a member here. I have made some very good friends at CFL and I love the camaraderie of the in-house competitions. Everyone is so supportive and it does not matter to anyone what movements you can or can’t do, or if you’re the slowest, or lift the lightest weights.

Do you have any health/fitness/CF goals that you are working towards in 2019?

When I first started at CFL I had a goal which was to be able to run 5k. I have just completed the Hawkshead 10k Trail run!

I have wanted for years to feel capable of taking part in a Tough Mudder event – booked Sept 2019. Other personal CF goals for 2019 are to master Double Unders, hit a 100kg Deadlift and get a Bar Muscle Up before my adopted CrossFit daughter Hannah Vickerman does 🙂

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 4 months.

What was your health and fitness like before starting CrossFit?

Pretty good. I’m quite an active person and will try my hand at most things. I used to spend most of my time pounding the streets and in the gym. Two of my biggest achievements to date was becoming a marathoner and ultra marathoner within a month of each other.

How has your health and fitness changed since starting CrossFit?

It’s really helped with my running. My upper body strength has improved massively and I feel more energised.

What do you love most about training here at Crossfit Leyland?

Sounds a bit cheesy but I Iove everything about CrossFit Leyland. The friendly and supportive members, the highly knowledgeable and skilled coaches, the brilliant workouts. I get FOMO when I don’t come into the gym for more than a couple of days!!

Do you have any health / fitness / CrossFit goals that you are working towards in 2019?

My original goal when I joined was to lose weight. But since becoming a member, I just want to keep learning and improve on the skills. Get stronger, especially with my upper body strength. As a child I always wanted to be a gymnast, now little by little my dream could come true. Oh and to be able to do ONE Strict Pull up!!