Each month Overland Park CrossFit recognizes a member who exemplifies our values and motivates others in the gym to push themselves with encouraging words. June’s Athlete of the Month is Michaela Myer. Michaela was chosen for several different reasons including her participation in every single Zoom class, her attendance to all of the Zoom workshops that OPCF has put on during this stay-at-home period, her engagement with the OPCF Community FB page, and for the way she has committed to improving her nutrition and fitness habits even while being stuck at home! Her hard work is paying off and we love having Michaela as a part of our OPCF community! Learn more about Michaela below.
How long have you been working out at Overland Park CrossFit? I started consistently going to OPCF at the beginning of March (right before all the lock down stuff…….I have great timing!)
What were your thoughts after your first CrossFit workout? Do you remember what it was? I don’t remember the whole workout but I remember it had squats while holding a plate in front of you. I also remember after class I sat in my car for about 5 minutes and then called my mom crying because my arms hurt so bad I didn’t think I could drive home!
What has been your favorite workout so far? I surprisingly really enjoy The Chief as well as Grace. I think I like The Chief because there are rest times programmed into the workout. I feel like when I know a rest is coming, I tend to push myself a little harder. I like Grace because I just feel super strong afterwards!!
What is your favorite cheat meal? A whole lot of Mexican food! I absolutely love going to Mi Ranchito and getting their cream cheese chicken enchiladas with some queso and guac. Yummmmm!!! Might have to work really hard this week so I can have that this weekend!
What did you want to be when you grew up and where do you work now? Starting in 6th grade I was set on being an accountant. (I know….super exciting and really dreaming big!) I got my degree in accounting and then realized it was a little boring for me! So I moved into analytics because it was still a lot of numbers and math, which I’m good at, but it seemed more exciting. It’s honestly been a good fit for me because I get to work with so many different people and am challenged daily. By the time this is posted, I will have started my first supervisor role for customer support and analytics at Compass Minerals.
What do you like to do outside of work? I really love going hiking! My dad and I often take a week and head west to go on hiking trips. My favorite hike was when we tackled Angels Landing at Zion National Park. It’s one of the scariest hikes in the world and I had the best time!! Outside of that, I really love going off roading with some jeep friends, going to the dog park or hiking with my pup, watching sports, or just sitting outside on a nice day and reading a book.
What advice would you give a newbie just starting at OPCF? Check your ego at the door. You have to come in open to whatever happens. If you have a certain “standard” in mind, you’re not going to fully enjoy what you are doing. And don’t compare yourself to anyone else in the gym. Focus on your workout, your weight, your time and just compete against yourself. That’s how you get better every day!
What is your favorite/least favorite movement? My favorite would be cleans. Especially some heavy power cleans or a high rep count of light power cleans! My least favorite would be wall balls and the Assault bike. I feel like I can never breathe effectively during either of them!
What’s one CrossFit goal you have set for yourself to accomplish this next year? I really want to focus on being consistent with my workouts and my diet. I want to get down to a size I’m more comfortable at and can move better at. Then, I would really like to do a CrossFit competition!
What changes have you seen in yourself since starting at OPCF? I’ve become a lot more confident in myself. And this surprisingly came earlier in my journey than I thought it would! I didn’t think I would gain confidence until my body looked a certain way or I could lift a certain weight, but instead, my confidence has come from this amazing community! It doesn’t matter if I finish first or last in a workout, or if I do the most weight or the least weight, the cheers and congratulations after finishing a workout are the same. Everyone here just wants to see everyone win and that will make anyone feel very confident!
What is your biggest improvement or proudest accomplishment thus far? When I first started CrossFit at OPCF, I could barely run a 200 without walking (which was really defeating since I used to run marathons). But just the other day I ran a mile without walking! I know that may not seem like a huge accomplishment, but my cardio has been the hardest thing for me getting back into CrossFit. That one mile showed me that my dedication to this journey is already paying off!
How do you fit working out into your weekly schedule? I just make it a priority. I tell myself it’s something that I absolutely can’t miss, like a doctor’s appointment or something. I’m not going to lie, there are still days I have to really force myself to go. But once I see everyone’s face, I’m always so glad I did it.
What is something you have always wanted to do but haven’t yet? I really want to be able to do kipping pull ups, handstand push-ups, and muscle-ups. I know it’s going to take a lot of work to get there, but I’m more motivated now than ever!!