MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: JORDAN INGALLS
Although I always loved going to the gym, I was hesitant (or maybe just too stubborn) about participating in a CrossFit class. I had multiple friends constantly tell me to just give it a try and I would love it. Spoiler alert: they were right. For some reason I didn’t like the idea of being told what to do to workout or how to warm up. I can confidently say now that these are by far some of my favorite things about Crossfit Clintonville.
Prior to joining CFC in 2019 I was into trying all different kinds of exercise. When I was playing softball in college I absolutely loved being in the weight room. After college, I (very surprisingly) got into running and completed a few marathons and half marathons. I ran consistently for several years. I liked running but quickly got tired of the treadmill when the weather was bad. Eventually I developed a pretty bad case of plantar fasciitis and decided it was time to mix in other forms of exercise.
I then decided that cycling would be my new thing. I bought a road bike and spent most of the first year getting flat tires on the bike trail. I enjoyed the rides (still do from time to time) but I can’t say that I was getting a great workout, especially since I literally set the record for flat tires. At this point I was mixing in running from time to time, which often left my plantar fasciitis bothering me for several days afterwards. Needless to say, I was pretty frustrated.
At some point I decided I would start swimming, which was probably the shortest workout experiment. Although I left the pool everyday exhausted, I’m not sure I was getting a whole lot of exercise. Pretty quickly I went back to a mixture of running, lifting, some yoga and the occasional HIIT workout….of course only ever using exercises that I liked. Needless to say, with the lack of consistency in what I was doing, I saw a pretty significant decline in my fitness ability.
So in the summer of 2019 I finally decided to give CrossFit a chance. Pretty quickly I realized the benefits of the coaching and programming. I rarely ever included a warm up or focused on mobility…despite making that my New Years Resolution for the past 10 years. As a result, I usually felt pretty terrible in the days after my workout. The programming and coaching at CFC has changed that…I can honestly say I have never felt better. The focus on technique and appropriate warm up (thanks, Coaches!) makes a world of difference in how I feel the next day. I realized I actually really like having someone tell me what the workout is and I am far more likely to challenge myself than if I am on my own.
Joining CFC has really changed my perspective on exercise. I used to focus on exercise as something I did to take care of my body. Now, I work harder to take care of my body in an effort to get better at CrossFit. The variation in the length and intensity of the workouts has helped me to be more physically fit than I have been in a long time and also realize that a “good workout” has no standard time length.
The last thing I will add is definitely the most important….the atmosphere at CFC is awesome. Since the first day I walked in the door, everyone that I have met has been super friendly and helpful. The environment is the perfect balance of motivational and supportive. I have really enjoyed being a part of such an encouraging and fun group of people!!
