Marnie Flowers

Congrats Marnie!

Marnie is always cheerful and excited to be in class and at social gatherings!  She has participated in almost every event and fundraiser we’ve had for the past 6 months!  She is always motivating people and encouraging others to try their hardest.  Her constant enthusiasm and drive to do work is what makes her an ideal member of the month! 

Congrats Marnie!  Keep being awesome!

1. Were you active prior to CrossFit?

I’ve been active throughout my life, but nothing compares to CrossFit. You had me at AMRAP. Just being one of two girls who could do pullups at my old gym put you in the badass category. Now I’m just trying to catch up with all the amazingly strong women at the Cov, struggling to achieve proper weightlifting form (never knew that existed before), and being able to talk after WOD completion without ingesting extreme levels of oxygen.

2. When did you first start doing CrossFit?

A lot of my Army friends were doing CrossFit across the nation and I knew when I moved to the Cov that I was going to join the cult, err uhh, I mean the fun. The first weekend after I moved here in September 2012, I visited the Cov and the rest is history. If you know me, you know I am never satisfied. I always want to be better, and it’s excruciating to be patient when your body is trying to get stronger. But honestly. the strength and endurance I have gained since being at the Cov is pretty significant. So if you’re reading this wondering if you should try it out, stop questioning and come! You will not regret it!!

3. What were your thoughts after your first workout?

I have a few blurred memories of my very first CF WODs. The lack of oxygen and the language barrier are the main culprits of this memory lapse. Not only are you learning that there are actually techniques to lifting weights, but also you have to remember which lifts go to what names, while trying to piece together CrossFit’s own dictionary ‘o acronyms. Geesh, I thought the Army was bad! And oh, did I mention you also have to count your reps? I cannot tell you how many times I did double the work because I counted both sides as one when it should have been two, while the rest of the class was way ahead of me and I’m damning myself for being such a loser. Ha! But then you hear a random voice hit the recesses of your mind, “Go, Marnie!” or “You can do it!” and that support pushes you forward when you think you can no longer go on.

4. What do you enjoy the most about CrossFit?

Hands down, the relationships you build with the other people who are also pushing themselves and their bodies to go the distance is the best part of CrossFit. I definitely get a huge endorphin rush from the workouts and my personality is a great fit with this type of physical, mental, and emotional challenge. But at the end of the day, it’s the people who keep me coming back.

5. What were your goals when you first started and what are they now?

Heck, when I first started my goal was to try to get through the WODs without puking, even with all the modifications. Now it’s different, way different. Now I want to Rx every WOD and I want to be able to do all the skills. I have set short-term goals of being able to lift my body weight for any kind of over-the-body lifts. And for my squats I want to be able to get to 40-50 lbs over my body weight. In addition to that, I have certain skills that I will master by the end of the year – I will, I will, I will!

 

6. What is your favorite CrossFit movement?

 

Well of course my favorite movements are the ones that I can do relatively well. Those include pushups, situps, ring dips, and pullups. But put those into a killer WOD and it’s almost like you’re back at the drawing board. So, I want to be able to master all of those while oxygen deprived.

7. What is your least favorite movement?

My no-kidding, ultimate CrossFit nemesis movement is double unders. I don’t know who determined those should be a mandatory CrossFit move, but I definitely have some choice words for that dude or dudette. And now I hear rumor of triple unders sneaking into our WODs…. Are you kidding me? Oh the life of a CrossFitter is never complete!

8. What kind of nutrition plan do you follow and has that changed since you started CrossFit?

I don’t believe in diets, but I do believe in clean eating. I mainly eat fresh fruits and veggies. I’m not a huge meat eater, but I do like fish a lot. When I eat grains, it’s always whole wheat pasta or brown rice. I’m not big on sweets, but that’s only because I don’t buy them and I do NOT bring them into my house. I will have an occasional dessert when I go out. I don’t deprive myself, but I am disciplined in that I know my limitations and do a decent job balancing my intake.

 9. Talk about your results from doing CrossFit?

Like I mentioned above, I am very hard on myself and I have high expectations. I have always pushed myself to the limits – in work and in play. Although I get great satisfaction from CrossFit, it has also been a source of great disappointment. I compare CrossFit to a semi-dysfunctional relationship. It’s like I want this guy so bad, and some days he wants me too, and when he does, it is ohhh sooo good. You leave on an amazing high, you tell all your girlfriends about him, you fantasize about how awesome he is, you can’t wait to see him again, and you get excited every time wondering what you will do with each other. But that CrossFit? He’s super moody. And some days CrossFit just doesn’t want to deal with you. No matter how hard you work, you just don’t measure up. But you want more, you want more, and you try and you try to get more. So yeah, of course you get stronger, and of course you get faster, but every time you reach a goal, you set that goal a few rungs higher. The bottom line is, if you’re looking for a workout community that always is challenging, then CrossFit is the community for you!

10. Have you made any new friends at CrossFit Covington?

 

Let me tell you! If it wasn’t for CrossFit Covington, I wouldn’t have many friends. I’ve been with the Army for over 22 years. Whenever we move, there is always a support system available and you make friends with the other families. But I didn’t move here with the Army this time. In September when I moved here, it was the first time I had ever been in the Cincy/NKY area in my life and I didn’t know anyone. But as soon as I stepped into the Cov, I met my first CF bestie. And then I met more and more wonderful people – people who I consider my family now. I look forward to seeing them every day in the WODs and in the after wodwork (what we call our remedial homework). We hang out after workouts and on the weekends. I’m so thankful for my CrossFit family and I am supremely humbled by all the love that the Cov has bestowed upon me.

I can’t end without saying how much I have learned at CrossFit Covington. The trainers are amazing, knowledgeable, and helpful. They have established an environment that is conducive to building strength, gaining endurance, and making lifelong friends. Thank you, CrossFit Covington! I love the Cov