Kris B.

What were you doing before CrossFit

As the interim General Manager at the private club at Pebble Beach in CA, my job was to BE ‘The Jones’, not to keep up with them.  It was my duty to understand the latest and greatest in the fitness world, before everyone else, and bring it to Pebble Beach.  Doing so, I conquered P90X and Insanity, ran marathons, century rides, surfed & SUP’d, and mastered the Nike Training Club (not to mention the Shake Weight, Giselle, & The Rack!).  These workouts were unsocial and unoriginal without enough challenge for my personal life, so I joined a gym.  Spin, R.I.P.P.E.D, Abs & Assets, and Sculpt didn’t provide the opportunity to push myself to the extent I needed.  When I left Pebble Beach for a summer stint in MN, I knew it was my opportunity for change.

Why did you start doing CrossFit

CrossFit was the one thing that I couldn’t bring to Pebble Beach.  It was also the only workout I didn’t know anything about.  I trained to bike from Seattle to San Diego but concerned family asked me to reconsider the journey.  As excited and nervous as I was for the ride, I knew I had to accomplish something else that I was afraid of.  And CrossFit was at the top of the list.

What apprehensions did you have before starting

I was apprehensive about EVERYTHING CrossFit!  I was afraid I’d look like a man.  I feared building major muscle mass that would require upkeep the rest of my life.  I GOOGLED something like ‘women being afraid of CrossFit’ and found a video that freaked me out even more!  I was intimidated that I wouldn’t be strong enough or tough enough to cut the cake.  I worried that CrossFit wouldn’t follow safe practices and that I could get injured.  But you don’t know what you don’t know.

What made you decide to come CrossFit SISU

I came to a cross roads in my life where I needed a physical challenge to keep my mind busy, and I found it!  The Coaches at SISU know the mechanics of the body and have impeccable attention to detail.  I stopped by to check it out and was impressed with the positive attitude of everyone.  After that, I couldn’t find a reason not to join.  CrossFit SISU is a fitness environment that is 100% welcoming without ego.  SISU has an incredibly diverse group of athletes and coaches.  I quickly realized that for the first time, I wasn’t the healthiest-most-fit person in the room!  And to be honest, that was reassuring!

What’s the greatest benefit you see so far since starting CrossFit and SISU

Camaraderie and Aloha.  I feel healthy, I feel strong, I feel confident, I feel supported and I feel challenged.  I respect intensity, endurance and stamina.  My body has changed in ways I didn’t think were possible; hips melted, arms defined, abs solid, thighs shaped.  Everything a woman wants, right?  Strong is beauty and beauty is SISU!