Athlete of the Month

All of us who work out here at Mission CrossFit SA train hard.  We are all on our own journey in pursuit of a higher level of fitness, health and ultimately, life.  It is not an easy journey, but it’s worth it. It requires hard work, sweat, discipline, and perseverance.  The journey is filled with challenges, obstacles, and sometimes-even setbacks.  And although every person’s road is unique, it is not a solo endeavor. We are in the pursuit of fitness together. Like a team, when a person is knocked down, the group responds by picking them up. Equally as important, when someone succeeds, their accomplishments are enjoyed and celebrated by the whole.  To that end, every month, one person will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in fitness, whether they are in or out of the box.

This page is dedicated to that individual who portrays what CrossFit is at Mission CrossFit SA.  It is someone who pushes hard, never gives up and wants to accomplish something each day they step foot inside our gym.  They are chosen by their peers and lead by example.  The athlete doesn’t necessarily lift the most amount of weight, or win every WOD, but instead they have passion and desire for what their individual goal is.  Work hard, everyone is always paying attention, and you could be next!

Athlete of The Month – May 2013

Name: Gerald Barnes

Started Crossfit: May 2012

Favorite WOD: Anything Hard

Least favorite WOD: Anything with lots of running.

Favorite lift: Front/Back Squats

Least favorite lift: Overhead Squats

Story:

I started my Crossfit adventure on a whim almost one year ago not sure if it was going to be right for me. I still remember my first elements class with Neal I had trouble doing 5 burpees in a row and thought, what am I doing here, but I stuck with it. I think I only went to two classes a week for the first month and it took me three days after each workout just to walk normally again.

When I started at MCFSA I don’t think I had done anything physical for about six years, and I was at my largest at 220 pounds. I thought I would be able to lose the weight fast in a month or two but for months after starting I didn’t see any weight change. As time went by I did start to notice the workouts started to get easier, and I started needing fewer modifications for the workouts, and that’s when I started noticing I wasn’t losing weight but I was losing inches. It wasn’t until the Paleo challenge in December that I started to address my diet and I lost about 12 pounds during that challenge. At that point I was able to do all workouts without modification and at the prescribed weight and losing that weight gave me a huge confidence boost and I started setting small goals and pushed myself to achieve them.

I think my biggest change has come in the last few months with my second Paleo Challenge, where I lost an additional 23 pounds, and deciding to enter the Crossfit Open Challenge. I surprised myself in the open; I was able to do things I thought were impossible just a year ago. I am so grateful to everyone in the gym for their help and support in my journey to get in shape and I look forward to continuing to improve and becoming an even stronger athlete, Crossfit Open 2014!!!

  1. Stephen Takach
    June 9, 2011 at 6:26 pm | #1

    Lets Do It…

  2. Collanne West
    June 9, 2011 at 8:24 pm | #2

    And we can’t forget our fearless leader, Drew Bignall, who is going to take the South Cenral Regionals by storm!!!

    • Stephen Takach
      June 15, 2011 at 12:13 am | #3

      DUH!

  3. Collanne West
    June 9, 2011 at 8:25 pm | #4

    Central

  4. June 10, 2011 at 2:11 pm | #5

    you kats are awesome, best of luck next weekend.

  5. Amanda Ternan
    November 20, 2011 at 5:21 pm | #6

    Congrats Ang! XOXO Amanda

  6. Jenny Cook
    December 2, 2011 at 4:25 pm | #7

    Awesome Jim! :-)

    • Jim Phillips
      December 6, 2011 at 3:05 am | #8

      Thanks.

  7. Caesar M.
    February 5, 2012 at 10:03 am | #9

    ahhhhhh…. Greg is my motivation, reason why i started!!!!!!

  8. Jess Massay
    March 5, 2012 at 5:28 pm | #10

    Honored and humbled….that’s what I am. Thanks to all the wonderful folks at Mission who have made me stick it out even when I don’t want to. It’s been a team effort and all I can say is that I would have never stuck with it if it weren’t for the great people, positive energy and just plain, fun:)

    Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
    ~ William James ~

    jess

  9. Rose Harenda
    May 8, 2012 at 10:29 pm | #11

    Congratulations, Peter!!!! Such a hard worker, never gives up! Way to go!!!!
    XOXOXOX
    Rose

  10. Gianna
    June 4, 2012 at 1:35 pm | #12

    Congratulations Christin and Dustin y’all are amazing and I’m glad I had the pleasure of meeting you…thanks for all the help in the mornings I’ve enjoyed lifting with you…I wish the best for both of you in Galveston and your futures!!! 
    Gianna

  11. Hilary
    November 9, 2012 at 4:04 pm | #13

    Congrats James! Very well deserved!

  12. Jenn Berg
    November 30, 2012 at 5:31 pm | #14

    James, I knew you were crazy, but this goes above and beyond! Congrats on all your continued success!

  1. December 1, 2011 at 2:33 pm | #1
  2. January 2, 2012 at 7:57 pm | #2
  3. February 4, 2012 at 7:19 pm | #3
  4. March 5, 2012 at 3:41 pm | #4
  5. July 16, 2012 at 3:25 pm | #5
  6. November 9, 2012 at 3:36 pm | #6

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