July Athlete of the Month – Sarah Elliott

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do for a living?
   1. Hi all!  I’m Sarah.  I’m a Loudoun native and grew up here in Leesburg, VA.  I’ve moved away twice, but I just keep coming back.  I now live in Purcellville with my husband, Ryan, and our two rescue pups, Charlie and Millie.  I’m a Physical Therapist and work in Ashburn with a lot of the high school athletes and specialize in post-op rehab, concussions/vestibular, and all the other injuries that come with orthopedics!  I love to ski, drink wine, and call myself a Hokie.  When I was younger, I played soccer, figure skated, and ran half marathons.  Fun fact, I also play the flute!

• What brought you in to Catoctin CrossFit? What made you want to stay?
  • I first heard about CCF from a fellow Catoctin Crossfitter, Rob Adams!  He was a patient of mine while I was in the process of closing on my house and looking for a new gym and he convinced me to come check CCF out.  I was also getting bored of running and lifting on my own, so I knew I needed something different, and I’ve been here ever since.  I’ve stayed because everything here is top notch – my gym friends, the community, the coaching, the programming.  Every day is always a challenge and can be scaled up or down to any level of fitness. Catoctin Crossfit is for everyone and I encourage everyone to keep an open mind and just try it!

• What are some of the changes you’ve experienced since starting at Catoctin CrossFit that were unexpected (new friends, goals, social events, etc.)?
  • I did a nutrition challenge (Bod Squad) when I first started and gained over 4% muscle mass in just 6 weeks!  I also went from barely knowing anything about Olympic weightlifting to learning the movement patterns and increasing weight in my first few months, which has helped me become a better athlete and PT for my patients who do Olympic lifts.  I feel strong and my general level of fitness has never been better.  I mean, I do rope climbs and pull ups now, no one can stop me. 

• What was your first day at CCF like and what motivates you to keep coming back to Catoctin CrossFit.
  • I was initially intimidated because I didn’t know the terminology and hadn’t done anything with a barbell in few years.  I quickly bonded with a few other newcomers and had a great time!  The coaches explained everything very well and made sure I was comfortable with the movements and equipment before each lifting/conditioning/accessory section started.

• Tell us some of your recent accomplishments. What goals do you have for this year?
  • I PR’d all the lifts in the Open this year and I’ve started to string together more toes to bar and pull ups!  One of my life goals this year is to read more.  I used to love reading, but undergrad/grad school textbooks really sucked the fun out of it and now I’m trying to make my way back to reading physical books…for fun.  Not just for learning.  I also want to improve my Murph time from last year.

• What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about trying a class at Catoctin CrossFit?
  • Keep an open mind and just try it!  Everyone is friendly and eager to help. 

• What is something that CrossFit has taught you about yourself and how has it made your life better?
  • I am mentally stronger and more competitive than I used to think I was.  I don’t have an aggressive bone in my body, but if the person on the assault bike in the class before me hit 50 calories, then I’m hitting 51.  It’s made me work harder and be a better athlete. 

• Do you have a favorite workout? What movements does your favorite workout include?
  • I loved the Murph last year and think it may just be my favorite workout.  My favorites are also squats and cleans!

• What does your frequently used emoji tab look like? (screen shot it and send it).
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1. What has been your favorite non-CrossFit program or event at Catoctin CrossFit that you’ve attended?
   1. I went to a pilates and wine event at Kalero Vineyard that was a good time!  I also try to make all the yoga classes they offer on Sundays.