Most of my professional career was spent in news radio, but in 1997, I signed up for the Reston Triathlon, and things haven’t been the same since. I lumbered through the 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and 10k run, hating each segment more than the last. And yet, as soon as I crossed the finish line, I thought to myself, “I can’t wait to do that again.”

And that’s the power of sports/athletics/intense exercise. It has a way of hooking you. There is joy in this kind of suffering.

That race lead to more triathlons, marathons, and eventually the Ironman (swim 1.2 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles).  I got certified as a Tri Coach and personal trainer.  Fast forward to 2009, and I was no longer just a weekend warrior, I was coaching clients.  I started a boot camp at Lafayette Elementary school: 10 people showed up, and I’ve never looked back.

I got into CrossFit because I noticed new athletes winning tri races.  They weren’t long and lean.  They were muscular.  They didn’t do long hard runs.  The trained in short, intense sprints.  I got my CrossFit Endurance certification, and I was hooked. Six months later, we opened Second Wind CrossFit.

I am most proud of the community we’ve built at Second Wind – a supportive and caring group of people who want to be fit, healthy, live long lives…and have fun doing it.  I count myself lucky everyday to have found my own second wind.

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 3)
• CrossFit Endurance
• CrossFit Gymnastics
• CrossFit Kids
• CrossFit Mobility
• USA Weightlifting Level 1
• USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach
• A.C.E. Personal Trainer

• T: @2ndWindCrossFit
• E: steve@secondwindcrossfit.com
• P: 202-722-1793

Most of my professional career was spent programming computers, but in 2010 I started getting interested in “the sport of fitness”.  I found a second home in Second Wind and couldn’t be happier to carry the torch lit by the previous owner, Steve Dolge.

I am most proud of the community we’ve built at Second Wind – a supportive and caring group of people who want to be fit, healthy, live long lives… and have fun doing it.

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• T: @2ndWindCrossFit
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/secondwindcrossfit
• E: grant@secondwindcrossfit.com
• P: 202-643-6439

I was never an athlete.  I did gymnastics in middle school, danced in high school and college, but was never into traditional sports.  I lasted half a season on the high school track team.   As an adult, my office softball team was so desperate for a fifth female to quality, they recruited me even though they had to teach me how to throw, catch and hit a ball.

I’ve had gym memberships, watching CNN while pedaling to nowhere on the ellipticals, never seeing results from my “hard work.” After my two sweet baby girls were born, I cancelled my gym membership and got the ubiquitous jog stroller.

A few years back,  Steve was running a boot camp outside the kids’ school.  It was convenient and several of my friends did it as well.  I felt good and even noticed some results (imagine that).  When Steve announced he was opening a gym, we all assumed it would be the same routine, just indoors.  But by the time we realized what CrossFit was, we were already CrossFitters!

I love the variety of CrossFit. I love that anyone can do it at their own intensity and get results, how we all have different strengths and challenges, yet muscle through the same WOD and encourage each other to finish strong!  I love that each WOD is a step towards bettering myself, both physically and mentally.  I love lifting barbells over my head!  I have muscles!

I coach CrossFit classes and Barbell Bettys.

I live in DC with my husband Scott (who you’ll see at the gym), my two teenage daughters, and our dog Chase.

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting

After college, I volunteered in rural Costa Rica, teaching free community exercise classes to mixed groups of preschoolers, moms, teens, seniors, field workers, competitive boxers, the occasional dog or iguana – you name it. I was on an endless search for ways to keep the exercises dynamic, engaging, and adaptable to all fitness levels. I came across the CrossFit website (this was before CrossFit was a household word), and before long, the high school students were earning their community service hours by creating suspension trainers made out of rope and rice bags, coconut med balls filled with rocks, tree stump boxes, and tire obstacle courses.

When I returned to D.C. after over 4 years in the jungle, CrossFit had exploded in the States. I joined Second Wind immediately, and we’ve been in love ever since. 

Growing up, all I ever wanted to do was play sports. I played soccer, basketball, lacrosse, rugby, and ran track. In college I started running marathons and then realized that triathlons are way more fun. I like to compete but I love to train. My motto has always been to “get uncomfortable in order to get comfortable.”

I love coaching because I’m a sucker for a good success story, especially when it’s sitting in a puddle of sweat and tears. 

I coach CrossFit classes, the Legends class, personal training, and foundations.  I’m also a nutrition coach, and run specialty classes for kids and teens.

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• Certified Personal Trainer (NASM)
• Healthy Steps Nutrition Coach
• CrossFit Kids
• CrossFit Weightlifting
• NASM Senior Fitness Specialty

I found Crossfit through a friend who was training to enter the Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School. I’m not sure why he invited me – at the time I was one year removed from a DII Collegiate Cross Country career, running by myself 5-6 days a week, with zero upper body strength, and was a recovering vegan.  I love running, but heavy endurance training and a bad diet had left me weak and sick. I suspect he just wanted me to start eating meat again, and if I lifted some weights I’d be finally hungry enough to hear the siren song of bacon cheeseburgers. He was right.

We were at Five Guys by week three.

That first night, the coach asked us each to share our motivation for starting Crossfit. Many of the answers were what you’d expect: weight loss, cross training for marathons, an efficient way to stay in shape. I remember drawing a complete blank. Why WAS I here? I could barely do two push-ups. I was certain I was physically incapable of ever doing a pull-up.

When it was my turn to speak I took a breath, straightened up, and answered: “I want to feel powerful.”  The coach looked surprised. “Well…yeah,” he said, “Good answer.” And from that day on, I have felt more powerful than I ever thought possible.

My favorite workouts include long endurance components and Olympic lifting.

I coach CrossFit classes, Barbell Bettys, personal training, and foundations.  And yes, I can do push ups and pull ups.

I’m still waiting for Steve to program my special WOD: Snuggles for Time.

(Editor’s note: Ain’t gonna happen.)

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• CrossFit Kids
• CrossFit Gymnastics

My introduction to Crossfit was in 2008. I had a friend visiting from Colorado and we went to my upscale DC gym for a mid-vacation workout. Instead of doing the requisite dumb bell curls and elliptical, my friend whipped out a sweaty couplet of box jumps and double-unders. At the time I may have poked a bit of fun at my friend doing something different, but she was on to something.

My favorite thing about Crossfit is how it inspires me. The elite athletes are obvious inspirations—they’re absolutely amazing!  But I’m most inspired by the everyday athletes who persevere to overcome their physical challenges (injury, obesity, disease, age) to be better than they were the day before.

My favorite workouts are the ones that get me outside of my comfort zone. It’s good to be humbled.

I ran cross-country in high school and played club volleyball in college. I was also a competitive flipcup player in my past life.

I coach CrossFit classes, foundations and personal training.

Why I’m not working out at SWCF or coaching, I enable scientists to discover novel biomarkers.  I love to go hiking and camping with my dog.

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• CrossFit Gymnastics

When I walked into Second Wind in September 2012, I was in the worst shape of my life. I had always been athletic – track and basketball in high school, running and the requisite Total Body Sculpt and step classes in my 20s and 30s – but the happy work of being mom to two daughters paired with three years back at a paying job had gotten the best of me. I wanted to feel like myself again, and that meant making time for exercise.

I knew Second Wind was the answer the minute I walked in the door. Steve and Michelle had created such a welcoming environment that somehow CrossFit didn’t seem so terrifying anymore. After just a few humbling workouts, I was hooked.  For me, it was nothing short of life changing. I’ve never been stronger, fitter or happier – and I’m not done yet!

I love coaching because, honestly, I get more excited about other people’s accomplishments than I do my own. It makes my day to be at the gym when someone hits a PR or gets their first double under or muscle up. I love knowing each person’s goat and how hard they’re working to get better at it. I never get tired of seeing new athletes come through Foundations or Barbell Bettys and have those “Holy $#!*, I totally just did that!” moments. It’s the best.

Give me a barbell with some plates on it and let me pick it up a bunch of different ways, and I’m the happiest girl in the room. And I don’t hate wall balls.  I coach CrossFit classes and Barbell Bettys.

I’m lucky enough to have three jobs I love: mom, CrossFit coach, and DC Public Schools early intervention manager for Early Stages’ amazing Child Find outreach team. Someone pinch me!

Certifications:

• Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 2)
• CrossFit Kids
• CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting

I found Crossfit by chance. After my wife Lisette and I moved to 16th Street Heights, my afternoon running route took me down 14th Street and past the front door of Second Wind. There were always  athletes outside lifting heavy weights, running, and generally looking pretty bad-ass. I was intimidated but intrigued.

I went through foundations and knew immediately that I’d begun something amazing. With new-found enthusiasm, I came in for my first workout post-foundations and encountered ‘Nasty Girls’. It left me dead on the couch for an hour. The first time I did Fran a few months later, Lisette looked at me lying flat on the floor and asked if she needed to take me to the Emergency Room. When I replied, ‘no,’ she asked Steve to double-check. I secretly relished the feeling and kept coming back.

Since joining SWCF, I’ve been on an incredible adventure. Some days, I’ve set a new PR and gotten to ring the bell. Other days, I’ve finish in last place, gasping for breath. I’ll never forget the frustration I felt the first time I got time-capped on a workout. 

I really enjoy working with new members, as they are eager to learn and improve.

When I’m not at the gym, I own a restaurant and bar consulting business. Prior to that, I spent 15 years working in restaurants in various capacities; as a bartender, manager, and owner. I’m also a sommelier and love some of the wines coming out of Virginia.

Most days, I just feel better about life once I’ve had a chance to push around a heavy barbell. On weekends, you’ll find me training for obstacle course and adventure racing.  I coach CrossFit classes.

Certifications:

Certified CrossFit Trainer (Level 1)