We're doubling it up for this next installment of the CrossFit Rochester Athlete Profiles. This one is all about our newest "CrossFit Moms." Denise Lemcke and Michelle "Fiesty" Cavallaro both just had thier first child in the last month...and kept CrossFitting late into thier pregnancies (Denise's water broke at the gym!). Both women are small in stature, but big on heart and presence in the gym... and neither of them is afraid of some good 'ole hard work. Here are Denise and Fiesty's athlete profiles.
How long have you been doing CrossFit?
Denise: I’ve been doing CrossFit for 2 ½ years.
Fiesty: 2 years
What made you get started?
Denise: My husband, Brett, found out about CrossFit from an out-of-town friend and quickly discovered that there was a CF location fairly close to us. At the time, I had been exclusively running. I remember the day we went for our trial WOD… I was super nervous and had done an 11 mile run that morning, but I still loved the push press/jump rope/squat WOD that Joe had us do. Brett and I immediately recognized that CF was something completely different than what we were used to, we were super impressed with Joe’s knowledge and expertise, and we quickly signed up for Fundamentals. We’ve been hooked ever since!
Fiesty: Jeff and I tried it out just out of curiosity because we had friends who kept talking about it but we never expected to stick with it. Once we took fundamentals, we were thoroughly addicted; between the people who go, and differences I saw in my strength and fitness levels, I can’t imagine life without it now! I also told pretty much everyone during fundamentals that you couldn’t pay me enough to wake up at 4:20 am and drive to Perinton for a workout and before I knew it, I felt the exact opposite and I don’t like the days where I DON’T start my day out with CF in the morning!
What have you accomplished that has surprised you?
Denise: Honestly, everything that I’ve accomplished has surprised me. I’ve surpassed every single goal I’ve had for myself, and I’m amazed by how much stronger and faster CF has made me. I can remember thinking that there was no way that I’d ever be able to do a kipping pullup, and now I’m still doing them when I’m 7 months pregnant. The oly lifts were all brand new to me, so being able to actually do them and load up the weight has amazed me. Mostly I’m proud that I’ve been able to do CF through my pregnancy.
Fiesty: Everything! But a few are: being able to do dips, OHS 75 lbs, deadlift my body weight multiple times, box jumps on the 26” box, and given my coordination, just doing wall balls without giving myself a concussion excites me. One of the most exciting things for me was when I continued to PR when I ran 5ks even though I was spending less time running and more time at Crossfit! I was always so worried about not getting enough cardio but my own PR proved me wrong! But I think what has surprised me the most is the fact that because of CF, I have had such an easy pregnancy: no high blood pressure, no back pain, and I have been able to do as I please for the most part (even with only a month left until my due date)!
What is one of your goals?
Denise: My goals have all changed since I found out I was pregnant back in December. Currently, my only goal is to continue to do Crossfit as long as I can through my pregnancy. Before I was pregnant, I really wanted to be able to do a 200# deadlift.
Fiesty: Ha! Well, these days my goals are to be able to just do something when I go but my main goal after the baby gets here is to get back into the shape I was in before I got pregnant. And of course to get a kipping pull-up would be nice!
What is your favorite workout?
Denise: I have a love/hate relationship with most workouts, but pre-pregnancy I liked anything with overhead squats, situps, or running.
Fiesty: Anything with running , box jumps, and OHS! In a sick way I like filthy 50 too. Back when I weighed 100lbs, I liked Tabata workouts the best but they’re certainly not my favorite these days!
What is most challenging?
Denise: The most challenging thing for me in general is when I’m trying my hardest and still can’t do something correctly (yet). If I had to pick just one thing that’s really tough for me, it would be shoulder presses.
Fiesty: Rowing!!!!! (and really heavy lifting like WODs that have 75 thrusters in them).
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in getting started?
Denise: I would encourage everyone and anyone to give CrossFit a try. I would say that you need to have an open mind, be willing to learn…and fail…and succeed…and do it all over again, repeatedly. I would also say that this is so much more than a gym. Where else can you do great workouts with an excellent trainer, get stronger and faster each day, and meet a big group of amazing people who will cheer you on, challenge you, and then head to Starbucks with you afterwards?
Fiesty: I would tell them to absolutely DO IT no matter what their fitness level because everything at crossfit can be scaled and the people who go to crossfit are so genuine, supportive, and encouraging, that they will soon find themselves as part of a family and will be amazed at their own strength, endurance and ability before they even realize it. The most amazing part of crossfit is the unbelievable difference that you see in your own body and strength which in turn makes you healthier, more energetic, and more efficient in your everyday life. (Not to mention, the perks of people asking you how the hell you got such toned arms)! I have never felt better than in the past 2 years that I have been doing crossfit.
What other activities do you do other than CrossFit?
Denise: I love to do anything with my husband, family, and friends – go for a run, hang out by a lake, walk our puppy, grab some coffee, watch movies, read…
Fiesty: Well, again, when I’m not 9 months pregnant, I like to run, trail run, and hike. Not much of a triathlon girl since I don’t know how to swim but maybe I will learn to swim when my baby does and things will change! J I’d like to add that again, because of CF, I’m continuing to do all of my normal activities while in my third trimester of pregnancy because I feel fantastic (which I know is because of CF)!!!
Describe CrossFit in 20 words or less.
Denise: CrossFit is…intense, scalable, fun, and ADDICTING.
Fiesty: One of the essential components of a healthy, fulfilling life as far as I’m concerned!
(Denise - banging out pull-ups about 6 months into her pregnancy, while her husband, Brett, swings. Ok, that just sounded wrong.)
(A pregnant Michelle leading some un-pregnant "farmers" back from a "walk.")
