How did you get in to RUSH?
I started in October with the JumpStart program and decided to continue with the RUSH program. 
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
My favorite part of RUSH is it's a different workout every day, and how the coaches all help you and push you to do better.
 
What motivates you to continue with our RUSH program?
I really enjoy coming and testing myself to see what I can do. As most of these exercises I have never done before. 
 
What are some of your favorite movements?
No exercises are my favorite yet, but I can do the plank hold for awhile, 4 min. is my best. 
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
Finishing the Rumble , half way through I wasn't sure I could do it, but I finished it. 
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH'er?
Keep showing up, if I can do it anyone can. And as they say " The hardest exercise is the door, once your in the rest is easy. "


Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I like to cook, barbecuing and smoking food are my favorites. And also riding my Harley. ​

How did you get in to RUSH?
T: A business associate that knew I had been working out for about a year recommended CrossFit.  I knew that Mark Cafazzo was a member in Hopkinton so I looked it up and decided to join RUSH as a way of easing into it as I had rotator cuff surgery about 5 months prior.
A: With my husband's encouragement - he was convinced I would like it. At my first class, coach Josh asked me if I had any concerns. I hadn't worked out in several years, so I told him I was out of shape and overweight. At the end of class, he told me that I totally could do the RUSH classes. It was the extra boost I needed to get started.
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
T: It works for people of all ability levels and it’s not long before you starts to see results.
A: Every class is different and there's always something that challenges me.
 
What motivates you to continue with our RUSH program?
T: The continuous re-shaping of my body that has occurred from the variety and intensity of the workouts is clearly noticeable. When I first started working out again almost 2 years ago, I lost about 40lbs - that was noticeable - but to still have people tell me that they see a difference in the way I look is confirmation that this program continues to work.
A: The continued support from my husband and the coaches motivates me. Also, the physical changes and the overall feeling of being healthier keeps me going.
 
What are some of your favorite movements?
T: Anything that doesn’t involve the ski.  Hate the ski.
A: I honestly don't think I have favorite movements.
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
T: When my wife, Annie, decided to join me and give it a try and very quickly was asking, “Hey, are we going to RUSH tomorrow?”  We love working out together.
A: I actually have two favorite RUSH memories: the first one is when I was finally able to do box jumps on the tall box. The second one was being able to do 58 burpees in 7 minutes. I had never done a burpee before joining RUSH last June, so I was proud of myself!  :)
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH'er?
T: You will not be sore forever, it goes away the longer you stay with it.  
A: Don’t let yourself be intimidated by what other people are doing. Push yourself a little bit more each class and before you know it, you're going to realize how far you've come.


Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
T: I played keyboards for a Southern Rock cover band for about 5 years.
A: I am a mother of 3 young-adult daughters. I am French-Canadian and proudly became an American Citizen last April. ​

How did you start RUSH?
I started with the Dell CrossFit program and joined full time in July.
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
I really enjoy that workouts are different each time and being able to challenge myself. 
 
What motivates you to continue RUSH?
I want to continue to get stronger and fitter. I would eventually like to run a marathon and enter a spartan or CrossFit competition. Also, the coaches and other members always encourage me during and after each workout.
 
What are your favorite movements?
I really enjoy box jumps, ring rows, push-ups and hollow rocks.
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
Finishing the "Resilience Beep Test" and participating in the Calories For Cancer event.
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH’er? 
 Keep pushing yourself to get stronger and try to meet someone new each workout.
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I love to cook especially Italian food. Some of the favorites are eggplant parm, chicken marsala and stuffed peppers.

​How did you start CrossFit?
I've always been going to the gym dating back to my high school days. About 7-8 years ago I was getting tired of the same routine and was always looking for different types of workouts ranging from Insanity, P90x, boot camps, Spartan races etc. A friend of mine invited me to a Crossfit class about 3 years ago and I was hooked from the start. It was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. 
 
What is your favorite part about CrossFit?
I love that its all encompassing fitness. It incorporates weightlifting and cardio and the workouts are in a competitive fashion which I live for. I needed that after transitioning from playing basketball all the time.
 
What motivates you to continue CrossFit?
Getting better at different movements and always striving for improvement at the ones I can do. It’s great to enjoy something so much while trying to improve your overall fitness level.
 
What are your favorite movements and favorite WOD?
My favorite movements are toes to bar, cleans and snatches. 
My favorite WOD is The Chief
 
What is your favorite CrossFit memory?
Getting my first bar and ring muscle up during the Open.

​How did you start CrossFit?
I was looking for some more structure to my workouts. I tried some of the home workout programs, but those were just OK. My wife works at Boston Scientific and she was telling me about some of her coworkers that did CrossFit there and I decided to give Resilience a try. 
 
What is your favorite part about CrossFit?
Definitely the group setting + live coaching. I feel comfortable trying things I would never try during a solo workout and I really benefit from the accountability of the group. 
 
What motivates you to continue CrossFit?
The first couple of months were really challenging as I tried to figure out how hard to push to get the benefit but avoid injury and feel good the next day. Now that I am in a groove and understand my body a bit better I can keep making progress in reps, weight, movements, etc. at CrossFit and can see the positive impacts outside of CrossFit. 
 
What are your favorite movements and favorite WOD?
I like any body weight or gymnastic movements and the balanced strength they build. Favorite WOD is probably Murph. The huge group working together plus a few of my favorite movements sandwiched by one of my least favorite make it a good challenge.
 
What is your favorite CrossFit memory?
Definitely my first '12 Days of Christmas' WOD. It was at the old space, it was packed and I was only a few months into CrossFit...so it was a real struggle from a physical point-of-view but it was also the most fun I had working out since being with my teams back in high school.
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow CrossFitter? 
Pace yourself in the beginning and let your body get used to all the new movements. For the first few months (at least) all the workouts were just survival for me, but once I started focusing more on the right scale for me I was able to stay healthy and then start to push harder for less time, more weight or harder movements.
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I enjoy coaching youth sports and I am active with both the soccer and lacrosse programs in Upton/Mendon...even though I didn't play either of those sports as a kid.

​How did you start RUSH?
I started JumpStart in January after my husband joined Crossfit a couple weeks before and let me know about the JumpStart program. I continued as an OG in RUSH. 
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
I appreciate my fellow Rushers friendliness at 6am and the encouragement of the coaches to keep working hard. 
 
What motivates you to continue RUSH?
Slowly but surely I see and feel the results. I feel healthier and stronger, which makes curious about what else I can accomplish.
 
What are your favorite movements?
I would say my two favorites are SkiErg and jump rope. Really, I like the variety overall. It keeps it interesting and helps me recover.
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
Finally making a box jump without any aids!
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH’er? 
Just do you and keep at it. Know your body’s limitations but push yourself a little each time. You will see progress.
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I ❤️ Boxer Dogs. I love their goofy personalities with just a touch of attitude, smushed faces, and cuddles.

​How did you start RUSH?
February was a dark time. I had just put my dog to sleep, and the Price Chopper had a BOGO on Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. My friend Joseph asked if i wasn’t buttoning my overalls so I could continue to put on girth. I knew I had to make some changes, and I remembered there was this place on South street that had a solution.
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
Leaving class.
 
What motivates you to continue RUSH?
The honest answer is, it’s now just sort of what I do. I’ve lost the power of choice. I have that kind of conversation at 5am, “I’m not going to go today,” and without my own permission I slide out of bed and strap my shoes on.
 
What are your favorite movements?
I really like the rower. I thought I might buy one for my house, but I realized I don’t have to, because I can just go and use the rower at the gym. I even have a passing affection for the ski erg. I don’t know why, because everyone hates the skier. 
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
We had done a workout called “Fortitude,” I think, that involved 1,000 miles of rowing interspersed with several thousand burpees. Each was like dropping a bag of soaking beach towels from height. My face looked like a stop sign, two veins bulging like garden hoses on my forehead. I was quite certain I was going to die. It was a good day.
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH’er? 
Who am I to advise? Keep doing what you’re doing.
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I watch and appreciate cricket. No one does that.

​How did you start CrossFit?
The Rise of the Resilient youth competition last year while I cheered on my son Tommy and all. Tommy and those kids were the initial inspiration to show up the following Monday morning for 0500 class. (Showing up unannounced is a separate story) 
 
What is your favorite part about CrossFit?
In my 20's I went to Golds gym, where I did the simple squat, bench, and deadlift type workouts. I did that as about as dedicated as one could be. A 15-year break from the gym and into CrossFit has me enjoying fitness 10-fold beyond my "old fashioned" work outs. The energy and support here by members and coaches sets us all up for success. I like the adrenal rush I have on the drive in perhaps the best.
 
What motivates you to continue CrossFit?
There have been a few instances over the past year that prevented me from a scheduled class time. A day started in the gym at 0500 always turns out best for me. Knowing that I have the early obligation each morning keeps me on track all day.
 
What are your favorite movements and favorite WOD?
Rope climbs, and pull ups are favorite movements, I am not able to call out a favorite WOD, each day is so different It does not seem like I have done the same workout twice yet.
 
What is your favorite CrossFit memory?
The day recently that Jackie helped me realize a double under can be done...I now work towards the ability to do more than 2 in any given day.
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow CrossFitter? 
If you are a fellow CrossFitter that means still taking advice vs. giving in order to get through the WOD. I am a fan of old-fashioned hard work, I advise to consider every work out another job that must be completed! 
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
Motorcycles, street and dirt I take very seriously. A long tour on a Harley Davidson Ultra always gives me a good full charge.

​How did you start RUSH?
Last spring, my friends got me to sign up for a half marathon (and I have never considered myself a runner, so I really questioning this decision!).  I was also about to start the spring sport season, during which I coach high school softball.  Based on previous years, I knew that I always dropped off of my gym regimen during this season because I was so exhausted by the end of the day and knew with the race coming up I could not let that happen.  My boyfriend suggested I try RUSH at Resilience in the mornings and I was definitely hooked right away! 
 
What is your favorite part about RUSH?
I love the group dynamics.  I have met a lot of people and they are all very motivating and encouraging.  I also love starting off my day with a great workout- It has helped so much with how I feel the rest of the day!
 
What motivates you to continue RUSH?
I love the challenge of the workouts and working at getting new skills/movements. 
 
What are your favorite movements?
I do not necessarily have a favorite movement, but one thing I am shocked by is that after a couple months at RUSH, I surprisingly do not hate burpees anymore- and might even enjoy them a little bit! 
 
What is your favorite RUSH memory?
I have had a lot of fun at Saturday RUSH workouts this summer.  A specific favorite memory was PRing my mile!
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow RUSH’er? 
The best advice I can give is to do whatever you need to get yourself there.  I am not, and never have been, a morning person, so there are a lot of mornings I definitely struggle to get out of bed and go.  Those mornings though, when I can get myself there, I may struggle at first, but once we all get going and the music is playing, I am always happy I got there! 
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I love everything Maine!

How Did you Start CrossFit? 
A friend convinced me to take a CrossFit bootcamp class back in 2009 when we were living in NC.  I was amazed at my progress in a few short weeks but was too intimidated to try the full CrossFit classes. When I came back to MA a year later I nervously took on-ramp classes at CrossFit Center Mass.  It was definitely what I needed and had been looking for.

What is your favorite part about CrossFit?
There is so much I love but I'll keep it short. The biggest benefit besides fitness is the community.  As someone who grew up playing team sports, I desperately needed a supportive group which are more like friends and family. This is one place where being a strong woman is not looked down upon, but encouraged and respected.  I've met amazing people who have inspired me, cheered me on, kept me laughing, and helped me achieve things I wasn't sure I was capable of, including run a half marathon.

What motivates you to continue CrossFit? 
Knowing where I've been and how far I've come is a huge motivation.  There always seems to be something I can improve upon or a new goal I can set for myself - this is not a stagnant sport. 

What are your favorite movements and favorite WOD? 
Power cleans, rowing, and wall balls are some of the top exercises and I appreciate when they are in a WOD.  My favorite WODs tend to be ones that involve the above movements - but I also really like strongman WODs.

What is your favorite CrossFit memory? 
There are many great memories - when gymnastic movements finally clicked or running a PR with RCF running partners. Most recent my husband said he really enjoys CrossFit.  He just joined in October/November.

What is the best advice you can give a fellow CrossFitter? 
Keep coming. ​We're all playing the long game.  ​Make goals.​  Then tell someone about them.  Just a small bit of support (and accountability) goes a long way.  

​Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know. 
I have a very non-nutritional challenge compliant Instagram baking account.  

How did you start CrossFit?
I was a distance runner in my teens and twenties, but I didn't want to just rely on my legs for fitness, so I started doing CrossFit in 2012.  I realized some time later that I needed some instruction to keep me safe and to be a better athlete, so I joined Resilience in 2017.
 
What is your favorite part about CrossFit?
The community of support. I challenge anyone to find a better fitness community than CrossFit, and the Resilience one in particular is top notch.  From the coaches to the members, there isn't a better way to feel like you're a part of something than when you are all working hard towards the same goal of being fit.
 
What motivates you to continue CrossFit?
There's always new challenges, whether it's going for heavier weights, new gymnastics movements, or faster cardio.  CrossFit itself is always changing as well, but the coaches and even some of the experienced members prepare us for it starting at any skill level.
 
What are your favorite movements and favorite WOD?
I never was a gymnast but I've really taken to the gymnastics, so I'm working to get all the movements and then get better from there. "DT" is my favorite WOD because for a long time for me it was impossible to Rx, but eventually I got the strength up and got it under the cap.  Other than that, the WODs that combine cardio, weight, gymnastics, and a little bit of skill are always the most fun for me.
 
What is your favorite CrossFit memory?
There are many, but the most recent one was with the 300# front squat PR.  Some time ago in a lesson we were all asked to just front rack a very heavy weight and just stand there, nothing more, just stand there and feel the tension.  I did that with about 300# at the time and I thought I would never be able to do anything with that heavy of a weight but just stand there. A year or so later, after a few of these strength cycles, I was back- and front-squatting that same 300#.
 
I was so excited nailing the front-squat PR I didn't even re-rack the bar properly and Tom Viveiros had to unjam one side with 130# of plates from the J-hook while the other side dangled.
 
What is the best advice you can give a fellow CrossFitter?
If you're feeling it then don't be afraid to get after a new movement, a better time, or a heavier weight. You'll impress yourself. Talk to people, be safe, take chances!
 
Tell us something about yourself (NOT fitness related) that others might not know.
I'm a Software Director and I've lived in London, England, and before that Syracuse, NY and Northern California. I live in Harvard, MA now with my family.  We also have dog, as well as 21 chickens that I raise for eggs. I can make a killer omelet.