Congratulations to Joanna who has been crushing it with us for nearly half a year now! If you’ve taken a class with Joanna before you know how hard of a worker she is. She never makes an excuse to skip a class. We were fortunate enough to have her do a little Q&A with us that you can check out below! Thanks for being a rock start Joanna!
1. How did you first hear about CrossFit?
I first heard about CrossFit in 2012 through friends and people I worked with. I actually started it back then—but I only went for maybe two or three months. I heard about Firewall from James Neal and I decided I was bored with what I was doing so I came to try a class. Obviously, I liked it more this time around since it’s been five months.
2. What is your favorite part about CrossFit Firewall?
There are so many things that I love about Firewall, but the biggest thing is definitely the people there—coaches and athletes. Everyone is so kind and positive and I look forward to going every day. It has been especially nice meeting other parents who are cool with locking their kids in a room with the TV so they can get one hour to themselves.
3. What piece of advice can you give someone who is unsure about trying CrossFit?
I would say just try it. Whether it’s showing up for one class or if you aren’t sure you can do a movement, just do it. I tried something new and different and I ended up loving it, but you won’t know if you don’t give it a try.
4. Has CrossFit helped you with everyday life outside the gym? If so, how?
CrossFit has certainly helped me with life outside of the gym. I feel like I have better posture for carrying my children places against their will. I also make my husband feel like less of a man because I don’t need him for moving big stuff, so that’s a huge bonus. I also find my increased athletic ability has given me confidence in a predominately male workplace.
5. What do you do for work?
I am stay at home mom for most of the week and then I work as a firefighter at Logan airport when I’m not working at home.
6. How many days a week do you workout typically?
I work out just about every day. I am lucky in that when I’m at work I can sneak an hour or two in the gym. I am actually very lucky that I have cool people to work out with there and we usually end up doing something almost as painful as CrossFit. Every day that I am not at work I make sure I am at Firewall. I know I need to take rest days, but I need it for my mental health more.
7. When you retire, where is your dream house to retire to?
I am going to have three retirement homes, one will be with my kids and wherever they end up, one will be somewhere up north for skiing, and the other will be on a beach somewhere warm.
8. What’s your favorite Netflix show you’ve ever watched?
The only Netflix show I watch is The Office. I think I have gone through all of the seasons 20 times and I still look forward to watching ten minutes of an episode before I pass out on the couch at 7:30. It still makes me laugh and I’m sure to quote it at least once a day.
9. Would you rather be without elbows or without knees?
I guess knees. What kind of a question is this? I’m pretty sure they can give anyone knees or elbows if they can do face transplants. But I could deal with walking funny and having to bend at the hips. I could not deal with not being able to eat.