I sat down with Sara over some La Croix one recent afternoon after work. We were joined by her new dog, Pete.
How long have you been at the shop? I feel like once you arrived you jumped all the way in.
Since December. Almost a year. My previous trainer was the manager at Frame. Their classes are a mix of our strength and fusion, or fusion if there is a strength portion. The main difference is that it was all go at your own pace. When you moved on to the next thing, you would go to the trainer and ask them to show you the next thing. She was leaving and going to a big box gym and it was too far from me. And there was this place I would pass by on my way to Frame every day, so I’m going to check it out.
You do fusion and strength and run group.
And now yoga. Actually I’m not doing any fusion right now (sheepish). I had to cut it out because I’m training for a 5 k. For me, that’s a lot of running. I was doing three fusion and three strength. And I had to take two fusions away to do two run days. I run with the group once and once on my own. And then I took away my last fusion for yoga because my body just gets so tight. I’ve been going 6:30 am at Manor. It was just me and one other person this morning, so it was personal yoga. It was awesome. And it really helps.
How does fitness fit in with your larger life?
I feel like, at least for my lifestyle and body type, I have to work out. So I just made it part of my normal routine. That’s why I work out every morning, because usually I have stuff doing on after work. I also really like working out. It’s a stress reliever for me.
Where do you work?
It’s a tech consultant. It’s called agile velocity. It’s small. There are 12 people. I’m also a wedding coordinator. I do that on the side. The most I’ve ever done in a year is seven. That’s too many.
Do you have any specific goals you’re working on right now that you want to share?
Well, I’m doing Veronica’s FuelUp program!
Yes, how is it going?
It’s going. It was hard for me at first bc to me it started feeling like it was a diet not a lifestyle change, so I got a little confused but V and I talked through it. I’m on Phase 1, so I’m just paying attention to how I’m feeling and it says to limit yourself to eating out one meal per week, which is impossible for me with work and weekends. Realistically, how about three or four? I honestly didn’t think I ate out more than that, but the program made me open my eyes to the fact that I was eating out a lot more than I thought I was.
Any goals in the gym?
Just try to stay in good shape and tone up. And my 5k. I’m kind of regretting signing up for a 5k. It’s November 18th, I think then I’ll be back in fusion. I know Doug accomplished a pull up. I’d like to be able to do that someday.
Have you noticed any changes, mentally or physically, since starting here?
Um, ya! Before I started here, I didn’t know all that my body was capable of as far as weight lifting bc even when we did that at my old gym, we never did community gains type stuff where you’re maxing out, so that was really cool to see that. I didn’t know that I could lift so much.
What do you value about your classes?
The trainers are really awesome. Keith always corrects me when I’m doing something wrong, even though I get frustrated when I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be doing. And being able to modify stuff. There was awhile when I had hurt my ankle and he let me modify. Sometimes it was a lot of things. And the community here too. I’ve made a lot of good friends here.
What keeps you coming regularly?
I feel like there is an aspect of accountability. People expect to see me, so people will ask “where were you yesterday?” which is hard lately bc I’ve switched up my schedule. So, I say “I promise, I’m still going, I went on Thursday not Wednesday.” Jake last week asked me where I was. I was at yoga at Manor. Since I’m not doing Wednesday morning strength bc of yoga, I’m doing Thursday strength in the morning.
What’s your favorite movement?
Back squats.
What’s your least favorite?
Probably front squats. – Laughs.
Actually, no. I really hate burpees
Why do you hate burpees so much?
I don’t know. I just really don’t like them.
Have you made any special friendships? Do you want to give anyone a shout out?
Ya. It’s really cool because if I do work out on Saturdays, which is hard if I’m out of town or have something going on, Mark, Liz and Doug are a core group who go out and get breakfast. It’s really nice bc we will just sit there for at least an hour and talk about the most random stuff.
What do you like to do when you’re not working out?
Um. I’m pretty lazy. Home with my dog. Or out with my friends.
Describe your perfect Saturday.
That was probably something like this past weekend when I went tailgating. I went to strength with the breakfast crew and then I went tailgating with my boss who hosts. My sister and I went for all day, It’s something to do and gets you outside. And there is football and games and drinking. I went home, rested for a little bit, got ready and went out for the night to my friend’s boyfriend’s ACL after show. We were side stage, so that was pretty cool.
I was very honored to get Athlete of the Month, because when I first started, I asked Chad what it was and he told me. And it was one of my goals. And it was funny because the month I finally got it, was probably my least active. It’s not that I didn’t want to, but things happened. Vacations, and not feeling well.
