OCTOBER: IVY COON

35 year-old Union Grove native, Ivy - or "Mrs. Coon" as she's known to all her first grade students - is the CFT Athlete of the Month for October. And boy, has she earned it! This uber-fit teacher and mother of FIVE has been CrossFitting for 4 1/2 years and through a lot of life's changes.

Favorite WOD:
A heavy clean EMOM, my favorite girl is Annie! 

Least Favorite WOD:
Anything with running! 

How/Why did you start CrossFit? My husband of 10 years left me, I was freshly divorced and I needed something to boost my confidence, as well as something to do for myself. I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined Leah Tjoelker for a community WOD and have never looked back! 

Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? 
It was a community WOD at what used to be Whitehouse CrossFit. I don't remember much except toes to bar and wondering if I would ever be able to do them...I was hooked and have never looked back! 

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health, and fitness since starting CrossFit (before/after)?
Before, I was a mom and teacher with the typical tired mom status, struggling to make it to my kids' bedtime. Now, I can keep up with life without feeling as if I'm in a mental fog! Not to mention the muscles that I never thought I would have!

​Best compliment from one of my first grade students: I was stretching and a little boy said "whoa, Mrs. Coon's got man muscles!" 

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced from taking on CrossFit that were totally unexpected?
I have more confidence in myself now than I ever did! I also see exercise as a stress reliever and mood enhancer as opposed to a chore, I'm so much more balanced and happier! 

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced from taking on CrossFit that were totally unexpected?
I have more confidence in myself now than I ever did! I also see exercise as a stress reliever and mood enhancer as opposed to a chore, I'm so much more balanced and happier! 

There are days for everyone when you just don’t want to work out. How do you handle those?
Some are harder than others, but I know that once the WOD is over, I will feel SO much better, so I just have to remind myself of the rush of endorphins post-WOD! 

Please share with us your favorite CrossFit / CFT moments.
​My favorite CrossFit moment would have to be when my husband proposed post-WOD! It was a running WOD that morning and I did NOT want to go, but his persistence finally got the best of me! I'm so glad I went! ️

Any advice for people just getting started?
Don't overthink it, just do it! I think a lot of people have this misconception that CrossFitters are a bunch of swole judgmental jerks, and that is not the case! It's a community of people who encourage and cheer for each other, the best kind of people! 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
My husband and I have 5 kids between the two of us, so if we're not at the gym, we're at a baseball game, basketball game, karate tournament, concert, church, etc. or just hanging out with the fam! 

What is your superpower? Caring for little people!