Our Box | CFT - CrossFit Tyler

DECEMBER: REGAN HAWKINS

12/1/2017

Our athlete for the month of December is 27 year old Regan Hawkins from Whitehouse. She joined CrossFit for just one month. But, four years later, it's the stress reliever she can't go without!

Favorite WOD: An EMOM with a heavy barbell

Least Favorite WOD: Anything with box jumps

NOVEMBER: JOHN RANEY

11/2/2017

Our athlete of the month for November is 45 year old runner, John Raney. He joined CrossFit to up his running game - you bet it did! - and brought one of our favorite smiles to the box!

OCTOBER: IVY COON

10/9/2017

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.

SEPTEMBER: JOEY GARRETT

9/1/2017

US Marine Joey Garrett is our Athlete of the Month!

Joey visiting the Iwo Jima memorial.

This 56 year-old marine has been CrossFitting for just over 6 months ... and he's counting every WOD. For real. Today was #137.

Favorite WOD:
Anything with Running

Least Favorite WOD: Anything with handstand pushups or double-unders (Have not mastered either, YET!)

How/Why did you start CrossFit?

11 years after retiring from the United States Marine Corps in 2006, I was missing the accountability & camaraderie.The challenges of CrossFit and the WOD have provided that for me.

AUGUST: AMBERR HESTER

8/1/2017

Our Athlete for the hottest month of the year is 31 year-old indomitable Amberr Hester. She's been CrossFitting for 4 years.

Favorite WOD:
I'll have to get back to you on that :). I like wall balls and kettle bell swings.

Least Favorite WOD:

Anything with RUNNING!

How/Why did you start CrossFit?

[My husband] Matt had already "drunk the kool aid" and swore I would love it!

July: Kourt Chatelain

7/4/2017

Just think of him as a happier Batman with a 9-Pack!

Our July Athlete of the Month is 37 year-old Utah native and oral surgeon, Kourt Chatelain. He's been CrossFitting for 2 years.

Favorite WOD: Karen

Least Favorite WOD:

Brad's WOD of "Walking Dead," i.e. Weighted lunges and kettlebell swings

Lisa May aka "Mamaw"

6/1/2017

Lisa May - or Mamaw, as she's known to her soon-to-be EIGHT grandkids! - is just 52.

The Tyler native with everybody's favorite smile has been CrossFitting since January 2015.

Favorite WOD:

Anything that includes rope climbs

Least Favorite WOD:

I'm not sure I have one, LOL.

MAY: SCOTT AND BRITTANY HERSEY

5/6/2017

When Scott and Brittany began CrossFitting just a year ago, they had no idea how it would change their lives. And we couldn't have anticipated how much joy they'd bring to our box!

Married nearly 9 years now, these highschool sweethearts from Victoria TX make CrossFit a family affair with 4 year-old Ella and 2 year-old Luke.

Scott served for 6 years as a Sergeant in the Army, with 2 deployments as an Airborn Infrantry Soldier. He's finishing up his Masters as a Licensed Professional Counselor, while Brittany is gearing up to take her CrossFit Level 1 Certification at the end of this Month!

Learn more about this dynamic DUO!

APRIL: JENNIFER (PENDY) PENDERGRASS

4/1/2017

2015 - 2017

We kick off April with a very special edition of our Athlete of the Month series. This month, we honor and lift up "Pendy" as both a CrossFitter and pretty incredible human.

This birthday girl (40 this month!) is from Tyler, has been CrossFitting since 2014. She's got a life-changing story you'll want to sit down for.

MARCH: KIM SPEARMAN

3/1/2017

She's from Whitehouse, TX. She's 46. She's in The Open. She's AMAZING. And she's our Athlete of The Month for March. Kim Spearman has owned Gym Tyler Gymnastics for 22 years and has been CrossFitting for just 6.

Ready to learn more about the lady who always has a witty comeback, and never misses the 7:30am class? Here we go!

Favorite WOD:

Anything with gymnastics movements or abs!

Least Favorite WOD:

Anything with DU [double unders]…I am getting better but not my best move.

How/Why did you start CrossFit?

I had been a trainer teaching many different kinds of fitness classes for years. A friend invited me to come try a CF class. I thought I was in OK shape at the time. After all, I was teaching 2-3 fitness classes in the mornings and 4-5 tumbling classes at night.

Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel?

My first WOD was FIGHT GONE BAD. I almost threw up in middle of WOD. I couldn’t believe how different this workout felt!! I knew after that workout I could be in such better shape. Shortly after I joined Crossfit I got both my boys in classes too. To this day, we love to workout together.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health, and fitness since starting CrossFit (before/after)?

I have seen so many changes doing crossfit. I am stronger, healthier, more confident, better endurance, etc. than I was when I was younger. I can do things now that I have never been able to do.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced from taking on CrossFit that were totally unexpected?

I think the biggest change is how much different I eat now than I used to. I have
learned so much about how eating the right things can change your body, your
strength and endurance.

There are days for everyone when you just don’t want to work out. How do you handle those?

There are many days where I am tired or just don’t want to workout. I go anyways!! I try my best to never miss class!

Please share with us your favorite CrossFit / CFT moments.

I have many great memories and CFT moments. Getting a new skill is always a great moment! But most of all, it’s the friendships that I have made and being with people that always push each other to do better.

Any advice for people just getting started?

I think Crossfit is for all ages!! You can always be better, move better, become stronger than you once were! My advice to new comers is to never give up, the skills don’t come easily but when you accomplish them it’s a great feeling!

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

I have owned GymTyler Gymnastics for the last 22 years. This is where my kids and I have spent much of our time! I am very blessed to be able to work with young girls and be able to show them how fit and healthy they can be at any age!

And when I do get free time I love spending time with my family on the islands! Anywhere there is clear water and white sand beaches and very few people! We love to scuba dive, surf or anything that involves sand, sun and water!