Preferred Name: Rick

​Age: 67 next month

Where did you grow up?
Laurel, Maryland. Graduated from the Univ of Maryland (Fear The Turtle!)

When did you become a member of Mi5 Fitness?
September 2013.

What do you do when you are not at Mi5?
I'm retired. The few hours I'm not at MI5 doing Boot Camp, Boxing, and Yoga are spend investing in stocks and options, big mountain downhill skiing out West, and cooking.

How did you find out about Mi5?
A former trainer, Matt Strand.

When/How did you realize CrossFit/Mi5 was the right fit for you?
Instantly, never a doubt after the first workout.  Exhausted, sore, and couldn't wait to go back.

What is your favorite WOD/movement?
Murph:  1600 meter row, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 air squats, 1600 meter row.

What is your least favorite WOD/movement?
Burpees, (of course!)

What would your perfect WOD look like? 
20 minute AMRAP of "Spicy" Cindy: 5 pull ups, 10 push ups, 15 air squats, 20 sit ups, 15 heavy KB deadlifts, 10 heavy kettle bell swings, 5 heavy bicep curls.  

What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you'd be able to do?
Pick one:  Handstands, 335 lb dead lift, 25 pull ups, 30" box jump. 

What motivates you to stay fit?
Being able to live life on my terms with no constraints.

What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know?
I plan on entering the Minnesota Senior Olympics this summer and winning the 50 meter dash. 

What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5?
​Have fun, trust the process, and attend consistently. These people will become your family

When/how did you realize CrossFit/Mi5 was the right fit for you?
I loved training with both Chris and Andrew so I never questioned whether Crossfit/Mi5 would be a good fit for me. I would have followed them to any gym whether it had the Crossfit name or not. I stay because Mi5 has the best trainers who show up every day to help others do better and be better.  Their gym community not only supports, encourages, and motivates you through a challenging WOD, but also life outside of the gym as well.    

What is your favorite WOD/movement? 
  Anything where I am constantly moving - so pretty much a boot camp WOD


What is your least favorite WOD/movement?
The Mi5 5k day 

What would your perfect WOD look like?
I love a WOD that is at least 20 minutes, has at least 3 different movements and that is cardio based.

What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you’d be able to do?
Considering one of my high school coaches came into the weight room and said, “Ms. Lockrem, laying on the equipment does not count as lifting the equipment”.  I think that every time I finish a WOD I have accomplished something that I never thought I would be able to do or I should say want to do. 


What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know?
I painted the inside of that gym (the blue wall ball lines are mine), took down walls, scraped glue off the floor in 100 degree heat with no air, and when I was done Chris G. told me I was a horrible painter. 


What motivates you to stay fit?
It's not so much about staying fit for me as it is about staying mentally healthy

What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5?
I don’t think you have to give any advice to someone just starting because Mi5 speaks for itself. Once you walk through those doors, do your first workout, and meet the community you will be hooked….. it doesn’t matter how sore you feel …..you’ll be back. ​

Preferred Name: Felicia Boyd

Age: 56

​Where did you grow up? 
Lots of places!  I am a navy brat and grew up across the country and eventually landed in Minnesota. 

When did you become a member of Mi5 Fitness? 
Two years ago?

What do you do when you are not at Mi5? 
I am a partner at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in the Minneapolis office.  My practice is focused on intellectual property law: the protection of ideas and brands, both inside and outside the courtroom. 

In my “spare time,” I am blessed with six children, an awesome husband and a really awesome washer and dryer set. I also love the outdoors and everything you can do in it!  And of course....there’s Crossfit. 

How did you find out about Mi5? 
The amazing sign outside drew me in!

When/How did you realize CrossFit/Mi5 was the right fit for you? 
Right away!  The people are truly kind and welcoming.  

What is your favorite WOD/movement? 
 Deadlifts.  

What is your least favorite WOD/movement? 
​Thrusters. 

What would your perfect WOD look like? 
​Running and running and running.  With deadlifts. 

What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you'd be able to do? 
Push-ups!

What motivates you to stay fit? 
It just feels great to be fit!  

What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know? 
I bake an exceptional pecan pie.  

What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5? 
Jump in and don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s ok to be the last one to finish!  Everyone is there to encourage you to be the best you, and that’s what matters.  

​When did you become a member of Mi5 Fitness?  
I enrolled in the Kick Start program in January 2017 and then officially became a member in April 2017. 

 What do you do when you are not at Mi5? 
I’m a contract accountant specializing in assisting entrepreneurs and small/medium businesses with their accounting needs.  Outside of work, I love spending time with my family - Scott, Allie and Rachel – all of whom are regulars/drop-ins at the gym.  Rain or shine, I walk our golden-doodle, Winston, every morning and my happy place is our cabin in Turtle Lake, WI.   

How did you find out about Mi5?  
Jodi Dobratz invited me to join her for the Kick Start Program. 

 When/How did you realize CrossFit/Mi5 was the right fit for you?  
I’d always been “active”, but I needed help to “step up my game” and someone to hold me accountable.  The coaches and community at Mi5 do that for me in a positive way.  I don’t have to plan my workouts. I simply show up and am encouraged to push myself harder and lift heavier weights than I’d ever do on my own.  In addition, Mi5 coaches take the time to discuss nutrition and provide suggestions on ways to change my eating habits so I fuel my body properly both pre & post-workout.  Finally, the atmosphere at Mi5 is welcoming regardless of ability level.  The coaches and other members “met me where I’m at” without judgment and make the effort to get to know me personally so I feel like a valued member of the Mi5 family.   I’d say M15 offers the complete fitness package. 

 What is your favorite WOD/movement? 
A chipper with a mix of strength and cardio. 

 What is your least favorite WOD/movement?  
 I don’t despise the rope climb as much as I used to, but I do sigh each time I see it on the WOD. 

What would your perfect WOD look like?  
Anything outside as long as the temperature is above 60 degrees! 

 What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you'd be able to do?  
Running a 5K was never on my bucket list, but I felt an awesome sense of accomplishment when I completed my first one.   Since then, I even joined my family in a 5K Turkey Trot last Thanksgiving and I’m signed up for the Rugged Maniac this September with a bunch of other Mi5ers! 

What motivates you to stay fit?  
I’ve never had any health/fitness issues (knock on wood), but turning 50 made me seriously consider how I was going to be proactive and take care of myself. 

What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know?  
Long ago, I traveled to Russia for work with $10,000 in cash strapped to my waist. 

 What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5?  
If you commit to working hard 3-4 days per week with a bunch of pretty awesome people and are open to evaluating your eating and driving habits, you'll see results!"

Preferred Name: Tanya 

Age: 33

Where did you grow up? 
Meadowlands, MN (40 min NW of Duluth)

When did you become a member of Mi5 Fitness? 
July 2017

What do you do when you are not at Mi5?
I have been working for part of Blue Cross for a little over 10 years. I process claims for their sister company called Further. When I'm not working overtime or working out, I'm cooking, doing photography, hot yoga, snowshoeing, or working on never-ending home renovations. I'm hoping to use my kayak a lot more this summer too!

How did you find out about Mi5? 
I had been thinking of trying Crossfit for a while after watching the Games on TV so I did an internet search and found that Mi5 had an amazing Groupon deal to try 10 classes.

When/How did you realize CrossFit/Mi5 was the right fit for you? 
I decided it was right for me after I was sick for two weeks and wasn't able to come in to work out. The front desk staff texted me a couple times to see if everything was OK. I thought that was SO sweet that a gym cared enough to check in on me. 

What is your favorite WOD/movement? 
Back squats

What is your least favorite WOD/movement? 
Assault bike. (But I will learn to love it!)

What would your perfect WOD look like? 
Rowing, Singles, Handstand Walk 

What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you'd be able to do? 
I never in a million years thought I would ever be able to do a chin up. 

What motivates you to stay fit? 
I'm a big believer in, "You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you DO good."

What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know? 
I have two older brothers, a teenage niece and nephew whom I just adore, I'm currently working on my second college degree and yoga teacher certificate, and I'm starting lessons in May to learn my third musical instrument.

​What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5? 
Get a nutritionist. Make a plan. Make a schedule. Stick to it. And MAKE NO EXCUSES. 

Preferred Name: 
Ron

Age:
54

Where did you grow up? 
On a farm in southwest Minnesota near the village of Lismore (population 200 then, smaller now!)

When did you become a member of Mi5 Fitness? 
4.5 years ago

What do you do when you are not at Mi5?
Work life has progressed through engineering, management, interior design, and now occasional subbing for special education paras.   I'm pretty handy and always seem to have a home or yard project going.  Love to travel, camp, kayak, and rock climb.

How did you find out about Mi5? 
A friend I met during bootcamp classes at Lifetime convinced me to try it. 

When/How did you realize Mi5 was the right fit for you? 
After a few weeks, there was no going back to lifetime!  The "community of Mi5" is it's greatest asset and makes this place much more than a gym.  The encouragement, support, and friendship shared among the members and staff have helped me reach increasing goals.  I love to come in for a workout, but there is never enough time to talk with everyone. 

What is your favorite WOD/movement?
I really kind of like burpees... as well as rope climbs, toes to bar, assault bike, and various obstacle course challenges.

What is your least favorite WOD/movement? 
Lunges and squats. Bad knees, with a unilateral replacement in one, make these a challenge.  Accommodations performing these movements help to maintain strength and stability, but not doing the workout as prescribed is a personal struggle.  With guidance from excellent Mi5 trainers I have become more attune to my body and how to develop and strengthen it... correctly.

They still suck!

What would your perfect WOD look like?
A chipper with a variety of movements and challenges of strength, mobility, and endurance all in one workout.

What is one thing you have been able to accomplish since starting at Mi5 that you never thought you'd be able to do? 
The Mi5 games.  Previous competition always focused on running.  

What motivates you to stay fit? 
To keep my abilities in line with my attitude rather than my age.  

What is something about you that Mi5 members do not yet know? 
There was a time in my life when I was known for having really good hair!

What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Mi5? 
Try a variety of classes.  Arrive early to roll, stretch, warm up, and get to know everyone. 

Learning the proper technique is key. 

Know that each class will have a range of skill levels, but everyone had a beginning and progressed at their own pace.

Don't rush the progression, but learn and do as much as you can along the way.

This place will change your life!