Athlete Spotlight - Jill and David Daniel

Congratulations to our Athlete Spotlights for the month of March! Jill and David are both consistently at the box at 5:15am putting in work! They have both achieved so many of their goals and with their dedication they will most certainly be checking more goals off their list in 2018!

Here are some fun facts about Jill and David -

1. Tell us a little bit about you and the family -

David and I have known each other since the 5th grade, graduated from high school together, and have been married for 18 years. We have two children; Alec (15) and Ellanah (13).

2. Occupation –

Dr. Dave is a school administrator and I am a school counselor.

3. Hobbies/Interests –

We love our time with family, I love to run (though I don’t do it as much as I used to), and we both love CrossFit.

4. Words to live by/favorite quote –

My latest mantra is Suffering = Pain x Resistance. David - It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up (Lombardi).

5. Something we don’t know about you –

I earned my health and wellness coach certification in May. David - I just recently learned how to change the oil in my car.

6. Fitness background –

I’ve lost count of how many half-marathons I completed, and I did seven full marathons, including Boston. I never touched a barbell until I came to CFG. David- Grew up playing whatever sport was in season but narrowed to football and soccer in high school. I coached high school soccer and cross-country for 6 years at Gloucester High School and youth soccer through Gloucester Parks and Recreation and Baystars, F.C.

7. Time CrossFitting –

I started CrossFit in July 2013. David - I started in December of 2015

8. How has CFG changed your life?

I was always a solitary runner. I did my training and races by myself. Working out at CFG has been the first time I’ve really enjoyed working out with others, and I really value the relationships I have with the other athletes. David - Knee surgeries, hip surgery and pursuing my doctorate moved personal fitness way down on my priority list. CrossFit has returned my love of competition and has introduced me to a broad community of awesome people. It also made clothes fit a lot different.

9. Training goals –

I would love to get a bar muscle-up one of these days. I hope to continue to work on my form on the olympic lifts and hopefully increase my weight on most of them. David - I would like to clean my body weight, flip upside down for hand stand push-ups and string some toes to bar together. I need to get my chest to bars better to improve my bar muscle ups. Oh, yeah, I would like to get ring muscle ups too and maybe get some Rx pistols but this wasn’t supposed to be my list for Santa.

10. Favorite movement and least favorite movement –

My favorite movements are the ones I do well, and my least favorite are the ones with which I struggle. David - I hate thrusters. Like really, really hate them. I’m warming up to burpees after two years.

11. Your advice for someone considering starting CrossFit.

When I walked into CFG, I had never done strength training, never done a pull-up or a rope climb. I told the coaches they were crazy if they thought I was going to jump on a box. I was SO intimidated. I’ve been consistent and worked hard, and even though I still have plenty of room for improvement, I still marvel at how much progress I’ve made. It’s all about commitment and patience. David - my best advice is to believe in the power of “YET”. Saying, “I can’t do that” is seeing only closed doors. Saying, “I can’t do that yet” is seeing a pathway to meet your goals. Walk in the box, be humble, do your best and believe in “YET”. It’s surprising what will happen with a little work and open-mindedness.