Athlete Profiles

February 2012 - Leslie Heller

Name: Leslie Heller

Nickname: Justin calls me Hellcat (but no one else does)

Member Since: October 2008

Occupation: Certified Nurse Midwife

Words to Live By:   Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?

Favorite quote:  You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.   Winston Churchill

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.   Martin Luther King, Jr

Favorite Book: I know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Pride and Prejudice, West with the Night

Favorite Movies:  Shawshank Redemption, This is Spinal Tap, Fargo, Manhattan

Favorite Food:  PIZZA.  Thick, thin, meat, veggie...it's all good (Sheena says it's bad)

Favorite Sport/Activity:   Hiking somewhere beautiful, preferably at high altitude

Activity Training For:  LIFE

Goals:  To eat better despite constant temptation.  All workouts Rxd. To continue to Crossfit into the sunset...

Passionate About: My family, watching my three daughters play hockey, gardening.

Something We Don't Know About You:  I have a ton of (mostly) useless degrees/credentials: BA, BS, MA, MS, CNM, APN, RN. 

Adventure Planned: A camping trip to Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon summer 2012!

Ten things I can't live without:  (besides my husband and kids)

1. Good coffee

2. Reading the NY Times every morning (goes well with #1)

3. My new remote car starter (how did I survive Chicago winters without it?)

4. Shazam (Best App ever!)

5. The sight of Spring bulbs pushing up thru the snow

6. Dark chocolate

7. Sirius channel 33 "First Wave" (constant high school flashback!)

8. SmartWool socks

9. Hyacinths, preferably blue

10. The smell of a newborn baby

January 2012 - Collin Korab

Name: Collin Korab

Nickname:  Captian, CoKo

Member Since: September 2009 

Occupation: Digital Ad Sales for Disney Interactive

Words to Live By: I never saw a jackass win the Kentucky Derby

Favorite Quote: "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure”

Favorite Movies: MADE, Wayne’s World, Major League, Swingers

Favorite Book: Moneyball, The Last Best League

Favorite Food: Steak

Favorite Music/Artist: Will listen to anything (Jacob’s music not withstanding), favorites include Kanye West, Jason Aldean, Van Morrison and The Black Keys

Favorite Sport/Activity: Baseball, go Cubs go!

Activity Training For:  2012 Crossfit Games

Goals: To continue to live life as healthy as possible and to make the 2012 Crossfit Games

Accomplishments: Having a great family, wonderful group of friends and to be able to do something I enjoy every day would be my biggest accomplishment.  Aside from that I was also fortunate enough to play Division I collegiate baseball

Passionate About: My family, friends, my career and training.  Some people say I am way too into sports of all kind but I say it is a fairly healthy passion.  I love being outdoors, watching sporting events, going to concerts and finding out what this world has to offer.

Something We Don't Know About You: I’m the oldest of 7 boys and will gladly sell you one of my brothers for the right price. 

Adventure Planned: Heading to Ireland (the Motherland) this Labor Day to see Notre Dame play Navy…Go Irish!

December 2011 - Laura Bean

Name Laura Bean

Nickname  Bean, Frijoles

Member Since June 2010

Occupation Teacher

Words to Live By If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Favorite Quote "Excuses are like armpits: everybody's got them and they mostly stink." (A teacher friendly version of the 'Platoon' quote)

Favorite Movies Star Wars, Juno, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Hotel Rwanda

Favorite Book Depends on what genre. I like everything from Pride and Prejudice to Lord of the Rings to Twilight.

Favorite Food ice cream (don't tell Sheena)
 

Favorite Music/Artist blues, classic rock and terrible '80s + '90s music. My favorite Pandora station is my "Men at Work" station.
 

Favorite Sport/Activity To watch: baseball; to play: swimming

Activity Training For  Life!

Goals My primary goal is just to live a healthy life. More specifically, I want to continue to put my health first, continue to lean out, and continue to increase my PRs in my lifts. I don't really care where I end up, I just never want to stop getting better. 

Accomplishments My biggest accomplishment at the box is truly just being here and putting myself first. I've lost about 25 pounds since joining WCCF and have lifted things that I never thought I'd be able to lift. I'm also really proud of competing in my first oly meet in November. In my "other" life, my biggest accomplishments are moving to Chicago, earning a master's degree, and becoming a teacher.

Passionate About Education and social justice. I teach in a school in a high poverty area and most of the students have gotten stuck with a terrible education up until they reach our school. I know it's cliche, but I became a teacher because I want to empower my students to fight for what they deserve - a chance.

Something We Don't Know About You I can wiggle my ears? I'm a pretty open book...

Adventure Planned Some friends and I are doing a Chicago/Boston/Prince Edward Island road trip next summer!

November 2011 - Kurt Jones

Name - Kurt Jones

Nickname  - Jones, KuJo, Jonesy

Member Since - June 2009

Occupation - Principal of Libby Elementary & Middle School

Words to Live By - I've always believed that what you put out there is what you get back in return.   I tend to hear myself telling my children that their actions speak louder than their words.

Favorite Quote - "Heroes Are Ordinary PeopleThat Do Amazing Things"   I've discovered through reading the WCCF website, there are many great quotes out there!

Favorite Movies - Grease, Dangerous Minds, Little Miss Sunshine, Sordid Lives, Coming to America, Hoop Dreams, Shut up and Sing, The Dixie Chicks Documentary.   Anything else that's good enough to keep my ADHD enthralled to sit that long and enjoy it.

Favorite Book - Loved the Harry Potter series.  I tend to find myself reading books that my kids at school read.  I used to do it as a teacher to assure they were reading the books for their book reports and still do it as a principal to talk to kids about the books.  They find it odd that Mr. Jones is reading the same thing and love to try to trip me up on recalling the details.  My 8th graders are reading Jumped - a great book - grab it and read it!

Favorite Food - Meat - anything meat.  Tai Food, Steak, Mexican and a Lou Malnati's Chicago Special with butter crust.

Favorite Music/Artist - Hands down, the Dixie Chicks are my favorite artists.  I always enjoyed the music and appreciated the talent of the group, but earned great respect for a group that got crucified for a thought, and lived through it.  I  have seen them multiple times in concert, with the last being at Soldier Field opening for the Eagles - amazing!  I have an eclectic taste in music from county, rock, dance, techno to top 40.  I would never want an psychologist to go through my IPod or Itunes - definitely crazy!  Sugarland, Pink and John Mayer hit the top of the list in favorites, as well as my 98 degrees and New Kids on the Block (We don't judge at WCCF!)

Favorite Sport/Activity - I was a college track athlete, so running competitively was in my blood.  Now, I truly enjoy a great game of softball, flag football and volleyball.  I used to play all three on a very competitive level, but truly enjoying playing for fun and enjoying the time spent with great teams and friends.  I have to say, the memories made with my best friend of playing softball and traveling with our team are something I will treasure for a lifetime.  I'm also addicted to CrossFit, or just maybe to the sexy coaches at WCCF, and recently completed the Spartan Extreme Mud Race, and I definitely enjoyed being in the mud and getting dirty more than I ever thought.  4 miles of 20 obstacles - It was a rush.  I'm looking forward to doing it again!

Activity Training For -  I'm looking forward to competing in the 8 mile Spartan Race next year with Kubie and our good friend Calomese.  Training daily to stay up to par with the great athletes at WCCF and for assuring that coach Sheena doesn't walk up to my bar and say, "I was lifting that same weight earlier!" 

Goals - Professionally, I hope to someday offer the children at Libby the same possibilities and opportunities that every child should be entitled to.  I also hope that they become well-rounded individuals that are able to make good decisions to offer themselves choices and opportunities in life to be happy & successful.  It has become clear to me that one way to achieve that goal professionally is to replicate the spirit of support, belief and encouragement found at WCCF and take to my school community to achieve that goal.  I tell my staff, a little belief and support goes a long way, just look at what people accomplish at the box everyday!
Personally, my goal is to balance career and personal life; to one day have a successful career, a partner and a family and be a CrossFit family, as long as J is not teaching the kids class!  I have struggled with balance since taking on my journey at Libby, and CrossFit and friends have helped me realize balance is the key.   I look forward to achieving mental, physical and emotional balance, which may take a lifetime, but a great goal to be going after. 

Accomplishments - Competing Collegiately in Track & Field.  Being the proud principal of a nationally recognized, award winning middle school program at Libby.  Earning the silver medal in the 400 in the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago.  Being the first in my family to graduate college.  Coaching the Franklin Track team to the city championship.  Taking 4th place in the Volleyball National Championships in Vancouver.  Of course, how could I not be proud of being prom king in high school!!!!!

Passionate About - I'm extremely passionate, and will shorten it for this, about equality and opportunities for all.  I strive, with extreme passion to assure that all my children/students know that circumstances don't determine destiny, but that  determination can overcome the worst of circumstances.   It's extremely important to me that if anyone and/or anything holds back my children from being successful that it's because they lacked the determination, not that obstacles, circumstances or society got in there way.  That being said, I'm passionate about everyday being an example to my children and the community  that determination can break down stereotypes, barriers and obstacles that would hinder growth and success for themselves.  I'm also passionate about being an advocate for change and for opportunity in the education system and allowing children to be judged by their character and success, as much, if not more, than they are judged by a standardized test.

Since joining WCCF, I've become very passionate about creating the WCCF spirit at my school and in my own personal life.  I remember walking in and thinking, shit, I'm going to do these free 5 days and then I'm out, I can't hang here, this shit is crazy.  I quickly learned, through amazing coaches and phenomenal athletes in the box, that it's not about bars, weight, reps or the prescribed workout (Although I think I grew a new set when I got that first prescribed workout), but about the belief in one another, the support & motivation that is in the air at the box!  I see a little utopia in WCCF, where everyone is accepted, everyone is encourage, everyone is supported and everyone is given the ability to reach their personal, optimal performance.  It's crazy how such a great thing can be kept in the box, it's amazing.   I think the world would be a much better place if WCCF was the model for bettering society, where individuals are accepted and not judged, motivation is free and genuine and barriers are conquered like that last burp that is easily conquered with a community SCREAMING, or maybe chearing, GET DOWN, you got this!  I truly am passionate about replicating what we have at WCCF in my school and in my life, it's like a good drug!


Something We Don't Know About You - That I'm VERY quiet, reserved, shy and timid when I'm not at WCCF.  I'm not very social and I tend to always be the quiet one in the corner, that no one even knows is there.   OKAY - I almost choked typing that.  You probably don't know that I was a famous actor as a child, and I made my first and last television appearance on a CILCO, electric company in Peoria, commercial.  Due to the papparazzi taking over my block to get pictures and autographs, my mother ended my career and would not allow me to do anymore television appearances.  It was before the internet, so there is no YouTube evidence, although I know if there was internet, that commercial would have gone viral.  The other thing most people don't know, is that I'm a world-class 2-stepper and can be found at Charlies some weekends tearing up the dance floor - boot scootin boogy could be another nickname.


Adventure Planned - Looking forward to getting to Hawaii in the new year to do some scuba diving and learning to surf.   So far, I've bought the shark repellent and still working on the rest of the details.  I'm wanting to take time this winter to get to somewhere cool to do some skiing, suggestions welcomed!

October 2011 - Allison Tingwall

Name: Allison Tingwall

Nickname: Tingwall / Tings / Death Poof

Member Since: April 2010

Occupation: Spanish and math teacher, cross country and basketball coach at North Lawndale College Prep. H.S.; adjunct instructor in the college of education at UIC; treasurer and volunteer coach for Basketball as a Mission

Words to live by: "Every day should be a good day to die."  ~from You Never Know by DMB.  

Favorite quote: "One always dies too soon - or too late.  And yet one's whole life is complete at that moment, with a line drawn neatly under it, ready for the summing up.  You are - your life, and nothing else."  ~Jean Paul Sartre

Favorite movies: Toy Story trilogy, WALL-E, Up! (I think Pixar movies are brilliant.), Pulp Fiction, Bring It On, Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty

 
Favorite or current book: I usually don't like sci-fi, but currently giving The Hunger Games a try because many of our students are reading it at NLCP.  Typically, I'm a big non-fiction reader - print journalism, existential philosophy, education, nutrition.

 

Favorite food: cheese (raw, of course), steak (grass-fed, duh), and sweet potatoes (in moderation!)

Favorite music or artist: Dave Matthews Band. I've seen them in concert 29 times.  After that, I enjoy anything except country music. 

Favorite sport or activity:  To play - basketball.  To watch - college football. GO BLUE! 

Sport or activity that you are training for: I train to be strong, physically and mentally.  Presently, my focus is on the OPTathlon/Big Dawgs Bash in October.

Goals: To continue evolving toward a lifestyle that ultimately honors my body and mind.  Movement goals = HSPUs, muscle-ups, 150lb. clean & jerk, 120lb. snatch 

  

Achievements: Being where and who I am today. 

 

I am passionate about: social justice, my work, health, traveling, living life with integrity

Name something we don’t know about you:  I studied electrical engineering in my undergrad. years at University of Michigan.  I can speak conversational Arabic.

  

Adventure you are planning: Being a teacher, my planned adventures usually happen between June and August.  Next summer, I'll be in Greece or Peru.

April 2011 - Brad Forbes

Name: Brad Forbes

Nickname on the Boards: Not badass enough for a nickname so just “Brad”

Member Since: November 2010

Occupation: Physical Training Leader for aspiring Navy SEAL candidates. Training and coaching running, swim, and weightlifting techniques. It is a prep course to prepare them for the physical rigors of Phase 1 at BUD/S.

Words to live by: Pissed off is better than pissed on! Time to be a goer! DISCIPLINE, NO DEVIATION! The body is a machine that the mind controls!

Favorite quote: There is no telling how many miles you will have to run when chasing a dream. -Author unknown

Favorite movies: 300, The Gladiator, Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, Baseketball, The next three days, and Brothers. This list can go on and on. I enjoy a lot of movies. I usually don’t have a single favorite thing in anything, but I would say I do not watch horror movies too much. Hey now, not because I get scared, but merely the fact that most of them are too predictable and I just don’t enjoy them alright! Okay, moving on.

Favorite or current book: Favorite book, ahh I don’t know. Like I said above, no favorites. The book I am currently reading Advances in Functional Training by Michael Boyle. It has been very informative so far. I like to read newer books especially in the field of Fitness because advances are always made. I am currently focusing on obtaining books that deal with strength programming as well as books that deal with mental toughness and emotions that come with training. I do have a couple books in queue on recovery and overtraining. Most of what I read pertain to fitness and self improvement.

Favorite food: CARNIVORE!! MEAT EATER!!! I love all meat. Okay settle down now… I enjoy all foods. I try to eat as healthy as I can because health and performance is a priority for me. If you want to get to gritty bitty bare boned stuff, give me a cheese pizza with bacon and chicken on it with a side of a dozen suicide buffalo wings, large coke, snickers bar and a canoli. Instead of favorite foods, let’s talk about what I HATE! Drum roll please… … no? KETCHUP! Keep your distance with this stuff.

Favorite music or artist: Hmm, interesting topic here. I can bounce, hop, move, dance to anything that has a good beat. I got caught listening to a song with Spanish lyrics because it had a good beat. I didn’t even know. I like rap, hip hop, techno… I’m not sure what else there is. Good beat and loud bass… you got it!

Favorite sport or activity: I grew up wrestling as well as playing soccer and baseball. I enjoyed all three. I am down for anything really. I will literally play anything that’s active. I also like to read and then go to sleep.

Sport or activity that you are training for: Since my wrestling days are over, I had nothing to motivate me. I would workout but it got old quickly. The competitive nature of CrossFit and the games sparked that fire back up for me and I now no longer workout but TRAIN!

Goals: There are many goals I have. Let’s start with short term and most immediate. I want to qualify to the North Central regionals this year. By the end of this year, I want to have a 475 Deadlift, 375 Back Squat, 185 Press, 200 Snatch, 275 C&J, 19:30 5k, put 5-10lbs of muscle. Medium term goals are qualify for the CrossFit games, obtain a Masters Degree in some exercise related field or possibly business. Long term goals are to start a family, open a CrossFit box, and win the CrossFit games.

I am passionate about: Fitness and performance. Helping people to better their lives.
Name something we don’t know about you: If you already don’t know, I was born deaf and I started to learn how to lip read at age 3 and do not know much or any sign language. I am very grateful for my parents to have given me this opportunity.

Adventure you are planning: I will be heading to Rehobeth Beach, DE in June for my best friend’s wedding. I will be meeting up with a lot of my very good friends from back home for the week. It has been awhile since I have seen them all and all at the same time. I am really looking forward to it. This past summer I went on a vacation to Russia for 2 weeks and it was a blast. It was my first international trip. I would like to do more of these. Some countries I’d like to visit are Israel, Germany, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Czech Republic, Morroco and Iceland.

Favorite Movements: Overhead squat, snatch, burpee, deadlift, muscle up

How I found the box: I had been working out on my own or with my coworkers. I was making progress but I routinely lost motivation and competitiveness. I decided the next step was to join a box. I researched all the local boxes and saw sexy Will, flamboyant Meagles, “Check out my new socks” Jen, Tyrell “the stache” Gill, Olympian Sheena, Mr. Vince “my biceps are bigger than yours” Terbrack, Olympian Lauren, John Deere Steere, and Head Coach J Dollar Sign. All kidding aside, I have been grateful to have been accepted in this community and while I am still relatively new, I look forward to what’s to come. Thank you.

February 2011 - Anja Staten

Anja Staten - No Limitations from Windy City CrossFit on Vimeo.

Name:  Anja “Joy” Staten

Nickname on the Boards:  Anja

Member Since:  August 2010

Occupation: Program Director for Youth Scholars, Skills and Service Program with the Alternative Schools Network.  Until May (when I’ll hopefully graduate), also full-time student at Moody Theological Seminary. 

Words to live by:  “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (Psalm 27:13).  “Be the change you want to see in the world” ~ Mahatma Ghandi.  Some of my favorite Scripture passages include:  John 1:13, Galatians 2:20-21, Philippians 3:7-14.

Favorite quote:  Two by John Wooden:  “Success is never final, failure is never fatal.  It’s courage that counts.”  And, “material possession, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.”

Favorite movies:  Remember the Titans, Braveheart, The Blindside, Cars, Stranger Than Fiction, A Christmas Story, Matrix, Once, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men, My Life in Ruins, The Prestige, Unbreakable, Signs, Hero, Finding Forester, We are Marshall, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Traitor, 27 Dresses, … and CrossFit workout videos. 

Favorite or current book:  The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Giving Tree by Silverstein, Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secrets, Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller, Addictions – A Banquet in the Grave by Ed Welch, Lord of the Rings, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer,  … and currently obsessed with the likes of: The Paleo Solution; The Paleo Diet; The Primal Blueprint; and related blogs.

Favorite food:  Rarely have I met a food I don’t like.  Current favorites include: Paleo Meatballs, 
chicken wings, and pretty much anything else I’ve tried from the WCCF Recipe board.   When I cheat I enjoy ice cream, chocolate, and peanut butter (best in any combination). 

Favorite music or artist:  Depends on the day … but my favorites include:  The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Brooks and Dunn, Caedmon’s Call, Casting Crown, Christy Nockeles, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Eagles, 
Faith Hill, Kristian Stanfill, The Cranberries, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, George Straight, Jars of Clay, Jennifer Knapp, Jeremy Camp, Journey, Lifehouse, Madonna, OneRepublic, Peter Gabriel, Rascal Flatts, Rich Mullins, Shania Twain, Steve Tailor, Sting, Tears for Fears, The Temptations, Ten Shekel Skirt, Tenth Avenue North, Tom Petty, Trisha Yearwood, U2 … and Rene Magritte’s paintings. 

Favorite sport or activity:  CrossFit/OLY, racquetball, tennis, running, drinking coffee, reading nutrition blogs, growing/learning in almost any area, getting outdoors for hiking / camping, playing Settlers of Catan, and kayaking.

Sport or activity that you are training for:  Life, wrestling with three little kiddos, the next OLY meet, and a half marathon in September.

Goals:  Become a fire-breathing, RXing, WOD killing, CrossFitter.  Much more immediately: a double under, bodyweight deadlift, and getting the Clean and Jerk to 125 lbs, plus would like to continue “leaning out” and fixing my “metabolic derangement” in order to look, feel and perform better.  And of course, what we all want … to look good naked.

Achievements: At this point I would say my “sucks” list overcrowds this.  Though PRing at the last OLY meet, my first, was pretty sweet.  Not giving up during the “Frans”, “Graces” and pretty much every other crazy workout Justin and his able crew put us through.

I am passionate about: Loving the Lord Christ Jesus and loving people.  Grace.  Seeing people set free. CrossFit.

Name something we don’t know about you:  I learned English, my second language, by watching Scooby Doo and I share a birthday with Mahatma Gandhi (not the year ;-).

Adventure you are planning:  Hoping to do an internship in Bend, OR this summer.  Love the Pacific Northwest, so plan to make the most of my time out there.  Want to hit Hawaii … maybe as a vacation to celebrate the last three years of work + school = toying with insanity (thankfully no notice net loss of sanity has been detected …yet). 

January 2011 - Miles Messina

Miles Mesina - AOM January 2011 from Windy City CrossFit on Vimeo.

Name:  Miles Messina

Nickname on the Boards:  Colonel “Hoo Hoo”

Member Since:  April 2009

Occupation: FedEx Senior Account Executive Market Development

Words to live by:  “Blood is thicker than water” - German proverb
  
Favorite quote:  “That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Favorite movies:  Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Gone with the Wind, Maltese Falcon, It’s a Wonderful Life,  The Godfather, Some Like It Hot, Horror of Dracula, Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Red Violin, Braveheart,  Lord of the Rings, etc.
    
Favorite or current book:  Current books “Marcus Aurelius” - by Frank McLynn and “Death of Bunny Munro” - by Nick Cave

Favorite food:  Zuppa di Pesce (assorted seafood cooked in a light tomato sauce). A Big salad of mixed greens, mushrooms, red, yellow, and orange peppers, snow peas, avocado, red onion, along with a nice portion of organic chicken, turkey, salmon, or grass fed beef.  Mediterranean Scramble of eggs and a rainbow of sautéed vegetables with bacon.  Grilled Salmon, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, dark chocolate, gelato, rich red wine, dark roast coffee and green tea.  
  
Favorite music or artist:  A Highlight of Some of the albums that get repeated spins on my turntable and within my CD player:  Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon”, Leonard Cohen “Songs of Leonard Cohen”, Neil Young “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere”, George Harrison “All Things Must Pass”, Bob Dylan “Blood on the Tracks”, Beatles “Rubber Soul”, Rolling Stones “Beggars Banquet”, Led Zeppelin “Led Zeppelin”, Black Sabbath “Master of Reality”, The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Axis: Bold As Love”, Jeff Beck “Truth”, T-Rex “Electric Warrior”, The Who “Live at Leeds”, Rory Gallagher “Irish Tour 74”, Jefferson Airplane “Surrealistic Pillow”, The Zombies “Odyssey and Oracle”, Moody Blues “On the Threshold of a Dream”, The Doors “The Doors”, Motorhead “No sleep ‘til Hammersmith”, Metallica “Master of Puppets”, Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On”, Muddy Waters “Folk Singer”, Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”, Bill Evans “Waltz for Debby”, Kenny Burrell “Midnight Blue”, Jascha Heifetz-Reiner-CSO-  ”Tschaikowsky Violin Concerto”, Janos Starker “Bach Cello Suites”, Byron Janis-Antal Dorati-LSO- “Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3”, Lv Si Qing “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto”   
    
Favorite sport or activity:  CrossFit at Windy City CrossFit, utility/functional bicycling, walking, and good conversation

Sport or activity that you are training for:  Possible CrossFit 2011 Masters competition

Goals:  Ongoing challenge to improve upon my CrossFit training and fitness level, CrossFit Masters, and to be able to have a fitness level that will enable me to perform 10 plus years younger than what I am.

Achievements: Completed Seal Fit 50 hour Kokoro Camp October 2010, nineteen months of Windy City CrossFit, and being in overall best fitness of my life.
 
I am passionate about: Health, family, good friends, Windy City CrossFit, music, utility/functional bicycling, conversation, politics/current events, contributing to making a difference in improving the world that we live in, work at FedEx  

Name something we don’t know about you:  Did a self supported (including tent, sleeping bag, and cookware) 300 mile bicycle tour down scenic and rugged Pacific Coast Highway 1, starting from San Francisco with a fellow bicycle comrade. 

Recent adventure you are planning:  New Orleans and Costa Rica in 2011 

December 2010 - Kim Hanna

Name:  Kim Hanna

Nickname on the Boards:  Kim H

Member Since:  October 6, 2008

Occupation:  First, I’m a mom of 3 beautiful little girls.  Second, I’m a business owner, KJH Associates, which coaches small businesses to help them achieve their profitable growth goals.

Words to live by:  My dad always told me, “Things that you do, do with your might.  Things done in halves ain’t done right.”

Favorite quote:  “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.  I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa

Favorite movies:  Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, Avatar, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, A Beautiful Mind, Shawshank Redemption

Favorite or current book:  My all time favorites include “Life of Pi,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feinman.”  My literary tastes are all over the place.

Favorite food:  Italian sausage, all varieties of cheese and my Grandpa’s famous meatballs

Favorite music or artist:  Death Cab for Cutie, Air, Nine Inch Nails, Guster, classical guitar and basically any random playlist my husband loads onto my iPod/iPhone

Favorite sport or activity:  Volleyball (I played through college and beyond), Triathlons (back when I had more time on my hands), and now Crossfit is perfect because I can continually push my goals within a very tight schedule.

Sport or activity that you are training for:  SealFit Kokoro camp in March 2011

Goals:  My 2010 goals that are unachieved as yet include an unassisted ring dip and a muscle-up.  For the long term, I simply want to always have a body that functions at least 10 years younger than it is so I can age gracefully and continue to have an active lifestyle throughout my whole life no matter what my age is in years.

Achievements:  (1) Sticking with the consistency of WCCF during tough emotional and economic times has strengthened both my body and soul; (2) Finishing all the WODs for last year’s affiliate team tryouts stretched my physical capabilities beyond what I ever believed I could do; (3) Getting my husband and kids actively involved and addicted as WCCF members has given me enormous pride.

I am passionate about:  My husband Bryce who has filled my heart and stretched my mind, the power and strength of neighborhood and community, nutrition and cooking, GiGi’s Playhouse (a local non-profit for Down syndrome), and helping my girls grow up to be confident, healthy and caring individuals.

Name something we don’t know about you:  I’m considering a run for public office in 4 years so I can play a more active role in supporting the needs of our community and challenge some of the government’s inveterate sleazebags head to head.

Recent adventure you are planning:  First is San Diego for SealFit Kokoro camp.  Next, we’re hoping to take the family to Crested Butte, Colorado next summer to investigate options for establishing an outdoor guided adventure company that’s geared toward families that have children with special needs.

November 2010 - Damon McDougald

Name: Doogie
Nickname: Damon
Occupation: IT Security Executive Consultant
Words to live by: “A kick in the balls doesn’t hurt forever!” - Doogie
Favorite quote: "I know" – Han Solo
Favorite movie: Major League, Goonies, Revenge of the Nerds, Star wars, Aliens,
Glory, Rudy, Snatch, Rise of the Foot Solider, and Mary Poppins.
Favorite or current book: I am currently reading Moby Dick, I like the title. I
read two to three books every month. My favorite book is Cryptonomicon by Neal
Stephenson. It contains everything I like in a book such as; history, computer
science, math, problem solving, aggression, and violence.
Favorite food: I would have to say anything that consists of smoked meats.
Favorite music or artist: Opeth. I really enjoy the different moods within a
single song from 100 miles per hour of metal to a single classical guitar solo
harmonically twisting a knife into my imagination.
Favorite sport or activity: I grew up playing soccer and I played all the way
through college. Easily, soccer is the best sport I have participated in, and
will always be my true love. If you haven’t noticed this past year,
weightlifting is the new hotness.
Sport or activity that you are training for: I am training to have a strong,
powerful, and flexible mind.
Goals: Short-term 100/135 in the snatch/clean and jerk by end of January. Long
term is to qualify for nationals in weightlifting within the next 2 years.
Achievements: Completing my Masters in Computer Science, NSCAA All South Region
Scholar Athlete, finishing my college soccer career with a win we won our
conference tournament, and leading my college soccer team with yellow cards 3
out of 4 years.
I am passionate about: Learning, struggling and eventually figuring stuff out,
passion, commitment, history, computer science, and sci-fiction.
Name something we don't know about you: I designed, lead, and executed a
successful panty raid of the freshman girl’s dorm room my junior year of
college. When I played soccer in college I weighed 170 pounds.
Recent adventure you are planning: I will see you at the Grammy’s.