Beth Nikish

Favorite WOD:  12 Days of Christmas or Death by Burpees

Least Favorite WOD: Anything with barbell snatches

Tell us about your sports & fitness background: Growing up I played lots of city rec sports: Flag Football, soccer, basketball, and track. In the beginning of highschool, I traded in sports for a job and a slightly reckless lifestyle. I never did anything in relation to sports/fitness again until I was 30, when my younger brother died. A friend convinced me that exercise was healing. 8 months later I ran my first half marathon.  I have never taken a break from fitness since. Exercise has carried me, and continues to carry me, through this mental grind of life!

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? I was running 5-6 days a week and then wanted to try strength training. After a few months of early morning workouts alone, I was bored. When I told my friend about this, she convinced me to give crossfit a try. I walked into the gym where the weights were dropping, people were upside down on the wall, and the music was blasting-I signed up right there. I do not remember my first WOD, but I just remember being amazed at the people around me and wanting to do so many of the things I saw.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I think crossfit has helped me to see fitness as much more than vanity. You meet so many people with so many stories and you realize for many, crossfit is a sort of therapy. I learned to listen to my body,  trust my body, but still push when it hurts and breathe through the pain. It’s a daily reminder that no matter what life throws at me, I will show up for myself and in turn be stronger for those around me.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The friendships. I consider my time in the gym to be as much social as it is fitness. The combination of the two drives me to show up. I realized that since crossfit, almost all of my friendships are with people who prioritize health and fitness and find it fun.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: I remember coming back after having the twins and having so many doubts. Coming back and “starting over” with the encouragement of all of the coaches and the community has by far been my highlight. I was well over 6 months postpartum and I said I missed pull ups. Jared told me to try them and told me that I had “Mom Strength” now. Go figure, I had them. That was a small but impactful moment for me. I also love ANY event that involves a costume so SOGO and the Open are great memories!

Any advice for people just getting started? Go at your own pace and don't compare yourself to others.  Scale as needed and set one big goal at a time. Scaling is part of the beauty of crossfit being accessible and achievable for all!

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I am in my “Mom of Toddlers” era so I spend most of my time with my boys. However,  I love hiking, trail running, camping, traveling, concerts, and reading. I have hiked lots of national parks and taken lots of solo trips around the world. I also love Dave Matthews Band and have been to well over 100 DMB shows. Many of my hobbies are on hold now because of life circumstances,  but outside of my kids I do manage to prioritize time for the gym, coffee, concerts, and a good book!