My apologies for the delay on this much deserved post. Congratulations Catherine and thank you for being our October Athlete of the Month. You’re a pleasure to coach and chat with (usually at 5:30am). Catherine joined Island Park Fitness just about a year ago. She contacted me to come check out the gym. After talking for a bit to learn a bit about her, I asked if she wanted to jump in class. She grabbed her sneakers out of the car and has been a consistent member ever since. The first thing that stood out with Catherine was how well spoken was and the way she carried herself. That made sense when I learned that she has 4 siblings (same as me). Although she has an athletic background and has military in her family, she doesn’t take herself too seriuously. You will see one of the few smiles each morning at 5:30am belong to Catherine. She’s coachable, enjoys the process and you can tell she’s having fun. I say it about each Athlete of the Month chosen but it’s individuals like Catherine we want to see more of in the gym. Keep staying consistent. Those double unders are getting better and will be an automatic skill soon.
Written by: Coach Rob Moloney
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Q&A
Why did you start functional fitness cross-training?
I started functional fitness in high school as a way to stay in shape between seasons but also because a new gym had just opened up in the town where I grew up and it became the cool thing to do after school.
What’s your background? (Athletic)
I was a swimmer growing up and I played field hockey and rowed in high school. I was also a beach lifeguard on Fire Island for my high school and college years and that got me into open water swimming, which is something I still do. Although, admittedly, less so lately.
How long have you been a member and how long have you been doing functional fitness?
I’ve been a member since January 2023. I was first introduced to functional fitness about 10 years ago now and have been doing it on and off since then. Now, I’m hooked and hope to be able to do it for as long as I can.
What is your favorite thing about the gym?
The community. There is nowhere else to be at 5:30am on a weekday. It pushes me to keep showing up and keep working hard because everyone else is doing the same thing. I also really like the programming, it’s thoughtfully designed for consistent and overall improvement and I can honestly say I have seen that for myself in the last 11 months.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome since joining the gym?
This one is still a work in progress but remembering to constantly push myself out of my comfort zone. Whether it’s not being afraid to try double unders in a workout even though I cannot consistently do them or to try the heavier weight even if I’m not sure I can do it. I know that’s where the growth comes so reminding myself to not be complacent or stay with what I know I can do.
What is your favorite moment at the gym so far?
It’s a recent one but I really liked the hero workout Chad. First and foremost, it was a great opportunity to do something more on Veteran’s Day to remember the price of freedom and recognize the sacrifices made by our military and their families so we can live in the best country in the world. And second because I surprised myself a bit on how I did.
What’s your favorite “cheat” food?
Homemade chocolate chip cookies or ice cream. Or both.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about starting?
Do it and be all in. Or you can do what I did, come check out the gym on a Saturday morning, jump in for the workout and the rest will be history.
What drives you?
Living well. For me that just means trying to be my best at everything I choose to do, whether it’s in the gym, at work, in my relationships, etc. It’s always a work in progress (and I certainly come up short) but we only get one chance at this so I just want to live the best that I can. I also have four siblings (3 brothers and a sister), who are all either in the military or great athletes, and if I come home for the holidays out of shape I’ll hear about it.
What is your biggest fitness goal right now?
Skill-wise, my biggest goal right now is nailing consistent double unders. Overall, I just want to keep going, continue to slowly improve, and stay healthy/injury free. I want to be able to do this for as long as I can so to be strong and steady is really what I am hoping to achieve.