This month Power Plant CrossFit is proud to announce December’s Athlete of the Month – KEITH!
Power Plant CrossFit’s Athlete of the Month
Read on to learn what brought Keith into PPCF and why he keeps coming back… Baltimore CrossFit community gym
Did the pandemic give you a new found perspective or appreciation for exercise?
It definitely did. I saw myself starting to gain weight more than I’d liked, but with the previous nearby gym closing, it was hard to find the motivation to work out on my own or find a new place to start going. When PPCF opened back up, it was a huge relief to me because I knew I couldn’t make anymore excuses with the same location I’d been going to reopening again. And within the first month or so of returning, I could feel and see myself getting in better shape again. My friends noticed too and that definitely made me start feeling better about myself.
What is your overall goal for working out? Is it just to stay moving well into your older years or would you like to do a competition or something in the future?
My real goal is just trying to make something healthy become a habit. And that’s even more critical as I get older now. No real desire for competitions myself but if anyone in our gym gets involved in them I’m happy to come along and be supportive. I always did enjoy trying the CrossFit Games workouts to see how well I could handle those challenges every year. And they always seemed to be happening when I was traveling for work (pre-pandemic), so I’d often get to participate in different gyms around the country doing their own local Games events.
That was another part of CrossFit I really enjoyed was visiting different gyms whenever I would travel either for work or personally. Nearly every place I’d visit would have a gym within a reasonable distance and they were always welcoming to drop-in visitors. I regularly visited CrossFit Lehigh Valley when I would visit my parents in PA. Haven’t been there for a while due to Covid, but looking to get back to stopping by there again. The most unique one was finding a gym when I went to speak at a conference in Prague (I’ll see if I can find a picture of myself from the Prague trip. I know I have that somewhere).
Power Plant CrossFit is proud to announce
October’s Athlete of the Month –
DENDY!
Let’s learn a little bit more about our awesome athlete!
Tell us about yourself:
I’m Dendy! I’m a Behavior Analyst, Perfectionist, Extroverted Introvert, Breast Cancer Survivor, Teenager at Heart, and Open Book. I love to laugh, watch movies, listen to music, dance, cook, bake, and spend time with people I love. I started CrossFit in 2019 – the same month I started chemotherapy – and it saved my life. Probably not literally – but the workouts made me mentally and physically stronger, while the community strengthened and encouraged me more than they’ll ever know. There’s a reason people who CrossFit never shut up about CrossFit, and for me, it’s all about the community and embracing the suck together.
What is your favorite thing to do OUTSIDE of the gym?
I have a wicked sweet tooth so I love to bake. I also love to cook too. Creating something delicious and sharing it with the people I care about is one of my favorite things ever. It’s my love language.
What’s your favorite workout and/or movement:
Deadlifts, Power Cleans, DB Snatches, and Burpees
How does fitness help you in your every day life:
My job can sometimes be really physically demanding. Working on my strength and endurance has helped me stay active and engaged with my work kiddos and still have the energy to come home and be present for my own kids.
Why is coming to the gym important to you?
The gym is really the only place where all the demands on my time and energy are placed by me, and no one else. I can shake off the stress of the day, clear my head, and improve myself all at the same time.
What you love about the PPCF community?
My favorite thing about the PPCF community is how supportive and accepting everyone is! There’s no judgement, no criticism – everyone is welcome no matter what.
Thank you Dendy for sharing your story with us! We’re proud you’re apart of the PPCF family.
Mark your calendars for Oct. 16 at 10am. Come to Power Plant CrossFit at
7609 Energy Parkway, Suite 701
Baltimore, MD 21226 Bring your friends & family to sweat for a great cause!!
