Team CFIH

General Manager

Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and while I love competing, athletics has always been my center for community and friendship. While in college at the Air Force Academy, I competed on the D1 triathlon team and I loved both the sport itself and the people who pushed me to show up, work hard, and better myself daily. When a biking accident in 2018 led to my hip and femur being shattered, I was told both my military career and days of competing were over. Despite the toll this took on me physically and mentally, my community was what pulled me through. I couldn’t have done it without them. Almost two years ago, I heard about CF for the first time and was intrigued by the diversity of skills required for this sport; however, what really intrigued me was the community. My first workout humbled me (to say the least), yet people came around high-fiving me, and encouraging me anyway. I also loved how accessible it was for people at every level of fitness. Every single movement could be modified to keep me safe while my hip was still healing, and that never took away from the competitive atmosphere I craved. I loved that no matter someone’s strength, ability, or background, CF could meet them where they are and everyone could get after challenging and fun workouts together. I was immediately hooked. I am grateful today to be part of one of the most uplifting communities out there and encourage others to fight for their potential every day.

CERTIFICATIONS CF L-1 Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Nutrition Coach

I attended my first CrossFit class to be supportive of a friend and never intended to take another class much less become a coach. Since that first class, I have changed. Changed from a person who was motivated by appearance and performance, to being motivated to stay healthy and strong as I age. CF teaches me how to be a better person in all areas of my life. Through patience, hard work, community and continued growth, CF has guided me to becoming the best possible version of myself.

CERTIFICATIONS CF Level 1 Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified (Pn1)

Coach

As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, I was first introduced to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in 2014. I knew immediately that I wanted more and thus began my journey into CrossFit. I think like most members, the intimidation to join a gym and working out with these high-level athletes held me back for longer than I care to admit. For years I consistently tried to get my fitness fix through self-training at “Globo Gyms” but there was always something missing. As the global pandemic began to recede, me and my fiancé Hazel made the decision to walk into CrossFit Iron Horse and we’ve never looked back. The instant gratification of fitness, community, and positive energy sparked a new flame in me and has created friendships and personal achievements that I will forever be grateful for. While I do enjoy the challenge of every movement in CrossFit (minus burpees) I must admit that chipper style workouts are my favorite. There’s just something about seeing a lot of work on the whiteboard and knowing that this is going to be painful but its going to feel so good at the end. As I continue to evolve in this sport, one thing will always remain the same, my why. My children are my why and are the reason that I consistently strive to be a better person, athlete, and father. Having seen firsthand the results of a sedentary lifestyle and bad nutrition, I want to be the example to them that happiness is a choice and is achievable through hard work and good moral character.

CERTIFICATIONS CF Level 1

Coach

I do CrossFit to be a positive role model. To show my kids that being fit should be the norm, not the exception; and to show my family that fitness is attainable for anyone. I do CF to be as healthy and active as possible, for as long as possible. I will never tell my kids to slow down because I can’t keep up. I plan to dance with my wife at our great-grandkid’s wedding. I refuse to miss out on an experience because my body is too fragile. I do CF so I am comfortable with the uncomfortable. Choosing short term, fleeting discomfort, for long term, lasting reward is a skill that is practiced every day I show up at the gym. I do CF for myself. I wake up each day excited about the way I feel, the way I look, and always ready to get better.

CERTIFICATIONS CF Level 1 CF Level 2 CF Level 3 CF Gymnastics CF Gymnastics 2 CF Football

Coach

We all need to ask ourselves why? Why am I getting up at 4:30 am to workout? Why am I hitting the gym after a long day of work? Why am I suffering like this? Your WHY will get you in the gym when you don’t feel like going, it will push you to get in one more rep before time expires, it will give you the focus you need to get that new PR. Find your WHY and use it as fuel for your CrossFit journey.

CERTIFICATIONS CF Level 1 CF Rowing CF Olympic Lifting CF Football CF Gymnastics

Coach

My sister was the first to introduce me to CrossFit in 2008. I was working as a personal trainer and group exercise coach at the time and quickly realized I should start adding more of this “stuff” into my programming. It wasn’t till 2011 (post having kids) that I became a member at my first CrossFit gym. It was a game changer. I lost baby weight, starting building more muscle than I ever had.

I have been coaching CrossFit for 11 years and I absolutely believe in its ability to change peoples lives, both physically and mentally. I have found for myself what it means to be fit, strong and confident that my body will work for me. CrossFit excites in me a similar set of challenges and benefits that Aikido did. And I get to share this with other athletes as they discover these same benefits.

We have been able to visit many CF gyms over the years, be members at several and even own an affiliate. CrossFit has also provided me with a network of friends and community across the country. You might call them my tribe, my people or even my family.

Coach

I have always been involved in sports and other competitive activities so naturally I have been interested in fitness most all my life. The science behind it is what’s coolest to me!

My why is centered around functionality. The four reasons to stay fit are self-preservation/longevity, saving your life, saving someone else’s life, and kicking someone’s a$$ if needed. (Credit that to Pat McNamara). I love CrossFit because I long to be the best I can and it helps to compete with everyone around me. The community is also hard to beat and the varied aspect is what draws me back and it never gets boring!

Coach

I grew up very into team sports, mainly basketball and soccer. I retired from semi-professional soccer in college after an illustrious and storied career and $517 in career earnings. I can’t make it too long without physical activity before I go stir-crazy so I quickly found “traditional” exercise as a replacement for sports. While I still enjoy a good bodybuilding session, it can be boring. I don’t remember how/why I first saw CrossFit on YouTube, but I knew that it would provide a better outlet for exercise that would be a little more captivating. I drank the Kool Aid for the first time in 2016… and now I have a problem (haha).

I really just love the tangible results in CrossFit: improving lifts and times in workouts are great measures of progress (and motivation). Seeing my Open percentiles change throughout the years is so cool to see. I started coaching in 2017 to help others find other signs of progress than harping on the scale… that drive led me to own a CrossFit gym as well in Colorado (COVID did a number on us). I’m excited to get to helping others meet metrics they never thought possible.

Coach

I have always led a pretty active lifestyle. Playing sports and dancing in school which led to traveling to teach dance to high-schoolers for a couple summers after I graduated. Once I found out that I was pregnant with my daughter, my fitness went a little stale. I let myself get lazy and just couldn’t find anything that excited me enough to stick with, then came CrossFit. I kept hearing about it and somehow, I talked my coworker (current CFIH member Iris) into joining a “6-week challenge” and never looked back. 7 years later, I finally stepped out on a ledge with the help of a few people to make it known that I wanted more. That I wanted a more in-depth relationship with CFIH and CrossFit as Coach. Thankfully, I didn’t let any of you down! And I do it because I remember everything about how I felt when I started CrossFit. The intimidation, the fear, the “I could never do that”… The list goes on and on. The community that surrounds this sport is the driving factor. I love it not only because it allows me to keep up with my teenage daughter, but also watching others reach beyond those self-inflicted barriers to reach and exceed their goals just hypes me up. Seeing someone hit their first box jump, muscle up, that weight they have been chasing on a back squat… Being a part of that, it’s incredibly special.

Coach

I have been doing CrossFit for what feels like my whole life, beginning when I was 12 years old. My parents were very involved in the gym and I grew up surrounded by barbells. As I grew older, my passion for fitness only grew, and I even ended up competing in the Age Group Online Qualifier in the 14-15 and 16-17 year-old divisions. As soon as I was old enough, I signed up for a level-one seminar course in February of 2021. I coached at Ironwood CrossFit for around a year and a half before I moved to Fort Worth. If you’re ever in the Phoenix area, drop in + tell them you know me!

CrossFit’s mission is truly something I believe in. I love that there’s an option for every individual, and every day is different. However, I think what sets CrossFit apart from other types of exercise is the community that surrounds it. I am very blessed to have been apart of two gyms within the CrossFit community that are so welcoming and really care for one another. It is rare to find that all the members are cared for in a way that I have found at ICF and CFIH. CrossFit has brought me closer to my best friends and family, and has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people. I am so excited to extend this connection even deeper within Fort Worth.

Coach

My fitness journey started after I went to college, pursued and later received, my degree in exercise science. I had always been active growing up and playing sports so when I found out they had a degree that focused on sports, health and exercise, I was excited.

I started to do a lot of fitness related activities around campus. Overall fitness competitions, 5ks, rocking climbing, anything I could attend I did it. I really started to develop a bigger passion for fitness and helping others.

While I was in college I suffered a severe tear in my left shoulder labrum that required surgery followed by physical therapy. The moment I was released I was back in the gym and that’s when I saw CrossFit on TV and immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do next.

It was not easy at all in the beginning. I struggled to do anything going over head as well as had horrible range of motion and strength, but I wanted to get better. So I kept showing up and before I knew it I was able to do everything I struggled with before and more! Now I have been doing CrossFit for over 7 years!

My coaching career started first when I started coaching competitive gymnastics. I coached both men’s and women’s gymnastics for about 7 years. After I stopped coaching gymnastics I got my CrossFit Level 1 Certification and started coaching at San Angelo CrossFit. While I was there I personally trained athletes to better their skills and have helped athletes prepare to play sports at the collegiate level.

I love CrossFit because of the community it brings together. People from different walks of life all coming together for the same goal: to better themselves each and everyday. I also love CrossFit for the fun and excitement it gives people when they achieve a goal they never thought they could, and the long-lasting friendships it creates.

Owner/CEO

After a 5-year battle with an eating disorder that had taken over much of my life, I discovered CrossFit. It wasn’t long after falling in love with the methodology, the community, and the ways doing CrossFit made me FEEL when I realized I was no longer obsessing over food and exercise like I had been. Just like that, my focus shifted from disorder driven behaviors to supporting this new lifestyle I was excited by, and I’ve never looked back! During the first 10 years of my CrossFit journey I was an athlete first. I spent most of my time training to be the best athlete that I could be. I chased that dream and I lived that dream, but somewhere around the 8-year mark, that fire inside of me began to burn out. Around this same time, I learned that the business was also headed down the path to failure. We had holes in the walls, concrete floors, a very different culture, and a host of other big challenges. I even remember a member at that time say to me, “It doesn’t feel like a community here,” and that dug at me. I went home that night, went on our social media, and changed our mission statement to read, “We are a community first,” but I didn’t know what that meant yet. Slowly but steadily, we began to turn things around, but as the end of 2019 rolled in, just days before becoming the sole owner and 5 months out from our rebrand, I entered the darkest period of my life. Despite my experience in the sport and the habits that were deeply engrained in my being, I stopped taking care of myself and the CFIH community took notice. I remember getting several calls and texts, and in one single moment it hit me like a ton of bricks, “That’s what community first is!” It was the break through I needed because I realized in that moment that it doesn’t matter how disciplined or how fit you are, what you’ve accomplished, what your struggles are, or what you’re working towards, we all go through hardship in life! And when times get tough you need a community of like-minded individuals there to support you, to help you get back up on your feet, and that’s exactly what this community did for me. Since that realization, CFIH has grown into the powerful community that it is today! My mission is to help others see what they’re truly capable of, to help them learn, grow and succeed, all while expanding our impact using fitness as a vehicle. As a team, we pride ourselves on our warm and welcoming culture, our professionalism, the member experience and our hunger to learn so we can help our members transform their lives. At CFIH, we are a community first! Our mission is to help our members live happier, healthier lives! Thank you for putting your trust in us as your coaches and for allowing us the opportunity to do what we love on a daily basis. We cannot thank you enough!

CERTIFICATIONS Robbins Madanes Trained Coach CCFT-L3 CF HQ Level 1 Seminar Staff CF Running & Endurance CF Olympic Weightlifting CF Lesson Planning CF Self-Defense CF Powerlifting CF Gymnastics CF Strongman CF Competitor CF Barbell CF Kids