Monday, March 9
announcements:
26.2 today! Come hit class and log points for your team!
Check out our newest community member profile HERE. Learn more about Gillian, and about the power of community! I’ve also copied the interview transcript below. We’re grateful for you, Gillian!!
Open WOD 26.2
rx
For time:
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge (35/50 lb)
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 pull-ups
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 chest-to-bar pull-ups
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 muscle-ups
Time cap 15:00
Score: Total time
intermediate
For time:
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge (20/35 lb)
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 jumping pull-ups
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 pull-ups
80-foot dumbbell overhead walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 chest-to-bar pull-ups
Time cap 15:00
Score: Total time
beginner
For time:
80-foot walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches (20/35 lb)
20 bent-over rows
80-foot walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 ring rows
80-foot walking lunge
20 alternating dumbbell snatches
20 jumping pull-ups
Time cap 15:00
Score: Total time
Skill Work
Rest, stretch, recover.
Community Member Profile: Gillian
Ben:
Okay, Gillian, how long have you been at Pisgah?
Gillian:
Since 2017.
Ben:
Wow. How did you end up coming here? What got you started?
Gillian:
Anne and Emily Shamblatt, who I was working with at French Broad River Academy, told me I should come. So I messaged Hayette, and she said, “Yeah, you should come on Saturday. I think you’ll like it.” We had never talked before.
Ben:
Really? Hayette?
Gillian:
Yeah. She was doing OnRamp, and they had just finished a session.
Ben:
I didn’t realize she was part of your origin story.
Gillian:
Oh my God—she’s 100% the reason I came and the reason I’m still here.
Ben:
Well, you answered part of this already, but what’s kept you here all these years?
Gillian:
The community.
Ben:
Can you say more about that?
Gillian:
Yeah. I really feel like I only have two communities I’m deeply part of, and this is one of them. Just knowing that people notice if you’re not here, that they support you and push you to challenge yourself. I also love that everyone is laid back but still trying hard to become the best version of themselves.
Ben:
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that you often gravitate toward new folks—people who may not know as much yet or who aren’t fully integrated into the community. Are you aware that you do that? And if so, what motivates you?
Gillian:
Yeah, I’m really intentional about that. When I first started wrapping my mind around CrossFit, I came in as someone’s girlfriend. I remember thinking, “I don’t know if I’m up to this.”
So it feels really important to me that when people come here, they immediately feel like they belong—that they have a place and aren’t just tagging along with someone else.
I also want people to know that CrossFit here is for anyone. There’s always a modification. It’s not just about lifting heavy. I want people to feel seen right away and to know they’d be missed if they didn’t come back.
Ben:
Thank you for doing that, by the way. It’s noticeable, and it helps all of us become a better version of ourselves.
Gillian:
I feel like Hayette modeled that for me.
Ben:
What’s your biggest CrossFit challenge that you haven’t achieved yet? Maybe a movement or lift that feels intimidating?
Gillian:
I have a lot of mobility limitations. But recently I had a dream where I just did muscle-ups—and they were so easy.
So I think my dream would be getting back to a place where I can do pull-ups again, and eventually doing one bar muscle-up. I’d love to have the shoulder mobility to make that happen.
Ben:
Nice. And what’s your biggest CrossFit achievement so far?
Gillian:
I’m really proud of how far I’ve come with double-unders.
And I’m also proud of overcoming a mental barrier with deadlifts. I once threw my back out deadlifting 180 pounds. I’ve done a lot of work since then, and now whenever I warm up and get past 180, I feel this sense of pride. It used to feel scary, but now it reminds me of how much work I’ve put in to move past that.
Ben:
That’s awesome. Anything else you want to add?
Gillian:
Just that I love being here so much. I love the community you’ve built—and that we’ve built. I really appreciate how you pull people in and connect with the broader community, too.
Ben:
Thank you. We really appreciate that—and thanks for being willing to do this.