May 2018 Athlete of the Month - Sarah Mordetsky
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Each month, I come up with a few names of members who exemplify the characteristics we love to be around in the CrossFit Island Park community. Thank you Sarah Mordetsky for your authenticity. It was an easy choice and I am proud to give you this month's honor.
Sarah and her husband Joe "The Beard" have been members for almost a year now. Sarah is a regular in 9:30am class. She is a hard-working, fun loving mom of two who doesn't take life too seriously. Sarah is so selfless. As president of the Kiwanis Club, she is always looking out for others and trying to give to those less fortunate. She was as huge heart. I want to thank you Sarah for giving us the opportunity to positively affect the lives of military children and cover the costs to send 4 of them to camp this summer (at $465 each.) That goes to show the culture we have at CrossFit Island Park is not all about what we do inside the gym. Our members are great people. Being in the gym seven days a week, it is very rewarding to see the positive changes occurring in you all as individuals, in the gym itself and the overall culture. Thank you Sarah for being a leader and congratulations on this month's honor.
Written by: Coach Rob Moloney
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Q&A
What is your background and why did you start Crossfit?
I am a former commercial banker, turned interior designer, turned stay at home mom.
I was approaching 40 and I didn't like how I felt anymore. I was waking up with aches and pains for no reason. My body had become something I didn't like or really recognize after two kids and I needed to make a change. I still wake up with aches and pains now, but at least I have a very solid idea of where they came from.
How long have you been a member and how long have you been doing CrossFit?
I have been a member of Island Park for about 9 months, though it feels like much longer thanks to the 9:30 class. I have been going to CrossFit for a year and a half.
What is your favorite thing about the gym?
The people. It's like coming to an adult playdate every day. We all push hard to get it done, but it never feels dull or boring and that's because we are all suffering together and laughing while we do it. And while it is fun, there is real training going on. Coming from a place where the fun came first and the training second, its really nice to be at a place where our coaches take pride in what they do and how they teach us.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome since joining the gym?
Everything? No seriously, everything. I didn't work out for a very long time, and I'd never taken on fitness at this level. I couldn't do a lunge, a push up, I couldn't lift more than the 15lb bar over my head when I started. I was always the lightest weight and last one done at -all- of it. I might still be last one done, but I'm growing stronger every day I show up. Crossfit really humbles me with how hard it continues to be.
What is your favorite moment at the gym so far?
It was Murph. Having an incredible group support a charity honoring military families and honoring a fallen hero felt really good to be a part of. I was grateful when you guys offered to send any kids up to camp. But 4? It’s just awesome. I know I’ve said thank you a million times and I wish there were better words for it, but thank you again. It just goes to show the kind of people we have in this fitness community. Then there was the actual work out. I was nervous that I wouldn’t finish and I’d run out of time. I modified to try and mitigate that, but I still thought I’d fall behind and not get all the middle work done. I did. I had Kerrin with me, which helped me move forward. If she can finish being new at all of it, I had no excuses. I finished under an hour and completely surprised myself. Next year, Rx. Best day at the gym, hands down.
What's your favorite "cheat" food?
That's a joke right? I eat the food from my kids plates. But really I don't "cheat" myself out of eating the good stuff or bad stuff. But everything in moderation. Even fast food has a place in my diet, just not a regular one.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about starting?
Don't be intimidated. There is always a modification to take the workouts down to a level you can do. Everyone starts at the same place, so showing up is the biggest hurdle. Once you are there you'll be amazed by what you are capable of. Its what makes CrossFit "addicting" in my mind.
What drives you?
What drives me most is a desire to be a better person. Not just with fitness, but with life. I am a firm believer that small efforts lead to big impacts. Holding the door for someone. Picking up an extra piece of trash from the beach. Even smiling and saying thank can change another person's day. I try to teach my kids that and lead them by example in that regard. I'm always really grateful when someone else sees that and they decide to make a small effort too. It's contagious and leads to bigger things.
What is you biggest fitness goal right now?
To get kipping pull-ups. If I've learned anything at CrossFit, it's that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is my pull-up progression. But I'll get there. A year and a half ago I started off with ring rows and a band across the bottom of the rig. I've just got to keep chipping away.
