Announcing Jefferson City CrossFit August 2017, JCCF MVP!! The ONE, THE ONLY Andrea Morrow. I remember your first classes, and I remember your “look” of “Why are you asking me to do this again?” Just so happens you still have that glare you hand out, but I am more apt to smile, and re-assure you are good rather than worrying about offending you. I had a recent experience to travel with you to an individual CrossFit Competition that we were both competing in, and I can’t help to think how lucky I was to listen to your humor, laugh, and learn more about your overwhelming heart that you extend to many, including your family!
You said to me, “Now Maria, that sounds way too logical for right now. You don’t always have to be logical.” I have to say that stuck with me quite well. Being a logical kind of gal, you give me a reminder to let it go when you need to. And that my friend is priceless guidance.
Without further ado..
Name: Andrea (Alexandrea if you ask my mom) Morrow
Age: 32 (3 weeks away from 33)
Family: Me, Betty the Beagle, Bogey the Beagle, Walter Cronkat, roommate extraordinaire Ruth Tucker, and Sandy and the Fatman.
When and how did you get started with us? Some co-workers at an old job asked me to come with them to try out crossfit, and I was a huge skeptic, but after Sam Casey was able to put up with me at my first onramp class and not kick me out, I figured you people might be cool. That was January 2016.
How long have you been CrossFitting? Since January 7, 2016.
What time do you come to WOD normally? 6:30 and almost every Saturday unless I’m out of town.
Favorite Lift: Probably snatches even though I suck at them. Overhead squats are probably second on my list.
Favorite Workout: Murph, because you can see your progress from year to year and it’s such a great community event with a great meaning. Shout out to Jill West and Marya Amos for finishing it with me this year when I was the last person to complete it 🙂
Least Favorite Workout: Anything involving thrusters or burpees.
Favorite Meal: Every year for Christmas I make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch and we eat them with thick cut bacon for breakfast while opening presents (this is why my family has heart problems lol) but my favorite healthy meal would probably be the chicken cobb salad from Arris Bistro.
Favorite Beverage: Wine. All the wine. And sometimes margaritas. And water – water seems important.
Funniest memory at the box: Last September we were doing a workout and I was next to Alison Dorge, and as per usual we were harassing each other. She says to me “I hope you don’t fall on a box” sarcastically. So of course, near the end of the WOD after a thousand box jumps, I landed hard on my shin on a box corner. The look of horror on her face was priceless. I still have a scar on my leg, was bruised from knee to ankle for a month, and I’ve been able to milk almost a year of guilt out of Alison over that crack about falling. Totally worth it.
What is the best part of working out with your 6:30pm? I don’t have any local family, so my friends are my local family. My 6:30 crew, for all intents and purposes, has become my family. I can crack jokes and be sarcastic and complain the entire time and they still love me, or at least they pretend to for my benefit. We are each other’s biggest supporters and this journey wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without them.
What is the wallpaper on your phone right now? You’re going to regret asking this – it is a floral artwork piece that says “Stay Sexy, Don’t Get Murdered” from the My Favorite Murder podcast.
What is your favorite JCCF Tradition/Community Event? I really enjoy all of the community events. Any time I get to eat good food and hang out with you people – guaranteed to be a good time. I love that we give back to the community as well through fundraisers and supply drives.
What is your favorite candy bar? I actually don’t eat a lot of candy but I will knock- you over for a Reese’s peanut cup or a chocolate Riesen.
If you could be any animal in the world, what would it be and why? Any one of the animals currently residing in my home, because they’ve got a really good thing going for them with the free food and housing and all the love and affection.
If I can’t be them, I’d want to be a fire breathing unicorn. Because that just seems like something I’d be good at.
Tell us some about your journey, greatest accomplishments. What was it like experiencing your first CrossFit Competition? I’ve always been involved in sports or athletics in some way. I grew up playing competitive softball and was on the track and golf teams in school. I was never a small person, however. In college I sort of ballooned up in weight because I didn’t’ have teams to be a-part of anymore and no reason to workout. So I spent the last semester of college going to the gym every day and lost a ton of weight that I’ve thankfully kept off in the last decade. In 2008 I watched a documentary about triathlons and decided I should do one, because clearly that’s the reaction you’re supposed to have. I learned how to swim and run, and competed in the 2009 and 2010 Mizzou Sprint triathlons and really got into running as a result. Ran four half marathons over the next few years, but got super burned out on running and just didn’t’ want to do it anymore. I was looking for a new goal and a new outlet when Crossfit was suggested. I fell in love with the concept and the community aspect.
As far as accomplishments, I used to be so focused on scale numbers but now it’s more mental and physical health. I’ve received great reports from my doctors in the last few years despite a number on the scale that I don’t love. I can pick up heavy things and put them back down. I can help my friends move and be the one helping lift the couch. My father just underwent triple bypass surgery, and both of his parents have had heart surgery. My biggest goal or accomplishment will be to stop that tradition from continuing on through me. No diabetes, no heart disease, no obesity related illnesses – that’s my goal for life. And having a good looking butt.
If you could give any advice for a person new to CrossFit, what would it be? Just show up and do the thing. I’m not the fastest, and can’t lift the most, and I’m not the prettiest while working out, but I show up and I do the thing. The trainers patiently listen to me complain the entire time, but I hope they know I’ll do anything they ask me to do, even if I don’t think I can do it. I just might complain the entire time. That’s the trade-off.
Please list two future goals. 6 months and One year: I’d be stoked to finally get a toes to bar soon and be able to snatch more than 100 pounds. I won’t put a deadline on either so I won’t be disappointed if I don’t hit that deadline 😉
Favorite Quote:
“Ad Astra Per Aspera” – latin for “a rough road leads to the stars” or “to the stars through difficulties.” I have it tattooed on my back as a reminder that life won’t always be easy but it will be worth it.