The People's Athlete. You can.

I love sports. I really really love them. I don't like every sport - sorry baseball - but I am very competitive so watching a game is right up my alley. My mom enjoys sports a lot. My dad once brought a book and his lap top to a game - he's more of a chess guy.

I played field hockey and lacrosse in high-school. I did a brief stint on the indoor track circuit. Did.Not.Go.Well. Turns out I didn't like to just run.

Never. Ever. 

I went to college on a lacrosse scholarship. I was constantly surrounded by people that were competitive on another level. I loved it. I miss it almost daily. Crossfit has replaced some of that feeling for me. I'm surrounded by a group of people that are competitive - yes, there are people that just want to sweat, just want a good workout, etc. You can find me chatting with any one of them. I love em all!

Next week is my 2 year Crossfit Anniversary. In that time I have competed in Superfit DC twice, Superfit Delaware, Cold War 3, and the Capital Throwdown. Coming up I have Superfit Rubicon (my first individual) and Cold War 4. I love to compete. The adrenaline and excitement sends me to the bathroom about a million times - but I love it. 

Delaware was so fun!

Team America sitting in 3rd after workout #1

All this makes me an athlete. True. I Googled it:

Athlete: a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

Synonyms: competitor, jock, player, challenger, contender

See? That's me. I love being an athlete. I identify with that right after Mom and Wife. I live for the feeling I get when I workout, when I PR, when I win, when I just show up, when I inspire others, when I get to cheer on my friends.........it's all awesome. 

A Google image search for Athlete

What they have in common is heart and desire - and that black outfit

My stats: Snatch: 105#, Deadlift 285#, Back Squat 245#

I am an athlete because I love it, not because I lift the most or run the fastest. It makes me happy. I show up day after day to get better and to cheer on my fellow athletes. 

The People's Athlete. That's me. I'm here to cheer for you. I'm here to show you it can be done. You can make the time. You can be strong. You can be fast. You can be bad ass. We cannot all be these chicks:

wow

Inspiring? Yes. Awesome to watch? Yes. Absolutely. Will this be you? Probably not. Their full time job is working out. Most of them have some pretty legit athletic backgrounds (think division 1 gymnasts). That's ok. We need the pro's to inspire us.

That's where I step in. I am here to show you that the average woman can be an athlete. You can. Whether it's for the first time in your life or you are getting back into it. You can.  

Yep. Pull ups at 34 years old

I kinda gave myself the title. It's ok. People do that.

You know who loves The People's Athlete? Afrobrutality. Syn rocks. I wrote him my goal is to inspire the average athlete. Show them it can be done. It's not too late. You don't have to spend 9 hours a day in the gym to make progress and be bad ass. Obviously he loved it.

My favorite brutality tank

Always feel bad ass in this tank

Check out Afrobrutality. They have cool shit, great coffee, and are located in New York. What more do you want?

Go out there and be bad ass!

• star

The Dirt on Christina "Tina" Birog

I met Tina through my boy Phil (@illphill500). She instantly became another female I could talk to about Crossfit - anytime. She actually encouraged my questions, which was awesome! She is strong, fun, dedicated - but has a life outside of the Box. I decided that you all need to know her too!

Phil (right) friends with Ryan (left) who dates Tina......that's how we met :)

1. When did you start Crossfit and Why?

I started Crossfit in March 2010.  I was complaining to a friend of how bored I was of my routine/vollyball matches and not seeing results and he convinced me to give Crossfit a try.

Tina and the box jump

2. If you were on an island and could only bring three things what would they be?

Ryan. Knife. Net.

3rd place at the Superfit East Coast Championship

3.  What was the last song that played on your Ipod?

Fight Night by Migos... yes, I get hype at work.

Tina flying

 4. You always have a smile on your face, but what movement or lift just frustrates you?

Pistols on my right knee

rope climbing

 5. What is it like to date someone that is also a Crossfitter? How do you two take a break from all the CF/balance your time/not kill each other?

Dating a fellow Crossfitter is amazing!  When Crossfit is both partner's passion, understanding one another is easy.   Your goals are the same, your frustrations are the same - everything becomes easily relateable.  Personally, dating a Crossfitter has helped me become a healthier person... I've dropped a few of bad habits and picked up some good ones along the way.

We spend A LOT of time together (box, home, famly, friends) and we still, surprising enough, haven't killed each other.  Thankfully, we both work different jobs and sometimes train at different boxes so that's our time to be a part.  When we do train in the same space, we're both focused on our work so it's not like we are spending much time together.

Tina and Ryan

6. Favorite date night?

Saturday nights

Superfit Delaware Chest to bar

 7. What did you eat for breakfast today?

1 Egg, 1 Gluten Free Waffle, 4oz 2% Milk

Mid Atlantic Regionals

 8. What do you love to do outside the gym?

Eat :) 

 9.What is your superpower?

I am Dr. Dolittle to my pets... minus the doctor part.  Louis, Duke and I talk to each other and I can carry normal conversations with them.  I know what they're thinking/saying to me.

205# clean and jerk

 10.What was the hardest CF WOD ever?

Open WOD 14.5.  2 crappy movements with a time cap that ends when you're done.  Suck Fest.

FLEX

 11.What is the one food that you can't say no to, even though you know you shouldn't eat it?

Ice Cream! 

 12.What song best describes you?

Alot of poeple say I'm exactly like my Mom... so definitely Juvenile's She Get It From her Mama.

 13.What was your first competition? How did you feel?

Charlottesville 2012 was my first competition (and individual). I was both excited and nervous but had my coaches and teammates there competing, so it was just like another day at the gym (with a bunch of other people I've never met).   I remember leaving that day thinking "Jenn Jones is amazing" and "holy crap... you have a lot to work on Tina"

Podium time

14.You recently injured your foot, how are you handling your restrictions?

I'm handling it one (training) day at a time.  I can't tell you how much I want to pick up a barbell or run (I hate running).  Thankfully I have a coach (Jacon Tsypkin, TZ Strength) who does all my programming.. so whatever he tells me to do/not to do, I follow.  Or try to follow.

Boo. Not Happy

15. What advice would you give someone starting out in CF now?   If your box offers it, take a Fundamentals/On ramp class first!  More than likely, you will enjoy that and appreciate/understand Crossfit better than if you were to jump straight into a regular class and feel behind.  When you start - take it one day at a time, listen to your coaches instruction, and don't get discouraged if you see other people doing advanced movements you can't do.  Everyone started from the beginning... they just advance differently.  

So that's Tina in 15 easy questions. You are bound to see her - once fully recovered - at any number of Crossfit Competitions in the area. Watch out for her during The Open too!!