Catalyst Games 2013

Jessica Sally: Celebrating Strength

Jess finished second overall at the 2012 Catalyst Games, but her real triumph came when life threw her a major curve last spring. Through the adversity, she trained hard and still managed to complete the Catalyst Intern Program a few weeks ago. She's a model athlete and Catalyst Family member.

This will be my fourth time participating in Catalyst Games. My first year was at the Pavilion so I’m really excited to go back. This year I have a completely different mindset going into it. There have been a lot of changes in my life this year (the name change on my shirt says it all!) and as a result I am a lot more relaxed mentally. I’m sure I’ll have a few butterflies on game day but the last year has given me perspective. While I am definitely competitive, I could care less about where I place. The real win comes from being prepared to face future challenges. The physical challenges that Catalyst provides have taught me more than I even realize. I’m looking forward to Saturday as a chance to celebrate the strength that I have gained, both mentally and physically.

Miranda Stadnisky Mayhew: Mom and CrossFitter

Miranda is a story unto herself.

In 2009, Miranda competed in her first Catalyst Games. It was the same day as her wedding, so she had to leave early. She wore a green veil for the first two events, and I'll never forget her final lap of the XC run course. The mile ended with a very steep, slick climb in mud and clay. To urge her upward, I barked, "Last workout as a Mayhew!"

"Screw that," she responded, "he's taking MY last name!"

That's Miranda. 

When Miranda was due with Tristan (you've met him: he's mini-Miranda) she was hit by a car while walking down the sidewalk. She was fine; he's fine, too (let him chase you around the mat for ten minutes playing "Shark attack," and you'll see for yourself.) Such is her toughness.

(that's Tristan the newborn, above. Miranda competed between feedings.)

She regularly drags coworkers across town on their lunch hour to hit the WOD, and gives advice to other pregnant ladies about how to modify exercises appropriately. At 35 weeks, she's still hitting pullups, burpees and overhead squats. And she's doing the Games.

"I'm so happy to be entering my fourth of many more - and have been thinking about the journey my life has been in between each one - amazing! I have still never been at my "most fit" or "most prepared" for any of them - but surprisingly, being pregnant, I think I've trained most consistently leading up to this year's. It will be somewhat frustrating having to keep my intensity scaled down, but the focus is on the baby of course and it will be a great day nonetheless. Thanks to Catalyst for being and providing one constant that I cherish, for a person who thrives on change, its a treasure!"

 

No Challenge, No Change: Deandra Cormier

What got you CrossFit-ing? My brother! He was living in ThunderBay and so I only got to see him a few times a year. During his visit home in summer 2012 he could not stop raving about this "CrossFit" thing! It wasn't until I saw his physical progresion from Thanksgiving to Christmas and his continued passion that I thought I should give this "CrossFit" thing a try. So in January 2013 I attended my first On-Ramp class, "drank the kool-aid" and have been a proud member of the CrossFit Timmins "Cult" ever since! ***Shoutout to CrossFit 807!! Indirectly, I guess I wouldn't be Crossfit-ing without you guys either!! That was my brother Rob C's Box!!

What's your favourite part of CrossFit? Without a doubt its the people I have met along the way!! The Crossfit Community is such a powerful part of it! I thrive off the people Im surrounded by everyday…my coach, my team mates..my now BEST friends, my CrossFit family! Only THEY can share the same excitements as you! Only THEY understand the feeling you get when PR or when you finish your first competition together! They are what keeps me driven!!! "Highfive"!!!

What are you most looking forward to about the Catalyst Games? Honestly just to be surround by people that have the same passion as me, doing what we love!! There's nothing more satisfying!!

What are you most hoping will show up in the last workout? Im pretty pumped about the workouts that have been released actually!! My strengths are shoulder to overhead and OHS!! My favourite from our last comp was the complex and this is along the same lines!! Should be fun!!

Thanks to Catalyst and everyone involved for allowing us Northern Ontario CrossFit-ers to have such a great opportunity so close to home!! This will be CrossFit Timmins' first Catalyst Games event and only second competition in our less than 1 year of training and we couldn't be more excited!!! NO CHALLENGE NO CHANGE!!!!

James Bottrell: Tri to CrossFit

Dr. Adam Ball suggested I give it a try to compliment the triathlon training that I was doing at the time. The triathlon training became less and less as my CrossFit-ing increased until finally I left the world of endurance sports to be a full time CrossFit athlete. Thank you Adam! 2.What's your favourite part of CrossFit? Everything…except thrusters. I love the community aspect of CrossFit, there is no other place in the world you can walk into a room and be surrounded by people who are so friendly and welcoming. Everyone just wants to help everyone else out, whether it is sharing the latest Paleo recipe or giving some pointers to bang out another PR. Another thing that I like about CrossFit is the fact that there is so much stuff to do. There are so many skills to work on and its amazing to always be challenged to get better. Like one day you can work on Muscle ups and the next day pistols and then throw in some swimming just to mix things up. The possible fitness level is limitless. 3. What are you most looking forward to about the Catalyst Games? First and foremost is the camaraderie and good times that surround any event in the CrossFit community. It is an amazing feeling to leave your home box and go to a place where everyone is just like you. Secondly, to compete. I know how that sounds but competitions are a crucible. It will show you who you really are and what you can really do. Theres no hiding on the leader board. 4. What are you most hoping will show up in the last workout? I would love to see some heavy lifting, be it a front or back squat, or deadliest. That or some crazy double under, snatch mash up. 5. Anything else to add? I would like to thank Catalyst for putting on the Games and to all the people that are going to make the day possible. The athletes make it exciting but the real hard work is done before the athletes show up, throughout the day and after the athletes leave. Thank you!

Chuck Viau: Strength and Paleo are on his side!

My name is Chuck Viau, I'm 36 and I've been involved in CrossFit now for about a year. 

    I have been following a paleo lifestyle now for about 2 years.  And in all my research on paleo subjects, CrossFit would often come up.  So I started looking into what this CrossFit thing was.  It just so happens that the 2012 games were going when I started my research and from there I was sold!  I found the Crossfit Gym here in Sudbury and I've been a member ever since!

Clearly the results speak for themselves.  My fitness levels are at the highest they've ever been in my life!  But by far, the best part of CrossFit is the community.  It's not just a gym where you go to train.  It's a gathering place for positive, like-minded people who want to be better at life.  I've made fantastic friends through CrossFit and I look forward to extending my CrossFit family as much as possible!

This will be my first competition so I'm a little nervous about it but at the same time I'm really looking forward to having fun with my team members, pushing oursleves as hard as we can so that hopefully, by the end of the day, I'll be proud of the efforts I've put in!

I love heavy lifts.  I come from a powerlifting background so anytime heavy squats or deadlifts are involved I'm totally excited!  So I hope we get to test our strength in a competitive setting!

I'm extremely excited about particularizing in the Catalyst Games!  Everyone from our gym who went last year had an amazing time and I'm looking forward to making new friends and great memories!!  See you in September!

Dominic Desrochers: All The Way From Timmins

My first experience with Crossfit was after the 2012 games when I became more aware of the sport and knew that an affiliate was in the process of opening up in Timmins. Of all the workouts I could of picked it was a Scaled version of Fran using Dumbbells and the pull-up bar in My Father in Law's Garage....5 minutes later I was coughing (What I now know as "Fran Lungs") . Once Crossfit Timmins opened up in the Fall my plan was to use Crossfit as a strength and conditioning program for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but not long after starting I decided to concentrate on Crossfit as I was a little overwhelmed by the myriad of new skills I had to learn and no longer wanted to divide my efforts. After some consistent training I was able to submit a score in the 5 open workouts in March and recently competed as part of a team at the Sweat RX championships in Toronto. I’m looking forward to meeting other likeminded people in Sault Ste-Marie and the opportunity to gain more competition experience.

Christine Charbonneau: Making The Trip

I was always athletic growing up – I swam, ran cross-country, played basketball and volleyball until I found my true passion, which was horseback riding. I rode horses competitively for 13 years.

Despite being active, I packed on the weight throughout my post-secondary career.

I started Crossfit with a friend as a means to lose weight in February 2013, but I soon realized that Crossfit was much than just a means to shed some pounds.

Since February, I have been training consistently with the goal of someday competing in the sport. My first competition was held on August 15, 2013 at the Sweat Rx Championships in Toronto. It was such an amazing experience! It definitely made me want to continue on competitively. So here I am!

My current maxes are: Deadlift – 245lbs Snatch – 95 lbs Clean & Jerk – 125lbs Clean – 130 lbs Back Squat – 205lbs Front Squat – 165lbs Overhead Squat – 120 lbs

Six Gyms At 2013 Catalyst Games

Athletes from CrossFit CapOp, CrossFit Genetic Potential, CrossFit Sudbury, CrossFit 807, CrossFit Timmins, and of course, CrossFit Catalyst, will participate in this year's Catalyst Games 2013.

Traveling from Montreal, Manitoulin Island, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins, individuals and teams will descend on Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, September 6 and battle for the Fittest in Northern Ontario. 

Notably, athletes who aren't gunning for top spot will also make the trek simply to participate. This is, to some, the Sport of Fitness; to others, the Game of Fitness. Preparation will be taken seriously by all, but the results will not be. 

Two events have been released, with more to follow. With over 80 athletes now registered, plus the Varsity division, we're likely to see the best Catalyst Games ever.

Athlete Profile: Jessica King

I first started at Catalyst Nov 4, 2009. I booked a PT session with Chris Cooper. He asked me what my goals were. I told him that I needed more energy and I was hoping that regular exercise would do it. I’d been eating extremely well for 2 years and while that helped, it wasn’t enough. (I’d been following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which is similar to Paleo, no grains sugar or processed foods.) I told him that this was it, if I didn’t feel better I was going straight to junk food.

In a sense fear motivates me because I don’t ever want to feel like I did before. I'm afraid I'll be that girl who barely has the energy to get through the day. On the other hand, I want to get stronger and faster and better at everything so that pushes me to fit in my work outs and work hard at them.

I really enjoyed my first games, in 2010. Even though I had hurt my shoulder that summer and couldn’t do the events prescribed, I had a lot of fun. It was the first public athletic event I’d been in. (I have no athletic background at all.). I enjoyed the whole day, nerves and all.

I also loved the strongman group. I wasn't sure if I was going to try it because it was out of my comfort zone but I'm so glad I did.

Looking forward to the hill run.

Also, NOT looking forward to the hill run.

Tips for newbies?

Bring multiple changes of clothes. Nothing is worse than being in wet clothes between events. Also, just enjoy the day.

Who should we 'watch for' at the Games?

I know this isn't what you meant but I'm watching out for Ty and Mel because they're planning the events! I couldn’t narrow it down to one person. There are so many athletes who show up and work hard so anything can happen.

Athlete Profile: Two-Time Champ, Cam Wilson

Mel sat down with Cam and asked him a few things this week. These were his responses:

I believe that I've been at this Crossfit thing for about 3 years now. It all started when I met Tyler through a mutual friend. He convinced me to try out this workout up at the old Queen Street location. The workout was cindy and I couldn't move for a week. Since then, I've done various forms of training including Green Army, Crossfit Endurance and now following a strength training program.

My biggest motivation is simply to get better and stronger. I also love to compete in everything I do and those up and coming athletes coming to the gym everyday are motivation enough to drag myself to Catalyst on a regular basis.

Just being a part of the Catalyst family is a highlight for me. We are a great group of people and the gym is doing wonderful things for it’s members and the community. Highlights for me personally are anytime the gym gets together to compete. I love competition…

I look forward to the hill run of course, that’s my bread and butter. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the rest of the events and the challenge and thrill of competing against everyone else.

I don’t look forward to waking up early on the morning of the Games and being nervous and not being able to eat. Those butterflies in my stomach is a feeling I don’t really enjoy.

Any tips for newbies?

 Just enjoy the day. Everyone who competes is already a champ in my eyes. Make sure you bring out plenty of food and drinks to Searchmont because nothing is worse than running out of steam during the last event.

Anyone you're worried about?

There are always people at the gym that I worry about. I am going to have a very tough time against all of the “up and comers” and “out of towners”. This year, the Games are going to have the best field of competitors yet and I look forward to every second.

Beware of the sweet workout gear I’m going to be sporting at the Games…It’s going to be great…