November Athlete of the Month
Monday, November 1, 2010 at 8:00PM 
Jessica Bailey!
Interview by Chris Fox
I can hardly believe that October is over already. That means November is here and it’s time for a new Athlete on the Month! This month we looked for someone who had really stepped his or her game up as of late, someone who seemed to have developed a new confidence and commitment to their training. We found exactly the right person in Jessica Bailey (aka, J-Bay-Lo or J-Bails ). A native East Coaster from Boston, she came to Brooklyn via San Diego. Jess has been CrossFitting with us for a little over a year but more recently seemed to be hitting the lifts and WODs a bit fiercer. Just last week she hit triple digits in her front squat and we the coaching staff at CFSBK could not be prouder. So I sent Jess a (creepy, apparently) Facebook message and a follow up email and asked her to meet with me for a bit. She though she was in trouble and responded with an apology for spilling some water in the gym. Once that was cleared up we set a time to meet. We ran into each other (actually, I walked right passed her in my haste) on the way to the gym so I ended the suspense on our walk. After the initial surprise and disbelief that our first 2 AOTMs shared, this is what I got.
Fox – Congratulations! We chose you as Athlete of the Month! We’ve noticed a real change in your approach at the gym lately. You’ve been more aggressive in everything and have been improving quite a bit. It’s been really nice to see.
JB – THANKS! You guys are so nice. I really can’t believe I’m athlete of the month. I’ve never won anything.
Fox – Well you have now! So, let’s start at the beginning. When did you start CrossFitting with us? And how did you get started?
JB – I started Foundations in September ’09. A good friend and her boyfriend told me about it. They were doing CrossFit at CrossFit East Bay in California and would tell me about all this crazy stuff they were doing in the gym. I was bored with the regular “gym and spin” routine and wanted something fun. I searched online and CFSBK was a few blocks from home. So I signed up.
Fox – What were your goals when you started? And how have they changed?
JB – Every spring and summer I’d run, swim, and cycle a lot and be in good shape. Then every fall into winter the cold weather would come and I’d ditch the routine and backtrack. I needed something to keep me consistent. I really just wanted to be fit and do something that wasn’t spinning. I was an active kid; I skied, swam in high school (the 500m and 200m) and had a bit of competitiveness. CrossFit seemed good for that. Now, after a year I want to do the things that for a long time I figured I’d never do. I want to do Murph Rx’d! It was awesome to see Jess and Charlotte do that this summer. It’s great, the women in this community and the things they can do. And the best part of it is how supportive we all are of each other.
Fox – Do you find that to be in contrast with other arenas where women compete? It seems like the SBK gals aren’t “catty” like I’ve seen in some other places. You guys hang out outside of the gym, and you’ve made some close friends through the gym, right?
JB – Totally. I think the ladies here truly want to see the others succeed. It’s inspiring to see each other perform well.
Fox – You’ve been pretty inspiring as of late, too. Triple digits on your front squat! How’d that feel.
JB – Awesome! That’s one of those things I never thought I’d accomplish.
Fox – What helped change your mindset? Where did this come from?
JB – I guess I finally started trusting the coaches, and myself.. You guys believed for a while that I was better, and then I started believing it too. The community here is great and the coaches are all so supportive. It’s helped me to push it a bit. Seeing people push through physical adversity, like David after his injury, inspires me to do better also. I have a fully capable body and feel like it’s my responsibility to use it.
Fox – Do you think CrossFit has bled through to any other areas in your life?
JB – Definitely. It’s helped me at work (Jess is a teacher) to realize that just because a student doesn’t understand something right away doesn’t mean they can’t. Sometimes it just takes a different approach. I can’t remember the cue, but one day I was doing cleans and Margie said something that just clicked for me. I look for moments like that now when I teach.
Fox – Tell me some stuff that most of our members wouldn’t know.
JB – Hmmm…I did a sprint triathlon this summer. 1/3 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and 3 mile run. It was pretty hard, but I did it. What else? I sew. Not as much as I used to but I like to make clothing. I moved back east from San Diego 3 years ago to be closer to my family. I was really done with the west coast but I’ve always been close with my 3 sisters. Also, I am a T-Rex.
Fox – Last thing. What should we look for in our next Athlete of the Month?
JB – Easy. Someone who tries hard and is nice.
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Well there you have it folks. Congratulations, J-Bay-Lo, on being CFSBK’s November Athlete of the Month. Thanks for meeting with me, in a non-creepy way, and we look forward to watching you continue to crush it on a weekly basis. 3 cheers to our T-Rex!
Reader Comments (38)
In honor of our AOTM, I, too, will do some goal-posting even though I was going to skip it. See what a great influence you are Ms. B?
I am looking forward to doing better at Cindy when Katie and I attack it again at the end of the month. I would like +2 rounds from this past attempt. Like Katie, the limiting factor for me is the pullups. So I'm going to continue our weekly kipping practice. My goal is to string together 4 (unassisted) kipping pullups. I will also work the strict pullup with band work and negatives.
I have a few other goals that involve pushups,handstand holds, and DUs but I haven't sorted it all out yet.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/572160/
Thanks guys. Also, November 30th is a Tuesday, I'll be guest bartending at Joshua Tree with other mustachioed men. If you're interested, save the date. Sorry for the interruption but I thought I'd put it out there!
what do i have to do?
I'm going to be gone the rest of the week so I wanted to try tomorrow's FSs. Warmed-up with a jump squat/FS shoulder stretch/calf stretch triplet.
FS(1): (45x5, 95x3, 135x1, 165x1) 185, 205, 215, 220PR215 wasn't super pretty so I was going to call it a day, but Shane convinced me to try for the PR. Glad I did. Though it was slow and my rack fell apart a little, it came up. Glad so many people were there to cheer me on. Especially after yesterday's frustration, this was great.
Pre Class: some foam roll loving and some tennis ball work on the bottom of my feet. they both suck. definitely feel the difference on the leg that alec worked on and the one he didnt't, need to get the other one some attention.
BP: 45*5, 75*5, 95*5, 115*2, 132.5*3*5
everything felt ok, just need to actually get myself properly set before i move the weight. but the weight itself was fine. just keep on chugging along.
DL: 135*5, 225*5, 290*5
weight was comfortable. definitely have more room to grow on these. 4 wheels on the nest total is doable.
since i was making up for missing yesterday and i'm in tomorrow there was no squat. my goals for this month are:
#1 - gain 10lbs, being able to rest this month and adding milk to the diet should really help this.#2 - attend at least 2 of fox/shanes torture sessions. hopefully since this is on the second page they wont notice.#3 - keep adding 5lbs per session on the squat. this is where goal #1 comes in.
the theme for this cycle is apparently My Fucking Back.
LBBSw/u 45x5, 65x5, 85x5, 105x3, 115x1work 120x5x5
gotta keep my back engaged and chest up.
Bench
really want to bench 100lbs this cycle. I came in to cfit in April with a 90lb 1-RM so I don't understand the lack of progress.
w/u 45x5, 55x5work 65x3x5
elbows IN.
chins: not as spectacular as last week, but not tragic.bb 8, 6, 6.
chins this cycle are lonely without the group to lift me up on its wave of cheering.
supplemental groove- greasing modified pushups: 2x4.
2 Eggs, Steak, Bacon and some green beans. Everything organic. washed down with water and fish oil
Jerk (from the boxes!):80x2,90,100,107.5,115
Single Leg Squat:5R,5L; +vest 3R,3Lx1x ouchno vest+3bands x5R,5Lx3
Getting coughed on by random people on the way home x 5...I see good things in my future!
Bails - You are fantasick.
Katie - NICE! Be safe partying in Miami.
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Looking forward to FSQing tomorrow
And congratulations Jessica!
Came really close to 155 each but couldn't quite get it - next time
2K Row - 7:05 Was planning to take it slow but ended up going pretty much all out.
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Tonight:-active recovery class-lots of good stuff for my legs (thanks Fox) and lots good laughs. Only Jess Bailey could have made it better. ;)-hang snatch-got 83lbs a couple times but never looked pretty. Need to work on these more consistently and not be scared. Thanks Shane for all your help.-2 mile run-at about a 9:05 pace.
Hope to post my goals for november tomorrow...