We couldn't be more pleased to end the year with a spotlight on a member who we cannot help but admire her tenacity for CrossFit. In such a short amount of time we have seen KC grow in strength, skill, speed and competitiveness. When KC comes to the gym and does a workout she is all business. Every time she steps foot into the gym she is always working on something to better herself. With a humbling attitude which we love, KC is constantly surprising herself and us with her feats of strength and perseverance in WODs!

KC at the Girls Gone RX competition this past summer

ABOUT TIME! Haha, just kidding (totally & 100% kidding)! I am more than honored to be chosen as December’s athlete of the month. Because:

1. I’m an athlete?
2. There are so many individuals whom I feel are more deserving than me. Those people who have families, kids, work multiple jobs, are in school but still make it to the box at some point or another in their day even if it is at 5:30am. Those people have so many more life-excuses (I just work 8 hrs a day lol) to miss a WOD but they don’t. They show up. They go hard. Fitness is more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge for most but they suck it up, put on their “work-out clothes” and kill the WOD. Those athletes are the ones that inspire me. (Luckily, I love CrossFit so much that it isn’t a mental challenge whatsoever!)

My story isn’t tear-jerking, special, or crazy by any means, but I think it’s a relatable one. I would be happy if my story opened the eyes of a CrossFit-hater because that used to be me.

My Journey:

Chapter 1
Long ago in a not-so-far-away-land, where excessive booze & partying were socially accepted, I managed to graduate with a degree in Exercise Science knowing that I didn’t want a career in that field. Through the process, I gained-lost-gained-lost-gained weight but at least I left with some knowledge of exercise that I could use for my own personal fitness goals.
Key Note: During this time, CrossFit still had a very bad reputation. Exercise Science Professors and my Strength & Conditioning Internship Coaches completely bashed CrossFit. This mindset was ingrained in me; “CrossFit? No, I don’t do that.” was basically my response to anything CF related.
Chapter 2
I’m working back in Virginia Beach – bored. I always worked out (even though my appearance may not have shown it) so I got a gym membership and began strength training & doing cardio on my own; Again, bored and missing something. I realized I wanted a “fun” workout where there was a sense of community; which reminded me how much I loved Muay Thai in high school. I joined a local MMA gym who offered CrossFit but it never seemed appealing to me. At the time, I LOVED going and participating in the Muay Thai and Boxing classes. As time progressed, I got bored again. I could see myself plateauing in skill & fitness and I knew I needed a change. I just didn’t know what the new replacement activity would be!
Chapter 3
Meanwhile during my skepticism of continuing MuayThai, here comes my mother….
Noticing how much fitness has become a part of my lifestyle within the past year, she tries to get me to drink this so-called “Kool-Aid”.
a. She had previously dragged me to some of the fundamentals classes when Drop Box first opened. Asked if I wanted to join with her. I said no. – FAIL
b. She sent me random texts/group chat messages asking if I wanted to try Drop Box and join. I said no multiple times. – FAIL
c. She brought me to Gangs of the Mid-Atlantic 2015 to spectate thinking that it would spark some sort of interest (I didn’t admit it but it WAS a little cool). She pointed out April (I think because her muscles were supposed to hypnotize me). She introduced me to Connor and Twitch (like they were going to convince me ?!?! j/k). Still a no from me (Little did I know that I would be competing in that same competition the following year in the RX division on a team with those exact individuals). – FAIL

DBCF: KC watches CrossFit for the first time,  April Bossons snatching/Gangs of the Mid-Atlantic 2015 — DBCF: KC watches CrossFit for the first time, April Bossons snatching/Gangs of the Mid-Atlantic 2015

DBCF: KC w/ teammates brothers Connor & Twitch McMahon, & April-Gangs 2016

We should all know by now that no one listens to their mother and we need to hear it from someone else:

a. I’m watching TV and ESPN does some sort of CrossFitevent re-cap (Games? Regionals? Wodapalooza? Who knows – I was a total CrossFit noob at the time). All I know is that these girls are RIPPED and RIDICULOUSLY STRONG. I’m pretty sure it was Brooke Ence & her crazy body who triggered my initial “spark” of interest.

b. This bodybuilder I follow, Steve Cook, does a special YouTube episode about CrossFit. He tries his first CrossFit WOD (and he still WODs to this day) and it just happens to be with Brooke Ence! He mentions that CrossFit athletes are basically stage-ready bodybuilders year-round. They don’t have an off-season and they look great all the time. It’s a great video for skeptics:

After that video, I’m about 50% convinced that CrossFit might be the next move. Daniel, my boyfriend, who at the time was not a CrossFit-hater like me was about 95% convinced. Between him, my mother, and my aunt, they all convinced me to join. Within the next 2 weeks I joined CrossFit (that YouTube video was published 1/13/2015 & I did my first “real” WOD 1/25/2015).

So, I would like to give a special S/O to my mom, Maricel Oida-Soliven for her INCESSANT nagging to join CrossFit. I would have never been a part of this incredible community, I wouldn’t be this strong/athletic, and most of all I wouldn’t have this inimitable family at DropBox CrossFit.

After joining DropBox to the present day:
I remember when I could barely do double-unders. I remember how cool people looked doing them so gracefully. I remember the painful whip-bruises on my arms I would get from practicing them. I remember when I would throw my rope in anger because my rope wasn’t working right. Now I love double-unders! I remember the first Olympic Weightlifting class where the movement of the “snatch” finally clicked and I finally understood what it was supposed to feel like. I hit 95# that day and it was magical. I remember when I read the SWOD was a 1mile run for time. I remember not wanting to go that day but I knew I needed to. I ran my fastest mile ever at 7:32; I was finally one of those fast cool kids I envied in 5th grade with a 7min mile. I remember doing a WOD with Turkish Get-Ups. I remember surprisingly being able to complete the entire WOD with 1 pood. I remember waking up the next morning with the most defined abs I had ever had; finally, I have the sexy-body I’ve always wanted! JUST KIDDING!

CrossFit enables you to do things you never thought you could do with encouraging family/friends to support you.

I love CrossFit.
I love how challenging it is.
I love being faster.
I love being better.
I love being stronger.
I love the friendly competitions.
I love how humbling CrossFit is as a sport.
I love the CrossFit community.
I love Drop Box.
I love my Drop Box family.

KC participating in her 1st CrossFit Open,'16

KC with her mom Maricel, boyfriend Daniel & friends

KC has competed in three competitions since starting CrossFit. Pictured: Girls Gone RX & Team Grit

After competing in the RX division the day before, KC joined her DB family to support athletes in the scaled division

Kayla "KC" Oida- December Spotlight Athlete of the Month