BTSCF Newsletter - March 2022
March came in fast and just like that the month is gone. But that means we have another month of Committed Athletes in the Committed Club, the Open is over, we had friends come over…it’s madness how much we crammed into the month. Check out BTSCF in March and what is ahead…
The Open Has Closed
The first two weeks of March found us continuing this year’s NoBull CrossFit Games Open. In week two, the barbells came out for deadlifts and we saw our fair share of burpees. We watched our athletes grind through a quick workout attempting to complete an ascending then descending rep scheme trying to get as close to 200 reps as they could. In the week three finale, our athletes faced the only thing they’d like to see less than burpees, and that was the thruster. Grouped together with the thrusters were the jump rope and an ascending skill level of barbell gymnastics. We saw some of our athletes get their first pull up. We saw others get more pull ups than they ever have before.
After all was said and done, we kicked back, relaxed and had an after party. During that party, we once again gave out our annual Spirit of the Open Awards. The BTSCF Spirit of the Open recognizes a male and female athlete that exemplifies what it means to be a BTSCF community member by putting forth their best effort towards personal growth while maintaining a supportive attitude throughout the Open.
This year Becky A. was recognized as our female Spirit of the Open winner. Becky has been a member for a while and has worked through numerous injuries. She has adjusted her training and focused on the process to become the best version of herself. Becky makes a point to come to the gym during the Open even when she’s not working out to support and cheer for others.
Our male Spirit of the Open winner didn’t even sign up for the Open. Jimmy A. was at the gym each week during our Friday Night Lights events. He was hanging out to support other athletes. In week two, as the evening was winding down, we had one athlete left to do the workout. Rather than have that athlete perform the workout on her own, all eyes in the gym turned to Jimmy. He didn’t have his gym bag, the right clothes, and his sandals certainly weren’t the right footwear to do deadlifts and burpees in. That’s when shoes started coming at him from all directions, he grabbed a pair, borrowed a set of knee sleeves, laced up and jumped in. Jimmy also helped with equipment and keeping the heats moving on schedule. For his training, Jimmy also focuses on doing what is right for him and trusting the process. He focuses on improving his movement and taking each day one at a time.
Congratulations Becky and Jimmy!
On to Quarterfinals
We need to continue our congratulations, as Mike S. and Heather S. Have qualified for the next stage of competition and made it to the Age Group Quarterfinals. They will be tackling a weekend of workouts later in April. To make it to this stage, they had to finish in the top 10% within their age group. Both Mike and Heather have set themselves up for this with their consistency. They make appropriate scaling choices in their workouts, have dialed in their nutrition, and focus on recovery, getting enough sleep every night.
Best of luck in the Quarterfinals!
Bring A Friend Week
We held our first Bring A Friend Week and it was a great success! We had so much fun hosting friends and family of our athletes. During the week, we had a number of fun workouts that were geared toward all skill and fitness levels. We can’t wait to see everyone come through our doors again.
Easter Sunday - Regular Schedule
We will be open for our regular class schedule on Easter Sunday! Come on in for a good workout before heading out to celebrate the holiday.
Delaware River Run
On May 1, the Port Jervis Recreation Department will be hosting the 28th Annual Delaware River 5K Run. The race will have multiple age group divisions for male and female runners, male and female walkers, and males and females who are physically challenged.
Since the race course goes right past our gym twice, roads will be closed and driving to the gym won’t be possible that morning. So our workout of the day will be the 5K. We encourage everyone to get out and run or walk a 5K. There will be no classes on May 1. This race course is perfect for beginners, so if you’ve never run or walked a 5K before, this is the race for you!
To register for the race, please click here. See you at the race!
BTSCF Feature Athlete
Meet Pat Miraglia
When did you start CrossFitting?
I started training at BTSCF back on January 4th. I guess “sweating” would be the more operative term, seeing as I never seem to get up to compete/train in SugarWOD!
What brought you to CrossFit?
On a windy day in December I drove to the Village Diner in Milford with my girlfriend and saw the Old BTSCF gym. I texted Mike and he said the gym was moving, and it was going to be conveniently two blocks away from my house I just moved into. It was fate!
What have you learned from doing CrossFit?
To be totally cheesy I have learned to never give up, because no matter how hard something is in the moment (emotions, minor physical impairments, stress, etc.) nothing lasts forever. And also to scale because sometimes i just have to check my damn ego at the door and realize I am not throwing up 100 pound front squats and that’s just gonna have to be okay LOL.
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about starting CrossFit?
I swear we are not as insane as we look when we are doing laps around a parking lot with sandbags in 40 degree weather. We are however as insane as we look when we do it repeatedly and in conjunction with sit ups and double-unders.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I am a huge lover of all things reality TV and sports. I am a life long Mets fan, and after going to Binghamton and living with Buffalo transplants for four years I am a huge Bills convert. I am also a huge Survivor fan and have applied multiple times to be on the show and have been screened a few times so if I ever mysteriously go on sabbatical from BTSCF for 60 days and I return with a mullet and 30 pounds less body fat just pretend you don’t know what happened. Or call for help, no in between.
What do you do for work and how has CrossFit impacted how you do your job?
I am a second year English teacher at Middletown High School and am absolutely in love with my career choice. I am very much an outgoing introvert so I usually stay in my shell until I open in which case I do not shut up. Much like CrossFit, teaching has also pushed me to the brink of mental exhaustion, made me wonder if quitting was an option at 4:27 PM, and made me sweat way more than I thought it would.
We put Pat through the lightning round, here is what he had to say
Q: What super power would you give yourself?
A: I want Dr. Doom’s general array of powers which includes but is not limited to: having super strength, a super dope costume and a general aggression towards uber-rich socialites who do not share their wealth.
Q: What's your favorite healthy food?
A: That is no fun instead I can tell you what my least favorite is and that’s sweet potatoes because I had a vegan phase in college (which I blame on a former girlfriend) and only ate potatoes of the sweet variety until I got a stomach virus that made me not only puke up sweet potatoes for a weekend, but also have a light phobia of their taste.
Q: What's your favorite not so healthy food?
A: Now we’re talking: birthday cake ice cream sundae over a brownie from Riverside Creamery. Go get it. Walk don’t run. Do burpees over there. Whatever you gotta do, just get there now.
Q: What TV Sitcom family or group would you be a member of?
A: People at my old job told me I remind them of David from Schitt’s Creek, which I guess tracks since everyone assumes I’m gay but in reality I just have an extreme love of everything.
Q: If you were famous, what would you be famous for?
A: I have thought about this and it would be for stealing a rich person’s bougie dog. I deserve a golden doodle, but can’t justify not adopting a dog so I would just conveniently adopt someone else’s.
Q: If you could write your own fortune cookie fortune, what would it say?
A: ”The WOD is harder than it looks.”
Q: If you were a professional wrestler, what would you finishing move be called?
A: The General Malaise
Q: Who do you look up to for inspiration at BTSCF?
A: It’s hard to choose one but for me it would have to be either Frank or Jon H. Both help me push myself and are examples of who I strive to be in so many different ways. Now let me do less push ups for the warm up next time, thanks.
Q: What is your favorite and least favorite movement?
A: My favorite is push ups because I am just so gosh darn good at them. Seriously, is there a world record for best push ups? I got to have a chance at that once. My least favorite is squatting, for no other reason than it just doesn’t feel good with my long ass body.
Q: What is the one thing you've done at BTSCF that your old self wouldn't ever believe?
A: JUMP ROPED? Like I’m sorry did anyone have that in their bingo card for my first year, let alone first three months at BTSCF? I sure didn’t, and I will be checking everyone’s in December.
Q: Is there anything else you want to share?
A: If I ever squint at you during a work out it’s because I am legally blind without my glasses and I promise I do not hate you!