Member of the Month: Darrelle Clifford

Every month we choose a member who has gone above and beyond and showed up extraordinary progress. This month, we are so thrilled to have Darrelle Clifford as our member of the month. Darrelle took on the Paleo Challenge and lost 6.5lbs and 6.5″ in just one month! Her strength had gone up and she has mastered her kipping pullups! Way to go Darrelle!

1. How did you get involved with CrossFit?
I had wanted to try CrossFit for a few months when I found a Groupon for a CrossFit gym in January of 2012, where I originally met Coach Ash.  I completed On-Ramp and continued going twice a week until a vacation in May.  I had seen some results, but nothing drastic.  Then, I didn’t find the motivation to go back until I saw that Ashley and Scott had opened up CFTC and I started back up in September of last year.

2. What was your first main class WOD?
I don’t remember what it was at the old gym because I didn’t keep a notebook (blasphemy!).  At CFTC, I had already done On-Ramp so I started back up with a main class after being out of the box for 4 months (it was not pretty!).  The WOD was 10 Front Squats, 1 Rope Climb, 9 Front Squats, 1 Rope Climb, etc descending to 1.  I’m positive I avoided stairs for the rest of the week.

3. Tell us about your first on ramp class.
I had convinced my mom to try CrossFit with me, so we went to On-Ramp together.  I was so nervous all day, thinking about the class.  I got to the gym early and saw a main class working out and was immediately super intimidated!  That’s where Coach Ash was working the front desk and getting us registered.  Ashley was talking to all of us newbies and she made me feel like this was something I could handle and made me feel less intimidated, basically talked me off of the ledge.  I remember the class being challenging, but I survived.  I hadn’t worked out in awhile, so I was sucking wind pretty bad and realized how out of shape I was.

4. When did you realize CrossFit was for you?
I thought CrossFit was for me at the old gym, when I started doing heavy lifts again.  I used to be a competitive powerlifter and since I was no longer doing that, I had felt like this was a great replacement.  However, I found it easy to walk away from when I wasn’t seeing the results I anticipated (I don’t know what I expected from going twice a week and eating garbage).  I truly found that CrossFit was for me after starting with CFTC and becoming a part of the “family”, something I couldn’t find at the other gym.  At CFTC, I have pushed myself (with the help of great coaching and community) out of my comfort zone and accomplished things I seriously thought that I would never get, like a pullup.  The day I got my unassisted kipping pullup this January was the day I decided to get serious about CrossFit.  Something clicked and I decided to do the Paleo challenge, up my attendance from 3 days to 5 days a week, try to get to the gym before class to work on goats, and make it to Open Gym.

5. What are your short/long term goals?
I’ve completed 2 of my 3 short term goals before the Open: double unders strung together and kipping pull-ups.  My third goal is handstand pushups and last week I got over my irrational fear of kicking up to the wall, so now I need to get some pushups.  Long-term, I’m looking to accomplish a 400# deadlift by the end of the year and I want be able to RX every WOD/movement, which includes the dreaded muscle up.  Ultimately, I want to compete.

6. What is/are your favorite wod/movement? Least favorite?
My favorite WOD is CrossFit Total – 1RM for press, back squat, and deadlift.  I love maxing out those basic powerlifting movements, especially deadlift, and seeing results in numbers.  My least favorite WOD is anything with burpees.  Burpees are terrible.

7. What is your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment is dropping 4 pants sizes and 30lbs since September.  I used to feel uncomfortable in my own skin because I knew that the body I allowed myself to have was not the best I could be, not to mention the health effects that go along with being overweight.  I had high blood pressure at the age of 26 and that scared the crap out of me.  Now, I’m not ashamed of my body.  I’m proud of the muscles I’m developing and the strength that goes along with them.  Hard work and dedication truly pay off!