Each month we spotlight a different CrossFit 1710 athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow athletes and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit 1710 Community should be about.
Our August 2023 Athlete of The Month is Amani Mwaura! Amani began his CrossFit journey with us on September 14, 2022. Amani is a hard-working husband and father who usually catches one of our afternoon classes. Since becoming a member, Amani has eagerly sought out as much CrossFit knowledge as possible. He actively studies movements, consults with his coaches, and tracks his progress. Over the past few weeks Amani has put in extra work on gymnastic accessory work and his effort is leading to impressive progress! He is also an excellent teammate, encouraging new members and helping our coaches with setting up and shutting down the gym.
Amani- we are proud to have you as our August 2023 Athlete of the month and a great example of how dedication and consistency lead to noticeable and sustainable growth!
Get to know Amani in his interview below.
1. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. I'm Amani Mwaura, born and partially raised in Kenya, I've been in Texas ever since '97. I've got an amazing wife, Dana, and 4 great kids. I tell people she's the whip cream to this hot chocolate and we have 4 sprinkles. I'm a quality engineer for an electrical company, Rosendin Electric, in their Renewables Solar division. I've come to love Grace Community Fellowship in Wharton as a surrogate for my home church, as my family and I travel for work.
2. WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? What made me start CrossFit was a small invite from two amazing people from another gym. They invited me to their small group as we did more WODs and scaled them to our skill sets. But it wasn't til I moved to Wharton that I joined CF1710. I saw the billboard, came in the next day, did the week trial, and the rest is pretty much history.
3. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINING CROSSFIT 1710?
Embrace the suck. Be in a place that can challenge you, coach you and bring out the good in you. CrossFit as a whole is designed for the function of your body and how it best serves you. It's not set on specific rigid movements but on the whole body, mind and spirit of you. There are moments, especially in the Texas heat, that make the WODs seem unbearable. But somehow at the end of your towel and pool of sweat, you are grateful that you were able to finish/make it to class. And within all that, you have leadership that is geared to pushing you, refining your movements, and challenging you to be 1% better than you were.
4. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CROSSFIT 1710 OR CROSSFIT IN GENERAL? What I enjoy the most about CF1710 is the community of amazing and diverse athletes. What I've seen that sets CF1710 apart is the people that make you feel welcomed from your first day, to even the days where you have missed a few WODs and you're getting those "Hey, where are you messages." It shows you what a small impact that community like that does on someone.
5. WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?
I can't put an exact pin on the moment, but my proudest moment would be when I completed an RX WOD. I can remember thinking to myself "I did that" which only fueled me more to complete the RX WODs. Even if it means time capping or being dead last, the goal has become to challenge and grow.
6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVEMENT/LIFT?
I think my favourite movements would be Deadlifts and Pull-ups. For some reason, the deadlift was a natural movement with some tweaks to the form. And the pull-ups being that I have worked to get to where they are today.
7. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE MOVEMENT/LIFT?
My current least favourite movements are the squat snatch and burpees. All because the Squat Snatch requires a greater technicality in increasing stamina and strength. And the burpees are just a grind to get through. I see them and say "Yeah… I get to work on those today"🤦🏾🤣
8. WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOUR LIFE IN AND OUT OF THE GYM? CrossFit has had a substantial impact on how I live my life. In the year that I started on my health journey to where I am now, the greatest leap in that journey was when I started CrossFit-style workouts to join CF 1710. I noticed my physical health change and the confidence that it provided. When it came to my mental health, that's where the greatest leap has been made. I've said at the beginning of some WODs to "embrace the suck." Knowing that it's going to be hard, but the goal is to grind through it and get it done. I may time cap or have to scale accordingly, but I will push through to the end. This mindset has allowed me to look at those moments in life where they seem hard and utter the phrase "Embrace the suck." It is going to suck, but rely on the people in your life, take it step by step and trust God in the suck.
9. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM? My goals are to have and maintain my father figure. 😁 At the beginning of my health journey it was to lose weight and get relatively healthy. As I have grown in CrossFit and become humbled by the movements, my goals have changed in what I would like to accomplish. A few of them are mastering the Double Under, and Bar Muscle Up with steady movement. I'm working towards these every chance that I can get before or after classes.
10. WHEN YOU’RE NOT CROSSFITTING WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?
With the time I have, it has been spent learning more about CrossFit and spending time with the family. In my time with the family, I have begun to pick up my camera and shoot here and there.
11. WHAT IS THE ONE TIP YOU’D GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT STARTING CROSSFIT OR JUST STARTED?
Nike's slogan says it best, "Just do it." You won't know your level of strength if you don't start. The hardest step is the first step, after that it's about being consistent with your goals.
12. WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HOW HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT?
My diet is well…getting better. It was fueled by bad decisions and emotional eating. Now it's been cleaned up to fit the goals that I'm pursuing for a healthier lifestyle and longevity. As far as a daily diet goes, I prep a morning protein shake with Banana and Purus protein, adding in glutamine, creatine and ashwagandha. My lunches are usually leftovers from dinner or grabbing a spicy chicken cobb salad from Whataburger. Guilty pleasure as it seems. Family dinner becomes more about portion control and enjoying the time together. When it comes to eating out, it depends on the restaurant and being able to maintain a good protein intake and balance the carbs.
13. RESULTS? TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESULTS!
When I started my health journey in Feb 2022, I was sitting at 240lbs, battling depression, anxiety and feelings of self-doubt. Before arriving at the El Campo/Wharton area, I was working long days, had no gym time, and barely had time for family and a myriad of other life challenges. There was a moment when I was playing and engaging with my kids when I questioned my health and abilities. I was still about to be active, but I knew I wasn't happy with where I was. So I made the change to at least get back in the gym and start there. I did my research, started writing my programs, cooked more, and worked on my diet. It was not until the little invite from two people to join their CrossFit style WOD, did things slowly started to change. When I relocated from El Campo to Wharton, that's when I saw the billboard to CF1710. Popped in, The week trial and major changes started after I joined, and they still are happening. I'm currently at 217, with the goal being body re-composition. I know I'm at the healthiest and strongest that I've been, probably since high school. My physical health and body change have been noticed not only by my wife but by other individuals as well. The biggest change has been the mental outlook and well-being. CrossFit and CF1710 have given me an outlet to channel the day's feelings into actions that can be dealt with and left in the box. There are days when life has too much, and it's not fair to me to simply go through the motions. For example, when I found out that my grandmother was on her last days, that week seemed like a blur. I remember not being able to finish the workout because I wasn't there at the moment. I knew the best thing would be to take care of the mental headspace before it affected the physical space severely. Which was only my edified by receiving a card from CF1710 during that time in my life. At that moment I knew I was in the right place in this season of life. What I've come to love is the sheer community that has been built at CF1710 by the coaches and athletes. Their intentionality and dedication to their leadership in and out of the box speak volumes to the many athletes who have graced the gym at CF1710. I'm glad to be a part of this community for the foreseeable future and what is in store for their growth.
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