Kyra Winfield
March 2016
About The Athlete
Kyra has been with CFC essentially since the beginning. She came in looking for a change and to find a new CF home/community and has become a staple member week in and week out, following the program and percentages to perfection and making some significant progress. She is never one to back down from a long workout and as we found out in this year’s open, will go all-out to the bitter end every single time.
Over the last few weeks/months, our coaching team has seen a change in the way Kyra approaches her strength/skill work and workouts; in pushing herself to do more. It is a pleasure to watch, coach and nurture. Congrats Kyra!
A little more about them…
What got you into Crossfit, how long have you been doing it and what keeps you coming back?
I must confess I was a New Years resolutioner and in an unusually brave moment I signed up for an on-ramp at Crossfit Winnipeg. That was two years ago and I say every day it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Before that I went to ‘regular’ gyms where I didn’t accomplish a lot. The coaching and training keeps me coming back, there is no way I could be remotely close to this level of fitness without Crossfit. The best part is that it is transferring over to everyday life where I feel more strong and confident, because the workouts are always different and always challenging, so each day I feel a real sense of accomplishment.
What are some of your non-crossfit hobbies or activities?
Drinking wine, wait, what? What I meant to say was hanging out with my family, going to the park with my dogs, photography, eating sushi, renos with my boyfriend–you would be amazed at what I can demo if you put me in a Tyvek suit not to mention my drywalling skills. Also I am pretty focused on being successful in life and in my career, so I read a lot of books and articles and spend a lot of time in that regard, so that I can be the best version of myself, and Crossfit is a big part of that.
One sentence to describe CFC from your perspective…
CFC is an important part of my life, one hour a day at CFC takes care of my physical, mental, and social health.
What is your favorite part of CFC?
The coaching and the community. The structure of the classes and the smaller size of the gym means you essentially get personal one on one training every time. The coaches get to know all of the members individually and give specific feedback and help everyone progress at their own level. All of the members are great, we help each other out and we are becoming really good friends. There is always an atmosphere of positivity and excitement in the gym.
Favorite and least favorite movement/workout, and why?
Right now my favourite is cleans. I feel strong when I do them especially since I really just got into ‘getting’ the movement and being able to go a bit heavier on it. Also when you do cleans you are doing a move that not a lot of people outside crossfit/lifting can do so I feel pretty cool being able to do it.
Anything upside down or hanging is my least favour
ite as I typically feel like I am going to die even if I am only a foot off the ground.
Favorite superhero, band/musician or celebrity, and why?
My Mom! She is very strong and brave and speaks her mind and somehow knows the best solution to any challenge or issue. Also Dave Grohl, he is so talented not to mention extremely good looking, any music he makes is the best ever and he has been successful being himself and not selling out, which is something I think is very important.
Biggest/proudest/latest accomplishment or PR?
The 2016 Open. I am so thankful to everyone at CFC for encouraging me to sign up because I normally would have been too intimidated to take it on. Because of doing the Open I am now better equipped to push myself in workouts (and in life) and I know the feeling of working at my max effort whereas before I always held back a bit. Especially 16.2 where I maxed out on squat cleans I would have normally never been brave enough to even attempt (they did crush me but I still tried).
What’s your take on our coaching team?
- Shane is awesome, he is a good mix of all business and a chill personality. I like when he is coaching because he doesn’t give in when I am slacking and he pushes me to always go harder. If something isn’t working he always comes up with strategies and ideas to get past it. Also I know he is secretly a nerd and I am secretly a nerd too so that’s fun.
- Taylor is such an inspiration–he has a good career and owns a gym and works out 3 times a day and yet is always happy and never stressed out and somehow still has time for friends and free time. I need to be more like that. In a workout, Taylor is really good at giving the right cues to help get past something that has been sticking. And he plays 90s music!!!
- Matt has the knowledge of someone who has been coaching for 100 years. He knows a stretch or movement to work out any mobility issue that comes up. Matt’s personality is a good mix of confident and chill, he keeps things fun and he pushes hard in a workout without making me feel like I am being pushed.
- Jason is exhausting before the workout even starts, because I can’t stop laughing at him. He always has cheesy 80s music going, he sings and dances while the metcon is on, you burn double calories when he is coaching because of all the laughing. Jason’s positive energy is very encouraging and keeps me going when I feel like I can’t go any more.
Do you have any goals set for the near future – in or outside of CFC?
Somehow I need to be able to do a handstand this year, there is no reason I can’t already other than nerves about being upside down. Also running 5k without stopping, I don’t know why I can’t do this already so I just need to work at it.
Give us a little known fact about yourself…
Oh dear I don’t have any facts I’m too nervous… they say you should tackle your fears to get over them, two years ago I rappelled down the RBC building downtown which is 17 storeys. They had to push me over the edge and I was shaking the whole time. It took me over 20 minutes to get down instead of 2-5 like everyone else. I don’t know how I didn’t die of heart failure but now I am even more scared than ever. Thinking of this is making me hyperventilate. I’m scared of everything… This might be interesting, I was a vegetarian for 2 years (to the day) then I quit. For steak. Also April 1 I am doing my first Toastmasters speech, so I really am working at being awesome right now!
– Thanks guys, you’re the best and have seriously changed by life!!!! KW
Coaches Comments
Kyra is one of those athletes who brings energy with a great sense of humor into the gym every time she trains. She has the ability to give absolute focus when she is working or lifting and as soon as the metcon or lift is over she turn her sense of humor back on. Kyra continues to push her limits and is always improving, whether it’s her strength or conditioning. She also makes others around her feel comfortable and is easy to talk to. She is great at asking for and taking coaching tips to help her improve. The energy and humor she brings always rubs off on me and gets me pumped to be coaching. I know sometime she express some doubt going into a wod but always puts her head down and goes to work. She is methodical and knows her tempo very well. I know she will continue to improve and that her smile and sense of humor is always welcomed by everyone. – Coach Jason
Kyra beams positivity and seems to be in an enjoyful state of constant sarcasm; that is except when she’s talking real estate or on a rower, then it’s all business! She is a true professional outside of CFC and one who is capable of more than she thinks in terms of stength and will power inside the gym. Truly a fun person to joke around with before/after class and great personality to have during. Her love for 90’s alternative holds a soft spot in my heart and looking forward to MANY more workouts, opens and PRs alongside her! – Coach Taylor
Kyra is just great. She seems to always be smiling and brings loads of positive energy to our classes. Her positive energy often contains some cheesy jokes and witty remarks which keeps the classes light and keeps everyone level! She never takes it too seriously, but what she has been able to do is make some serious progress during her time at CFC. Her commitment to fitness and hard work pays off, does not go unnoticed and is a major reason we nominated her for the recognition! I love having Kyra part of CFC, and I hope she stays with us for a long time, she is a CFC original and the gym is a better place with her! – Coach Matt
Sincerely,
The CFC Coaching Team