December Athlete of the Month

Meet Kristine Brinlee

Each Month CrossFit T-Town will celebrate one Athlete’s incredible hard work and accomplishments. Our very first Athlete of the Month is Kristine Brinlee who joined T-Town this July. T-Town has been fortunate enough to watch Kristine’s transformation as she works her tail off every day at the gym. You may know Kristine, she frequents the 6:30 am class and always comes in with a huge smile and determination to improve herself. She never looks at the workout before she comes, instead she prefers to take on the challenge once she arrives, never shying away from a hard workout or new challenging movement. A self proclaimed “non athlete” she inspires us each morning as she picks up movements with ease and is always encouraging her fellow T-Towners when she finishes a workout first. Congratulations Kristine we are so proud of you! 

1. How long have you been CrossFitting?

Only a few months. I started as a drop-in during opening month of Crossfit TTown. After that first month, I became a member.

2. How did you hear about CrossFit T-Town?
Stacy Williams led me here. She has been my Crossfit example, before I even knew what it was. I would hear about the things she was doing and be absolutely impressed and scared that she might ask me to do it too! Stacy patiently listened to all my terrible excuses as to why I was avoiding exercise and eating terrible food. She saw I was really exhausted and encouraged me to go when I needed it most. After a couple of months of real nudging, I decided to give it a try. Now, I am never leaving!

3. Have you noticed any changes – physical or mental – since starting CrossFit? If
so, what are they?
There are so many changes! Since I have started Crossfit, I feel much more confident in my ability to tackle physical challenges. I have never been on a team or played a sport. I have never even done a cartwheel! TTown has forced me to confront those long held personal beliefs that I am not strong or athletically inclined. I have been telling myself this for many years, so it is a battle every day. It is still awkward to refer to myself as an athlete, but that is what I am earning with every class.

I sleep like a baby now and cope with stress so much better!

I have dropped several clothing sizes, and I have a REAL muscle! (Bicep) Yes, I flex it to entertain myself sometimes.

Now, keeping up with my husband and children is not so hard to do!

I have a new appreciation for my body and what it means to keep it healthy. The measure of success has been weight related for my entire life. Now, I don’t focus on the weight so much and I want to be a bad a$$.

My complexion is better! That is one I didn’t expect. Sometimes, surprises are nice.

4. What is your favorite CrossFit exercise?
I love lifting. I would never have considered it before but now I really like it. The deadlift is my favorite. It was the first lift that I felt comfortable with. Gains have seemed to come easily.

5. What is your least favorite CrossFit exercise?
Running. Cardiovascular strength is something I have never developed before and it has been hard earned. I am so slow, but I do it anyway.

6. What goals do you have for yourself as a CrossFitter?
Immediate goals include a pull-up with no band assistance. I would like to accomplish this within the next six months. After grad school next year, I intend to go even deeper into Crossfit and see just exactly I can accomplish. Within the next couple of years, I would like to see what a competition looks like and possibly compete. Next year, I would like to tackle a half marathon. For a longer term goal; I want to be an old granny that can flip a tractor tire.

7. What are some ways that you think sets CrossFit apart from other forms of
fitness?
As a really busy person, it is nice to have the social opportunities that are unique to Crossfit. The support system that is available at Crossfit TTown has made this change possible for me. Even the slowest (often me) athlete is celebrated. I don’t feel so critical of myself when I am here. It is honestly a place that I can be exactly who I am that day. I have a very playful personality and play seems to be a big part of Crossfit. I have never heard a negative word about another person while here. That positivity goes out with me every day.
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8. How can other people relate to your story?
I am not someone who has been a lifelong athlete. I am also really busy. My husband and I have a 14 year old son and an 8 year old daughter. They keep us really busy, alongside a full-time job and graduate school 2 nights a week. Most of my time has been spent in academic pursuits, completely ignoring my health. I gained a lot of weight and slid into a not so flattering place. I needed this. It is not easy but if I can do this, most anyone can. It is just a matter of getting in the door and conquering those initial fears. Check your ego at the door and get addicted to feeling better about yourself. Once that happens, you are hooked. As natural born helper, I love sharing what I have learned with new members and getting to know them. If anyone would like to partner with me, I am game. There is always something to teach or learn. If nothing else, I bet we will laugh.

9. What is something that no one knows about you?
It is my dream to one day own nothing but a motorhome and travel with my husband. I want no possession that does not serve a real purpose. We will gather experiences and spend time together. Maybe one day….

I am also obsessed with WWE wrestling. LOL

10. What is your most memorable moment in CrossFit?
I am not very coordinated, so jumping rope is tough. I still tackle it. The first time I successfully completed 20-25 jumps without stopping, everyone cheered. It felt really good to see that others would celebrate my successes, especially when they seemed so small in comparison to theirs. It made me feel good about where I was.