Lockdown Member Of The Month – May 2021
Our May MOTM award goes to the brilliant Laura Byrne. She has been absolutely smashing it in both training and life recently so we felt she really deserved to win this award.
Laura has been going from strength to strength recently in her training, getting PBs here there and everywhere, always working hard and pushing herself, but most of all, she always has a lovely smile on her face through each session. During lockdown she was a regular attendee on the zooms, and always made the sessions fun, every session we had a laugh. When we came back to the gym, her positive energy was infectious and you could see the glow around her as she was happy to be back. Her first session back in the gym I remember watching her running between stations and she just didn’t run out of energy! The next day she said to me “I treated yesterday as though the gym was only open for 1 day and just went 110% on everything!” which really made me smile. She has improved her engine, her lifting & strength, and her gymnastics is coming on loads too. She also always gets involved in all the events and competitions. She is a pleasure to have around and she really deserves this award. So lets find out more about her below…
M – How long have you been doing CrossFit?
LB – I joined M Squared Fitness a little over 3 years ago, I had tried CrossFit at another box but didn’t really get the bug until a friend recommended our gym. I always enjoyed cycling and running (at times) but I’d never considered myself strong. The first time I walked into a box I was struck by the energy and effort.
Prior to CrossFit I shared PT once a week and thought I was doing well, I was on a girls night out when someone happened to mention their husband had started talking all about CrossFit! Within a couple of months we were all signed up 😊.
I started mum and baby classes at M Squared 3 months following my second C-Section. At the time I hadn’t exercised for almost a year, I couldn’t sit up out of bed, I had piled on weight and was completely sleep deprived which I think is quite a common condition for new mums.
I was taken immediately by the kindness, positivity, encouragement and determination of coaches and members of our gym. I was inspired by everyone I met and completely determined to work hard for my own physical and mental strength.
Originally my only target was to improve my posture and recover my core following pregnancy and months of breast feeding but as time went by my targets shifted. I had been aspiring to a full push up and unaided pull up for quite some time and this year the chips fell into place.
M – What class time do you usually attend and why does that work for you?
LB – I have tried most of the classes, I admire anyone who gets in to do the 6am! For me daytime classes work better and I’ve always found something that suits. 9:30, midday or 3:45. I enjoy the partner work on Thursdays and Saturdays, I liked challenging myself in endurance (now run club). I also like to get to an evening class once a week as it’s a different group of athletes.
M – What is your why? Why do you put yourself through it each day? Do you have goals you want to achieve?
LB – I think CrossFit training is a sort of individual, team sport, you are never alone, everyone is in it together but all your achievements and challenges are unique. The gym has allowed me to have space and time that is purely about myself (not kids or work), and when hundreds of burpees is your idea of a break then day to day life is clearly a bit overwhelming.
I find that when I’m at the gym I think about nothing else, it’s a positive stress buster that makes me a calmer person and more effective in the other parts of my life.
Once I started to discover my bodies own strength, develop new skills, hit PBs my self esteem was boosted, I stand taller now than I did before and I love that feeling.
I think my goals have been relatively modest, but CrossFit gives me an outlet for the gritty, stubborn and determined parts of my personality. Right now my longer term goal is to build towards doings WODs at A weights and an RX competition. Short term I would like to master double unders and handstand push ups.
M – What advice would you give anyone wanting to start CrossFit but is either unsure or nervous? We get people all the time saying they need to get fit first or they could never do what we do? Any advice for those people?
LB – Anyone can do it, and its easier at a CrossFit gym that any other place. I hear a lot of people say I’m not fit enough yet before trying CrossFit but it’s the other way around.
Trying something new is always challenging but the reward in getting through those nerves is huge. Someone told me once that no one else was going to look after me, I had to do it myself and its so true. You have to be brave (which means feeling vulnerable too) and learn to be selfish in putting your own health first. I feel it’s my responsibility now to take good care of myself and then I also have the capacity to help others.
Of course I was self-conscious and way out of my comfort zone but not once have I ever heard a CrossFitter shame or laugh at anyone. Those new starters who walk through the door for the first time are trying their hardest and hats off to them. I started box jumps on a plate, I felt embarrassed but all anyone in the gym sees is someone trying their best. 
I remember once one of the elite members asking me as we walked to the rig if I was going to be doing muscle ups (at which stage I laughed quite hard), it was then I really realised that actually when people are in the gym they are working on their own goals, nobody is judging you except yourself. There is no greater supporting crew to cheer you on and share your achievements with than the members of M Squared Fitness.
M – What is your biggest achievement so far in CrossFit and what are you most proud of?
LB – I honestly can’t choose one, being voted second place ‘Most Improved Female’, winning ‘Zoomer of the Week’ and now winning ‘Member of the Month’ are pretty solid achievements and I was overwhelmed by the acknowledgement.
Physically I am very proud of now being able to do full push ups and pull ups, completing a 5KM Row in 20 minutes (although I couldn’t repeat it) and persevering through a year of lockdowns without giving up on training as it did cross my mind.
I would like to say doing a handstand for the first time in my life but actually it’s the day in day out graft that I’m proud of, pushing through a WOD when you feel exhausted and nauseous, ignoring that and every bit of your body that wants to stop and just getting it done.
I’m also proud to know all the coaches and members at M Squared, the CrossFit community is an epic group of humans and in my humble opinion we are the best of them.
