AOTM - Michaelina Holmes
January 21, 2025
December AOTM: Columbia DIstrict - Michaelina Holmes
Athlete of the Month:
December - Columbia
Member Spotlight: Michaelina Holmes @michaelinaholmes
Michaelina grew up playing sports and always considered fitness to be a part of her identity. When she started college she put sports aside to focus on her education. She would do random free workouts she found on the internet and soon became frustrated with her very slow progress and a fitness routine that felt meaningless.
Michaelina started at 12 Labours in the spring of 2022 with the encouragement of Sean and Betsy Barnes. She was inspired by their progress and decided to give CrossFit a try. Michaelina started in Elements and immediately felt welcome and supported by Coach Emily. Michaelina felt intimated by the laundry list of skills included in CF, but trusted in the process and has slowly chipped away at them. Before starting at 12L Michaelina did not think she would ever have the strength to do a pull up. “Unlocking my pull ups was euphoric, but so was realizing i can finally squat below parallel without struggle.”
Not only has Michaelina improved her fitness, but CrossFit has helped her her to take better care of herself and increase her self-confidence. “Our gym feels like family to me, and I am really grateful to be surrounded by so many positively influential people. I’ve always struggled with self-confidence, and the 12L family has helped me learn to trust myself. I feel constantly reminded that (within reason) anything is achievable with hard work and consistency.” The strength Michaelina has gained in the gym has given her the confidence to overcome any adversity outside the gym.
MORE RECENT POSTS
As we move into the next cycle of programming you are going to see some changes. In an effort to create some clarity we are renaming the tracks. Instead of Rx+/Rx/Scaled you will now see Sport/Fitness/Wellness. These words will more accurately represent the goal associated with each track rather than the undefined categories we have previously used. As always members are not confined to one track; we encourage you to move between tracks as your goals change, your fitness improves, and you explore your strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, this allows you all to see better results based on your personal goals. Below is a short description of each track to provide some clarity. Sport- You want to compete in regional and local competitions and be competitive. You have a firm grasp on movement patterns and skills and are highly conditioned. Your main goal is to become better at CrossFit as a sport. Fitness- You want to be as fit as you possibly can at this stage of your life. You want to be able to use your fitness for pursuits outside of our walls such as your career, other sports, or just because you want to be a badass. Health- You want to live long and prosper. Being healthy enough to enjoy your daily life and hobbies is the number one priority. You are less concerned with the weight on the bar and the gymnastics skills; instead you are focused on how well you feel mentally and physically. As always, our goal is to create an atmosphere where you are empowered to achieve YOUR best human potential.
The CrossFit Open season is right around the corner. Whether it is your first CrossFit Open, or you've been in the game for awhile, we highly encourage you to participate. The CrossFit Open gives athletes of all ages, body types, and ability levels a chance to challenge themselves over a three-week period. Last year, there were over 120 members that took part in the Open and we're excited to get after it again with the 12L community. For this year, we will be performing the CrossFit Open workout every Saturday morning at each home district. Our coaching staff will kickoff the Opening Ceremony at 8:00AM to run you through a warm up, help you understand the logistics of the workout, discuss strategies, and provide judges. Heats will start promptly afterwards. Don’t forget to reserve your spot on Wodify to accommodate space and equipment needed for each member. Register via CrossFit Games Link: Click Here Annapolis District Affiliate: 12 Labours CrossFit Annapolis Columbia District Affiliate: 12 Labours CrossFit Schedule Week 1 I Workout 25.1 When: Saturday, 3/1 at 8:00AM Where: Home District Week 2 I Workout 25.2 When: Saturday, 3/8 at 8:00AM Where: Home District Week 3 I Workout 25.3 When: Saturday, 3/15 at 8:00AM Where: Home District
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Dynamic Stretch Specialist, NCSF-CPT (in progress) Member Since: December/2024 Coaching Since: April/2023 Favorite Movement: Strict handstand pushups Favorite WOD: Annie, fast and fun! (when doubles are doubling) Favorite Workout Gear (i.e tape, belt, grips, wrist wraps, etc). Knee sleeves! Game-changer for squatting, walking lunges suck less, and good protection for rope climbs. Born and Raised: Born - Holland, the Netherlands. Raised - Columbia, Maryland Favorite Food: Japanese hibachi or sushi Favorite TV Show/Movie: The Vampire Diaries or Schitts Creek/The Hunger Games series Hobbies: reading/journaling, exploring new coffee shops, brunch and brewery outings on a nice day out Hidden Talent: I have been told that I am really good at writing/expressing thoughts with words. Athletic Background: I tried almost every sport in high school. Field hockey was the only one that clicked, but I didn’t pursue it post high school. I participated in pick-up sports here and there, but nothing consistent before CrossFit. Long Answer (2-3 sentences) Favorite 12 Labours Memory: This past Resolution Games, Elena and I were dancing around 4th place leading up to the final event: Tortoise vs. Hair. (let’s just say I am a Tortoise) The pressure to “send it” for the podium spot had me shaking in my boots, but we had ironically landed 3rd in that event and 3rd overall. When the results came in, I screamed, jumped for joy, and immediately located Elena to share the great news with an extra-enthusiastic jumping hug. Occupation: Marketing Specialist. I worked for a digital marketing agency for almost three years and have been freelancing and contracting since. Interesting Fact: I told myself I would never move back to Maryland when I left the state to attend Virginia Tech for college. Returning home was the best decision I have ever made and greatest joyful surprise, in-part largely for the ever-evolving close relationships that I keep developing here. Why do I coach? I coach CrossFit for greater access to the members and an ability to build close connections with athletes. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a movement “click” for someone. Supporting their growth with front row seats to all the action is a big privilege for me. Miscellaneous - Add a custom question “What is one language you would choose to have automatically downloaded into your brain” I am half-Turkish, and would love the opportunity to communicate with some family who live there. However, I have always dreamed of spending a few months in the Netherlands, where I was born. I would have to pick Dutch.
you can ACHIEVE your goals with us
CrossFit is meant for all levels of fitness, and our universally scalable model is built for you.
