Windy City Pulse

This is #WindyCityLivin

Athlete of the Month: July 2015

Michelle Markelz

Member Since: October 2014

Windy City: Michelle is a natural athlete who has worked hard to become an exceptional athlete. She came into Windy City with clear goals, a consistent work out schedule and the willingness to be coached by all members of the Windy City staff. She has clearly only skimmed the surface of her true athletic potential! 

"A bird in a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because its trust lies not in the strength of the branch but in that of its own wings." - unknown

Michelle: I am not the same person I was when I walked into Windy City 10 months ago. I came in with my guard up, a mess of fear, and a ton of baggage. I was only a few months into recovery from an eating disorder that I’d struggled with for over a year, and I had no idea if stepping into a building full of super fit athletes was the right decision.

When Justin made me do birthday burpees in Level 1, I still wasn’t sure.

It took some time, but I began to treat myself with the same patience my coaches did. I learned to be proud of the things I could do and make a plan for things I couldn’t do yet. I got back in touch with by body and remembered what an amazing machine it is. I learned to love that CrossFit never gets easy. And I learned to enjoy the process rather than focusing on the end.

Ten months ago, my only goal was to get excited about exercise again, and I’m pretty confident in saying I crushed that goal with the help of some incredible people at WCSC.

Thank you, coaches—especially Sheena—for helping me learn to appreciate my body and all the things it can do. This has been the biggest challenge for me and one I could not have accomplished were it not for the culture of absolute acceptance and support all of you create at the gym every day.

Brochicks, you know who you are. You ladies have quickly become my best friends and an important part of the progress I’ve made in and out of the gym. You guys inspire me, make me laugh, and have helped me find my inner fratstar.

The physical accomplishments I’ve made have been exciting, but Windy City has benefited me most by introducing me to a community of people who support me as I try to become the best version of myself.

Recent Adventures

In 2013 I ran the Chicago Marathon, and it was an experience I recommend everyone have at least once in their life. The simplicity of you, a pair of shoes, and a path can feel like religion if you let it. After the race, I went into running retirement, but I was recently pulled out by Mully, who recruited me for a 200-mile relay race from Madison to Chicago. I’m glad she did. We had a blast and lived the Windy City lifestyle by using our fitness outside the gym to create awesome experiences.

More informally, you can find me at Sluggers at least once a week absolutely murdering the fastpitch baseball machine. Oh, and Huong and I (team Hop, Cock, and Drop It) won the Windy City Spring Badminton Bracket.

Future Adventures

I have something of a pipedream to go to Greece next year. I’m headed to California in the fall to visit my best friend and brother, and while I’m there I hope to swim in the Pacific, hike, and take advantage of the weather and the landscape. Beyond that, I want to compete in a Trodo event, I want to prepare for the 2016 Open, and at some point in the future, I’d like to run another marathon.

Personal Goals

At the gym / Athletics: Avoid injury, learn more skills—especially chest-to-bar pull-ups and muscle-ups—and become a better Oly lifter. I also want to be more consistent about showing up with an intentional mind-set and approaching each workout as an opportunity to get better.

Professionally: Write or edit for a national magazine and be sure that I continue to love whatever it is I do.

Personal: Continue practicing patience with self and improving my work-life-lifting balance.

Words to live by:

Run with endurance the race that is set before you.

Are you in?

Try Us for Free Or contact us for more info