Congratulations to our June 2015 Athlete’s of the Month; Ron Kellermann from Union Station and the Tang Sisters (Melodie and Alexa) out of Printers Row! These guys are long time members, regularly attend classes, and take great care of their bodies so that they are ready for action every day.
Ron came to The Foundry just over a year ago and immediately hopped on the bandwagon. He adopted a modified Paleo diet, attended classes 4-5 times a week, and paid a lot of attention to mobility. ” [Those] were the keys to early successes.” He’s lost over 40 pounds and continues striving to be the best he can be every day he comes to the gym! Additionally, it’s always a nice surprise when Ron pops his head in to say hello on his way to or from work.
Melodie and Alexa have been with The Foundry for just over 2 years. They’ve found that CrossFit has made exercising fun again, and they oftentimes use each other as friendly competition. You can find their names up higher on the Leaderboard most days. In addition to being rockstar athletes, the Tang sisters welcome new and inexperienced members with open arms and make them feel comfortable during class. Whether it’s a smile, a cue, or just some encouragement during the WoD, these two really create an awesome class environment at Printers Row.
Ron, Melodie, and Alexa all exhibit some special qualities we look for in a Member Spotlight: dedication to one’s health, friendly, and consistent. Get to know them better by checking out their “Member Spotlights” below!
Get To Know Ron Kellermann
Member Spotlight June 2015
Age: 55
Occupation: Corporate Accountant
In general, what is your background?
Former Navy Officer, all sorts of different sports experiences, played squash in college, climb mountains occasionally, boxing and anything else that looks like fun.
How long have you been a member at The Foundry?
Just over a year
What is your CrossFit story?
Been following the Main site since the 2009 games The Aromas Ranch is about 20 miles from where I lived in California. Tried a few Crossfit work-outs on my own and they crushed me. When I moved to Chicago, I finally got the courage to join a box.
How has The Foundry changed your life/lifestyle/level of fitness?
I had surgery on my neck and I thought my athletic career was done. Lots of bad eating habits and lots of work stress and I put on lots of weight. Joined the Foundry in April and adopted a modified paleo diet, by September I had lost almost 40 pounds. Love the challenges, coaching and the variety of Crossfit. Showing up and mobility (thanks Andrew and Zach) were the keys to early successes.
What do you like most about The Foundry?
I love the Foundry community and atmosphere. We have a very positive, welcoming and encouraging group of members.
What are your short term goals (gym or personal)?
Build upper body strength and increase my overhead lifts. Improve my Olympic lifting technique.
What are your long term goals (gym or personal)?
HSPU and muscle-ups
What is your proudest CrossFit accomplishment thus far?
That I show up for work-outs even when I know they will hurt bad. And, anytime I beat Todd Chandler in a work-out.
What is your favorite movement?
Double unders
What’s your least favorite movement?
Burpees and wall balls are tied.
What is your favorite WOD or type of workout?
I really enjoy the partner work-outs on Saturday mornings. I always seem to push a little harder during these work-outs.
What WOD or type of workout would you rather avoid but you know is good for you?
Anything with hand stand work or wall walks
What is your go-to post-WOD meal/snack/beverage?
A strawberry-banana-kale protein shake.
What is your favorite movie?
The Godfather
What is your favorite book?
The Civil War by Shelby Foote.
You get to choose the music your class listens to this month! What is your favorite style of music, or who is your favorite musical artist?
Classic Rock mostly, partial to Led Zeppelin, but Van Halen, Aerosmith and Guns and Roses are up there.
Do you have a favorite quote or words to live by?
I strive to improve a little each day, so when I die I’ll be perfect.
What is your spirit animal and why?
The Griffin – it’s a lion with wings, what’s cooler than that. It’s strong and it can fly.
Finish this sentence. I’m passionate about… learning new things and being in the great outdoors.
Get To Know Melodie and Alexa
Member Spotlight June 2015
Age: We average at 29.5 years old.
Occupation: Bedazzling – and managing people and things
In general, what is your background? Asian
How long have you been a member at The Foundry? What is your CrossFit story? How does sharing Crossfit affect your relationship?
Alexa: I have been a member at The Foundry for almost two years. I started CrossFitting in Austin, Texas about 5 years ago after I retired from playing competitive ultimate frisbee. I was ready for a change, and I also needed to be stronger so I could quit being injured all the time. I started out by scaling almost all of my workouts and I rarely finished within the time cap. But I looked forward to every workout anyway, and I’d go to bed excited for the next day of movements that I couldn’t do. Since I started doing CrossFit, most of my closest friends and family have started also. And now we can all do pull-ups.
Melodie: I think I’ve been at Foundry for a little over 2 years, I think? Alexa moved to Chicago and was really into CrossFit and I was kind of stagnating on my existing workout routine, so I followed her to a CrossFit gym (not Foundry yet) and told them that I had done CrossFit before (but I hadn’t). And then I just did what Alexa did and asked her what all the acronyms meant until I could do it without her secret instructions.
“How does CrossFit affect your relationship?”
We don’t tell our mother what we do at the gym because she would be too concerned.
How has The Foundry changed your life/lifestyle/level of fitness? What do you like most about The Foundry?
Alexa: CrossFit has changed my perspective on health and fitness. It’s also made exercising fun again. I like the Foundry specifically because now I have friends in the South Loop!
Melodie: +A lot of guys comment on my traps – that did not happen before.
What are your short term goals (gym or personal)?
Alexa: Have fun!
Melodie: Mobilize more.
What are your long term goals (gym or personal)?
Alexa: Do not sprain my butt ever again. And keep having fun.
Melodie: Do not ever have to bring Alexa home after she sprained her butt again. And keep having fun. And maybe get a muscle-up before I’m too old to do muscle-ups.
What is your proudest CrossFit accomplishment thus far?
Alexa: Getting Melodie to join CrossFit and watching her become stronger than I am.
Melodie: The first time I beat Alexa at a workout- it took over a year. She is hard to chase.
What is your favorite movement?
Alexa: Watching Melodie do 14.5 for the second time was pretty unforgettable. It’s possible that I reenacted her groaning and barely peeling off the floor between burpees for her when we went home.
Melodie: Watching Alexa make fun of what I looked like while re-doing 14.5 was pretty funny, and also embarrassing.
What’s your least favorite movement?
Alexa: I did not enjoy when I could not touch my face for a week after doing Murph on Memorial Day.
Melodie: Refer to 14.5 reference in previous question.
What is your favorite WOD or type of workout?
Alexa: I enjoy chippers.
Melodie: I was anatomically built for HSPUs.
What WOD or type of workout would you rather avoid but you know is good for you?
Alexa: I really hate thrusters. Fran is silly.
Melodie: When I do Fran, I feel like fainting. I don’t know that it is good for me.
What is your go-to post-WOD meal/snack/beverage?
Alexa: My breakfast is usually leftovers so it’s different every day. Breakfast soup is pretty common for me.
Melodie: Dinner.
What is your favorite movie? Pitch Perfect.
What is your favorite book? Reading menus.
You get to choose the music your class listens to this month! What is your favorite style of music, or who is your favorite musical artist?
Alexa: TAYLOR SWIFT – does anyone want to go on July 19??
Melodie: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE – I saw him and Jay-Z where Taylor Swift will be on July 19.
Do you have a favorite quote or words to live by?
Alexa: Less rice, more stuff. – Melodie Tang
Melodie: “Even though some of you are pretty thin, you all have fat hearts, and that’s what matters.” – Fat Amy, Pitch Perfect
What is your spirit animal and why?
Alexa: I want to be a giraffe but I’m told this isn’t my true spirit animal. It’s still under discussion.
Melodie: What’s a spirit animal?
Finish this sentence. I’m passionate about… grocery stores.