Our Queen is the lovely, Allie Hesketh! We all know Allie as a faithful 6AMer and the gym’s next door neighbor. Allie is a strong and dedicated athlete. We know her work ethic comes from her competitive swim days. We are very proud on how she embraces the daily workout and listens to her Coach. We are incredibly blessed to have her and fiance, Conor as part of the CJP fit family. Thank you for making us part of your day! CONGRATULATIONS Allie!
Learn more about Allie below:
What brought you to East Boston?
There was no good reason really. It was convenient to work for both me, my roommate and my fiancé. We were living in Medford, and wanted to be closer to public transportation.
What drew you to CrossFit?
I had never even considered CrossFit. It had not even crossed my mind as a form of exercise or an option until a couple days before we moved into our apartment. We were in the area, and I saw everyone outside running with medicine balls and thought that’s weird, what are they doing? And decided to look into if there was a gym close by. I wanted to continue to work out after moving, but was not going to have a car so was looking for something I could easily walk to. Plus, it looked kind of fun!
What was your expectation on your first day at CJP? How has your perception changed since that day?
It took me close to a month to even step foot in the gym to talk to someone. I walked by about 100 times. I expected that it would be more like my experience with other group fitness classes – you go in, do your workout and leave. I was an athlete most of my life and was a collegiate swimmer. I was always motivated by working out with people and bonding over that. I never expected to find a team again, and have been so happy I have.
What keeps you coming back to CJP?
The larger environment for sure, but also the fact there is always room to grow. Coaches are always going to encourage you to try a new movement when you’re ready and there’s always a new challenge.
Biggest improvements/struggles with CrossFit?
I no longer see exercise as something to dread, but something I look forward to which I think is the biggest switch in mindset for me. I used to hate going to the gym, but I did it anyways. Now, I hate when I can’t go to CrossFit.
My biggest improvement has been getting out of my own head. As a former swimmer I spent a lot of time in my own head. On one of my first days Javy told me to stop thinking so much! I still struggle with it, and I still have a way to go, but I’m learning to trust my abilities and strength and not listen to the voice in the back of my head that tells me I should be scared.
What are some of the changes you have experienced in your physical appearance, strength and/or body composition. How have you used this outside of the gym?
I just think my proportions have change since starting CrossFit I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost or inches but my clothes fit better. I can do push-ups with no problem. When I started I could barely do one on a 24” box. There are so many movements I never thought I would be able to do, or hadn’t been able to do my whole life that now in my late twenties I can. I think the biggest one for me was rope climbs as even when I was kid this is not something I could do.
If you could create your own WOD, what movements would you use?
I think if I could create my own WOD it would definitely include some kind of squat movement (maybe overhead – I’ve been liking this movement lately) and Toes to Bar and maybe some rope climbs sprinkled in for fun.
I also think DB only workouts are awesome – I like being able to make sure I’m utilizing both arms equally as I definitely have a weaker left side.
Meat head nickname (with explanation)?
I WISH. But sadly, I have not been graced with a meat head nickname….. yet.
If you were to encourage someone on the fence of joining the CJP community, what would you say?
This is easy since my fiancé WAS the person on the fence. I told him that the coaches will get to know you, and your abilities. I don’t think you could find another place that will get to know you as well as CJP Coaches get to know every individual that walks through the door and makes sure that they are welcome and working within their ability level.
Get ready for the “Allie” workout!
Honestly, I was thinking it was going to be like the other CrossFit boxes I had been to before CJP. I thought I wasn’t going to last and that my first class was going to be a try out. I was surprised by how much commitment and effort the coaches put into each of us to make us better, a month try out turned out to be 3 years of continuous work. What started as a couple days a week turned out to be a life time commitment.
I was brought to CrossFit because of the functionality it provides for every challenge life versus just bodybuilding or power lifting. CrossFit forces you to break through mental barriers and past what you thought you physical or mental limit was.
We have something at CJP that I see and appreciate at every CrossFit gym I’ve ever vistied: a community of capable, caring judges and athletes of all shapes and sizes united under one goal of helping each other to get as fit as possible. That was my expectation when I showed up here on Day One (June 2015), and that perception hasn’t changed at all in the four years since.
