Monday, August 16, 2010 by Bennett
CF Trainer Meris Sullivan is know for her excellent skills coaching, enthusiastic attitude and dedication to the CrossFit Community. Meris has a dedicated personal training client base and has an impressive resume of sports accomplishments, notably a collegiate field hockey player. Her husband is no slouch either, a former collegiate rower and recent triathlete, Chris is also a member at CrossFit Hoboken. Here is what Meris had to say about staying active and CrossFit’s impact in their relationship…
1) How did you guys get into Crossfit? Did you start separately or together?I was working out and somebody asked me if I was doing crossfit. I had never heard of it but looked it up as soon as I got home. 1 week later I signed up for my cert. I Told Chris about it and encouraged him to try it out. It took almost a year of my nagging but eventually he signed up and that was about 18 months ago
2) Does having someone to go to the workouts help keep you more accountable?
Because of our schedules we never get to workout together. We are both pretty motivated on our own but we get competitive at times with things like getting our first muscle up. Knowing that he would get his any day motivated me to focus on getting mine first. it is a good healthy competition and we cheer each other on too.
3) Do you guys ever feel competitive with one another during workouts?
We are such opposites physically that it is hard to compete. He has tons of endurance and I am better at heavy lifts (based on body percentage not actual weight moved) We are more competitive over movements, muscle ups handstands etc.
4) Does Crossfit come up a lot outside of the gym?
It does. Because I coach there are a lot of time when Chris will give me tips on being a more effective coach and sometimes when we get home I help him with his form. Very often Chris takes my class so we will also recap how it went.
5) Do you encourage other couples to Crossfit?
I encourage everybody to crossfit. The workouts are great but what is really cool is when I am doing something unrelated and can feel the benefits. For example when my niece visits, she weighs about 30 pounds and other people get tired of carrying her or playing with her and that is not an issue for me. As a couple we love to play sports against other couples and crossfit certainly helps us.
6) Has it helped your relationship by having the commonality of Crossfit?
We have always done things together, especially active things, so no crossfit hasn’t helped in that way.
