Alanna has been a BeachSide CrossFit member since December 2019. She can be found crushing her workouts in the 6:30 p.m. class usually with a witty tee and fun socks. Alanna is definitely an inspiration to us all in the way she gives her health and fitness 100%. We can’t wait to see what she can accomplish in the gym this year!
Tell us about yourself
Born in Oxnard, to parents whom met while working at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department but felt Ventura County just had too many people, so I was raised with the mountain lions and snakes in Frazier Park. Thanks Parents! Lol. Went to college at CSUB, earned my degree in Criminal Justice. Was able to finally move back to Ventura County in 2019. I geek out to anything astronomy. I love the ocean. I enjoy long walks around Disneyland and I have a killer sense of humor, and love to talk; but most people wouldn’t know that because I’m shy.
What do you do for a job?
I’m a Leasing Consultant at Cypress Point Apartments in Ventura.
Tell us something people might not know about you
I have Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that basically means my immune system is overactive and is causing inflammation, damage, and pain throughout my body. Since I was diagnosed I have been constantly told that my body can’t handle a lot so not to push it. It does make simple tasks harder, and it does discourage me a lot but since I have started at Beachside I’ve really gotten to see what my body is actually capable of and I’m really loving it. I still have my bad days, but man those good days make up for it!
What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
I was ready to give up on any form of fitness for me, because I wasn’t going to pay another trainer to just end up with the same recommendations of walking a lot to not aggravate anything. So I thought, why couldn’t I do CrossFit?! I even chickened out at first contact because my courage comes in waves, but Nate being thorough, reached back out to me and set up my intro with Coach Mee. There was no turning back at that point.
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
My first impression was that this was the place that all the super fit people in Ventura County worked out at. It was intense. It took me a good long while to get the basics down. But no one gave up on me! I now KNOW that this is the place that all the super fit people in Ventura County work out at, just now I work out next to them. I do what they do; just slower, lighter, and modified when necessary.
What was your first “bright spot”?
There have been a lot! From having Coach Jess tell me the painfully wonderful news that I could do the bike calories RX’d in a workout finally, to having Coach Kai see my first double unders ever! Both brought tears to my eyes for different reasons. Seriously though, This whole journey just keeps getting better.
What are you working on now?
Onward and Upward! Pull ups and handstands are on the list. I would love to finally get a ring transition right or to increase my PR in any and all lifts. And the ever elusive… rope climbs. There’s so much I want to accomplish. I’m ready to get to work.
What’s your favorite Beachside CrossFit memory?
Again, there are a lot. But the one that sticks out the most was when I was really struggling with a WOD. It was a bad week, and I just couldn’t talk myself through it, and I wanted to give up. I remember putting my barbell down and just thinking I couldn’t finish my last set. And for the first time, I had my 6:30PM class start cheering for me. It felt amazing! I ended up finishing the WOD and it was definitely a team effort.
