hy do you train?
I am mostly motivated by my health and for my family. Thanks to genetics, I inherited high blood pressure so working out helps keep this in check. During my last physical, my blood pressure was actually a little too low! 

Can you describe your Level Up experience?
The first time was only a couple of months after I had joined. I wanted a baseline to work from – to understand what areas I needed to work on. Pull-ups are definitely my weakest exercise so I’ve been diligently trying to strengthen these muscles. By some miracle, I made the leaderboard in the Versa on my second Level-Up. I still think Drew must have read the numbers wrong! I really wanted to move up 2 levels but those pesky pulls-ups held me to just one Level Up. 

How does training help you in your daily life?
It’s critical for me to be sure that I get my training done in the morning because it helps set the tone for the rest of my day. I sit behind a computer most of the day so getting out and being active is essential for my mental & physical health. On the weekends, I try to be sure to get my “ocean therapy” in by walking with my dog near the water. It’s amazing how soothing nature can be for our souls. 

What is your training/athletic background?
I’ve been an athlete for as long as I can remember. My mom put me in the pool before I could walk and I didn’t stop there. I played softball, basketball, and volleyball while growing up through high school. I was fortunate to continue to play volleyball through college – was even on the first Cabrillo College volleyball team that went to State. I am a very adventurous person and love being outdoors when time allows. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by the ocean, the redwoods, and the mountains to use as our playground. I am looking forward to exploring it more either by kayaking, SUPing or hiking now that my husband and I are empty- nesters. 

Why do you choose Paradigm Sport?
I’ve been to so many gyms throughout Santa Cruz, but none have been as fun as Paradigm. It takes a lot to get myself out of my warm bed at 5:30 am in the morning! Plus the gym is so clean, organized and the music really helps put me in the right mindset. I’ve been at Paradigm for a little bit over 1 year; It’s definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made.