June Member Spotlight: Kelly Siedentop

Tell us a little about yourself and what got you on the path to CrossFit…

After 6 years of numerous attempts and almost, I am finally Member of the Month! About me…I turned 40 last July, married to Kevin and have two boys, Gregg (20) and Henry (6). Along with teaching middle school science for the past 19 years, I enjoy the beach, laughing, eating, and drinking.

My journey with crossfit started in 2012. My entire childhood we had a boat and I was a big slalom skier. That summer, I could not get up…I was very frustrated. So I started crossfit in Sept of 2012 in a small garage with Carriage House Crossfit (Jacksonville, IL). There were maybe 10 members and I was the first 5amer for the gym. By the time I left in 2014, there were 5-7 of us in the class. I then moved to CHS, and took a year off from a gym but I continued WODs in my garage. I then had a baby (Henry) in April of 2016 and joined CFJI May 2016. With the exception of a two month “sabbatical” this past year, I am a part of the 5:30am crew and I do not plan on changing this routine anytime soon. FYI…yes I did get back up on my slalom ski the next summer!

What keeps you coming back each day?

Mental Health and my 530am friends!

What is your favorite at-home exercise to do?

Sleeping

If you had to do 100 reps of one movement (not running), what would it be?

Burpees

What are 1-2 of your goals for 2022? Have you accomplished any of these?

1. To give myself some grace and not be so hard on myself.

2. PR on one lift this year

3. Complete some form of Murph with Vivi (my student)

****So far I have PR’d, completed Murph, but still working on goal one.

Favorite Lift?

Snatch - just started enjoying this lift in the past few months

Least favorite Crossfit movement?

Wall Balls

Hometown?

Rural America…Jacksonville, Illinois (4 hours south of Chicago!)

Favorite Charleston Restaurant?

Lost Dog

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

Radio DJ or TV Commentator for sporting events or even the Bachelor

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?

Don't grow up so fast…

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

Great- Grandpa Evan

One thing about me people would be surprised to know?

I volunteered for crossfit games last year!

If the CFJI coaches came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare?

pork chops, sweet corn and baked potatoes…all three from the Siedentop or Johnson Farm in Illinois

Give us a “Question of the Day” to use in class.

Attached or unattached earlobes? ( I am teaching genetics in class so this question always intrigues me)

Tongue roller or non-tongue roller? (also a genetic trait)