June 2019 Member of the Month, Carmen Lundell

CrossFit Midtown is very excited to announce our June Member of the Month, Carmen! She has been a member since 2018, has made some major gains and PR’s, some awesome friends, a joy to have in class, and has been an active person in the CFM community! Read on to learn more about Carmen and her CrossFit journey. Thank you for being such an outstanding member of the CFM community!

Name: Carmen Lundell
Nickname: friends call me Carmen, family calls me Carmie or Marmie
Age: 28
Hometown: Wayzata, Minnesota

How did you get exposed to CrossFit?
I lived a few blocks from a gym in New York and friends told me that my gymnastics background would make me a good CrossFit athlete. I was hooked after the first class likely because there were handstands.

What brought you to CrossFit Midtown:
I moved to Atlanta last summer, and one of my first action items was finding a nearby Crossfit gym. CFM is within walking distance of my apartment and the intimate facility reminded me of my box in New York.

What was your very first day at CrossFit Midtown like?
My first drop in was a Harry Potter WOD. When I told Peter (my boyfriend) about riding PVC pipes like broomsticks, he was incredibly skeptical exclaiming “What does riding a PVC pipe exercise?!” Not to mention, Mike caught the entire workout on camera *face in palm*. Obviously, I came back and have continued to be impressed by the programming.

What kind of changes have you you experienced since starting CrossFit that were completely unexpected?
Great programming and incredibly inclusive community! The workouts are intentional, and it’s making a difference in my fitness. I also love how supportive the staff is both in ramping up new coaches and training athletes of all abilities.

Tell us some of your recent accomplishments. What goals do you have for 2019!?
I recently PR’ed my snatch by 2 lbs and convinced Peter to move to Atlanta! In 2019, I hope to continue feeling stronger. Barbell has helped me improve not only my lifting, but overall fitness and strength.

What does your frequently used emoji tab look like?

What is your favorite workout and if you could make up your own workout what would it be?
I love Fran, but to make it even better I’d scrap the barbell and swap pull ups for bar muscle ups. My dream workout would include rope climbs, pistols, bar muscle ups, toes to bar, box jumps for height or box jump overs, handstand walks…can you tell I did competitive gymnastics for 11 years?

What is your favorite cheat food/meal?
JR Crickets lemon pepper wet wings and Jeni’s ice cream have been favorites of mine since moving to Atlanta.

Favorite CrossFit Midtown moment
Friday night lights! I was only able to join for 19.5, so I’m looking forward to the next open. Best part was throwing glow sticks in the gym until…2am?

Hobbies, Talents and or Interests Outside of CrossFit:
Some may attest that I am a talented karaoke performer (not singer).
I’m always eager to try new sports, preferably without balls. Most recently, I’m working on golfing and surfing. I’m also a skier and proficient at water sports from growing up on a lake.
I’m an avid traveler and love to read a book by a local author before a trip.

Advice for new CrossFitters
You’re stronger than you think you are. It took me an amazingly long time to get skills that now are my best ones! Be patient, listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to push yourself!