December Athlete Spotlight

Hey Tribe!  I am so proud to call Sarah Rakocy, our December Athlete Spotlight, a member of our gym!  I loved reading about Sarah’s background and her answers really spoke to me and how I view fitness.

Please help me congratulate Sarah on this month’s spotlight!

How long have you been a member of San Angelo CrossFit?
I took advantage of the one week freebie trial offered back in March 2020. After I finished foundations, I
was able to attend one week and then Covid shut everything down. I continued to do the “quarantine”
workouts at home as well as I could with the equipment I had.

Tell us about yourself… Where are you from? What’s your occupation?
I was born and raised in Minnesota. After graduating college in 2002, I moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. I
decided to stay in Texas, because access to the beach and coastal fishing was way more fun than dealing
with snow and cold temps 6 to7 months out of the year. I met my husband not long after moving there,
we started a family, and managed to survive in that sweltering 90-100% humidity for 15 years. We
moved to San Angelo Spring of 2017 due to my husband’s work and we really like it here. I am a nurse
and have been working at Shannon for about 1.5 years.

How did you hear about SACF and why did you decide to join?
When I was going to nursing school 2010-2012, a friend of mine belonged to a crossfit gym. Her
description of the classes, along with her inability to sit or walk on some days, definitely peaked my
interest. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to join anything at that time due to school, work, and
family life, so I just exercised at home. A year or so after moving here, I did a 30-day trial at another local
gym and I liked it, but I didn’t love it. As I searched for another gym, I saw an ad for SACF on Facebook
for a 1 week trial. Even though I was a little apprehensive about it, I decided to give it a go. I cannot put
into words the adrenaline rush I experienced that first day. I definitely died a little from the workout,
thanks to my first introduction to wall balls, but it was so AMAZING!

How have you seen yourself change-mentally or physically-since being part of SACF?
Physically, I definitely feel stronger and I am surprised how quickly I have been able to progress on some
things, but I still have a long ways to go. Mentally, SACF is my happy place. It is 1 hour out of my day that
I dedicate to myself for myself. I love the workouts for the endorphin rush and the sense of
accomplishment of being able to do hard things. I also love the added stress relieving benefits it
provides. There is one mental aspect I have yet to embrace. I need to figure out how to tap into that
next level of “guts and grit” so when everything hurts and you’re dying, somehow you find a way to still
push harder.    (don’t worry, I (coach j) have never found that either ?)

What is your favorite movement and do you have a favorite workout?
I’m warming up to the ski erg, love deadlift day, I’m also a fan of squat cleans & power snatches, and
oddly, wall balls. I don’t have a favorite workout, but I’m like a little kid in a candy store on Sunday
waiting for the week’s WOD’s to be posted. It ignites my motivation for the week.

What is your least favorite movement?
I have been struggling with toes to bar and double unders. I have been practicing and have made
improvements, but they currently cause me the most frustration right now. Nothing like getting
whipped to death while trying to learn a new skill.

If you were to name a workout what would the name be and what would it include?
Core & Glute Salute: ski erg buy-in, Russian KB swings, V-ups, Deadlift, tuck hang, sumo goblet squats,
ski erg buy-out

What are some of your goals for the upcoming year?
I have so much to learn with regards to form and technique on so many movements. I want to focus on
those areas and increase my strength and mobility, so I can RX more workouts. Dubs, kipping pull-ups
and toes 2 bar are on my immediate list of movements to master. Overhead squats are a long-term goal.
I have a weird shoulder issue that is provoked with certain overhead movements. I hope with
improvements in mobility I can start working on them.

How do you see SACF being different than other gyms you’ve been a part of?
I can honestly say SACF has something extraordinary that is exclusively theirs. First of all, the coaching
staff is fantastic. The enthusiasm and supportive environment definitely decreased the intimidation
factor when I first started. Second, the group workout setup is unique in that it doesn’t matter where
you are ability or strength-wise. We are all working towards a similar goal, just at different places along
our individual fitness journeys. This builds a camaraderie due to the relatable fact that we push
ourselves individually during the workouts, but along the way progress happens, PR’s happen, and
collectively, it is celebrated by all. To me, that is the motivating factor that keeps me coming back every
day.

How can other people relate to you story?
Years ago, I went through the up and down roller coaster of getting in to shape and then out of shape
over and over again. About 3-4 years ago I definitely let myself go after having my youngest child. My
blood pressure was going up steadily and I was unhappy with myself health-wise. To make things worse
my mom’s side of the family has been plagued with multiple cancer diagnoses over the last several
years. That’s pretty scary when you share the same gene pool. In addition to adopting a healthier
lifestyle, one of the things I told myself 3 years ago was that I was going to be in the best shape of my
life by my 40 th birthday. Well, it didn’t happen on the exact day, but I think I am at that point now and I
will be 41 very soon. I’m pretty stoked about that. Physical fitness-wise, I have never felt this good, ever.
What’s even more exciting is that I feel like I am just getting started. I cannot wait to see where this
goes.

If you controlled the music, what would we be working out to?
Anything with heavy bass and a strong back beat, so metal, alternative rock, and dubstep remixes.
Usually though, and depending on the workout, I end up tuning it out because I’m trying to count or
breathe, so I don’t notice it much.

What is something that others may not know about you?
I really don’t know what to put here, so let’s go with that I have a hard time staying awake past 9:30 pm.
I prefer to be in bed by 8:30-9pm but life happens, and well, it doesn’t happen as often as I like.