Akron Life May 2023

FOREVER YOUNG

to the elite international CrossFit Games. Her effort is paying off. She made it through the CrossFit open, got to compete in the quarterfinals for the CrossFit Games in March and is in the top 40. Previously, she has done the international Legends championship twice. The rigorous competition involves events such as doing a rowing machine, ski machine and bike and adding the total distance. Also, she’s competed in the 29029 twice, which is an endurance event where you hike a distance equivalent to the height of Mount Everest by lapping an elevated course at a ski resort multiple times. The first one in Sun Valley, Idaho, went smoothly, but the most recent competition in Whistler, British Columbia, presented obstacle after obstacle with bad weather. There were snow, cold temperatures, blow ing rain and mud. So instead of doing more climbs and taking longer breaks, she had to spend more time changing gear between fewer climbs. Her set intentions had to change. “When the weather got really bad, I was just like, I’m going to make it to the next aid station . … It was just breaking it down,” she says. “Maybe things didn’t go the way I wanted them to so I was able to adapt, and adapting was a part of this process.” Shay is going to continue training daily and work her way through the competi tion circuit. She says any older person looking to get into a rigorous fitness rou tine like CrossFit needs to find a great gym with good coaches who will teach move ments and adapt them to prevent injury, making sure things are done correctly and that you are staying safe. She also encour ages people to keep the mindset that you can’t win every competition, so you have to be satisfied with doing the work. “It’s a passion that makes me happy. I like being able to challenge myself,” she says. “I like being fit. I like to be an inspiration.” [ Managing Editor Kelly Petryszyn is an adventure seeker and an avid supporter of #TeamFiona. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn at kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com.

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akronlife.com | MAY 2023