Get to know JoEllyn McAtee

November 14, 2012
Written by Team Juggernaut

Get to know new Team Juggernaut member, Crossfit athlete/coach, JoEllyn McAtee

^{Name:JoEllyn McAtee}  

^{Age: 26}

^{Height/Weight: 5’7” /145}

^{Hometown: Louisville, KY}

^{Current City: Louisville, KY}

^{Years Training: 3 yrs of CrossFit training}

^{Years Competing: 4 years as NCAA Division I Track athlete. Training for Life/CrossFit 3 yrs.}

^{PRs in relevant lifts/events: Finished 6th in Central East Regionals in the 2012 Crossfit Games (as an individual)}

^{Where you Train: CrossFit Bluegrass}

^{Day Job: Head Coach and Owner at CrossFit Bluegrass}

^{What would be your personal theme song?:  I am a country music fan so obviously it would be a song describing my life using trucks, love and cowboy boots:)}

^{What got you into training/competing? What is your athletic background?}

^{I have always been competitive… I mean, who didn’t want to win every blue ribbon on those elementary school field days?! I was never the book worm of the family but more of the tree climber, which is a trait I’m sure many CrossFit athletes share. While running track I found that you didn’t necessarily have to be the fastest, but instead the most efficient, in order to win a hurdle race and that challenge is what I loved. I loved doing what other people didn’t want to do because for me, pushing where other people gave up was motivating. I ran track throughout college and competed in both Big East and Big South conference track meets. In 2008, I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology, received my ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Certification and also got married.  A year later my husband was hired by the local police department and during the academy he was exposed to CrossFit. He encouraged me to try CrossFit and I was hooked instantly. I earned my CrossFit Level 1 and USAW soon after and have been competing whenever I can.}

^{Who have been influential people in your life in regards to training, or just in general?}

^{Growing up, my father was the one that believed in me even when others didn’t. Side note: There is no better form of motivation than when a stranger tells you that you will never be good enough! My husband is my greatest motivator and supporter now. I don’t have a specific athlete that is a role model for me, but I’m inspired by all female athletes. I like that the ladies bring their own sassy personality to make it through practice, competition, victories and defeats.}

^{What are the greatest challenges you have faced from a training/competing standpoint?}

^{I’m actually not a natural athlete… I have to work harder and longer to get to where some people are naturally so I always keep that in mind while still having fun with my training}

^{How do you structure you training going into a competition?}

^{Taper and skill work. I want to be itching to work out so badly that it makes my heart race and fingers tingle!}

^{What is your typical diet like?}

^{Modified Paleo}

^{What upcoming competitions do you have? What are your competitive goals for the next year?}

^{Garage Games Series Events, CrossFit Open and CrossFit Regionals}

^{What do you see as one of the big mistakes that people make when preparing for CrossFit competition?}

^{Hoping that this “one movement” will not appear in the competition. Most of the time there is always an element of surprise in a CrossFit competition and you have to be prepared for everything, even your worst movement. Approach every workout separately and have a strategy to complete the workouts most efficiently based on your strength and skills.}

^{What advice would you give to someone who is interested in competing in what you do? What advice you would give to a younger version of yourself?}

^{Have fun! I always tell people training for CrossFit is like training for a heptathlon, you have to be good at a lot of things not excellent at one thing. Don’t just work on the things you like and be sure to mix up your training frequently. Try new things. You never know what life/CrossFit will throw at you so take EVERY opportunity to try something new.}

^{Any general thank you’s or products to look out for or anything else you want to say…}

^{White Stripe Photography for the pictures, CrossFit Bluegrass for the support}

^{If you have a personal website/fan page/etc, list that here…}

^{http://www.facebook.com/JoEllyn}

^{http://www.crossfitbluegrass.com/}