1) Who is Christine Kole? (where are you from, what do you do, a bit about yourself (hobbies, etc)
I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I moved to Springfield, Missouri in 2017 to train and be a part of CrossFit 417’s team and have been here ever since. I work and coach at CrossFit 417 along with a few side hustles online as well (nutrition coaching, I make and sell granola bars!, and advertising for companies I collaborate with). In my spare time I like doing anything creative, but mostly hand lettering; I like going on adventures, traveling, trying/learning new things, and being outside; I also really enjoy cooking, baking, and eating with my friends!
2) How many years have you been training? (Including how you got started, etc)
I have been doing CrossFit for 4 1/2 years now. I was a level 10 gymnast growing up, ran track and did pole vault in high school, and then returned to gymnastics for a short time before finding CrossFit at the age of 23.
3) Whats been the most challenging/hardest part of your journey so far? and how have you overcome them (set backs, rejections, injuries, basically anything difficult that you have had to overcome)
I actually didn’t make the team at CrossFit 417 after moving down in 2017 due to a back injury. It was devastating after moving my entire life down to Missouri. I worked through my injury and decided to be the best alternate I could be, showing up to every team practice, doing every workout alongside of them just like I was a part of the team. I decided to fully embrace my role and do my best to push, support, and encourage my team to be the best. One of the girls on our team wound up getting hurt a couple weeks before The Games so I actually wound up competing at the 2017 CrossFit Games on Team 417. Although nobody wished the injury upon my teammate, we were all thankful I had been training to be able to slide right into her position without missing a beat.
4) What does your typical workout/diet routine look like? (With any particular protocols you rate).
I train 5 days a week, usually twice a day. I take one full rest day and one active recovery day where I go to hot yoga. I work with a coach from Working Against Gravity who I check in with weekly and receive nutrition recommendations from including macros, meal timing, types of foods I should be eating, etc. I eat a lot of rice, sweet potatoes, kale, Brussels sprouts, chicken breast, ground beef, avocados, coconut aminos, oatmeal, and nut butter!
5) What new knowledge have you learned over this past year regarding training, lifestyle and nutrition? (And How has it changed your focus for the future).
One of the biggest things I’m learning right now is how important proper breath work and breath training is. Nose breathing along with how to properly brace under load and tension while breathing efficiently is such a game changer!
6) Whats your favourite cheat/Treat meal?
Ice cream!
7) Whats one supplement that you could not live without?
Vital Proteins Recovery Wave
8) If you had to start your Journey from scratch with both your health & physique what would you do differently and why?
Master the basics and positioning of CrossFit before transitioning to high intensity and high level skills
9) Who do you look upto in the fitness industry and why?
The same sort of people I look up to outside of the fitness industry - kind, inspiring, hardworking, generous, servant hearted people of good character using their gifts and talents to serve God & people above themselves.
10) If you had to give one bit of advice to people starting out what would that be?
The same thing I would change if I could go back - master the basics!
11) What new goals do you have on the horizon?
I want to qualify to The CrossFit Games individually in 2020
12) Where can people find you? (website, social media accounts)
Instagram: @christine.kole
Photography by: @joeandacamera @junkbrands @brenton.roggow
