CrossFit Auckland | Forging Elite Fitness, Established 2008

We got to ask Debbie a bunch of questions before she left for the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games…

What are you most excited about leading up to the games?

I guess being part of an event that is attracting world-wide attention and being amongst top athletes that I have a huge amount of respect for

Where are you based in L.A., and what will you do leading up to Day One?

We’re staying about 6kms away from the Home Depot Centre and within close proximity of the Official Games Hotel. (EDITOR’s NOTE: Deb will spend today at DOGTOWN CROSSFIT, at an invitation only event with all of CrossFit HQ’s subject matter experts, doing some last minute fine tuning with CF games director Dave Castro, CF weightlifting coach Mike Burgener, Mobility WOD’s Kelly Starrett, CF Strongman Rob Orlando, CF Endurance’s Bryan Mckenzie, CF Gymnastics’ Jeff Tucker… Debs is a lucky girl!)

Do you have any lucky charms/support crew coming with you?

I don’t have any lucky charms – I wish I did. Graeme’s coming with me but I so wish I had my coaches. I know a lot of friends and family are right behind me though

What’s the build up to the Games been like for you?

I didn’t have an ideal start to the build up for the games. I was away on a 5 week holiday when I found out I had qualified for the Games. I trained about 3-4 times a week while i was away but had limited resources, and limited time. I felt I came back in pretty bad shape and wasn’t confident I could get to where I wanted to be in 3 months. Once I made the decision to go to the games my training went to a whole new level. I owe a huge gratitude to you Alex for the programme you set me. It was incredibly challenging both physically and mentally.

Do you feel prepared? What condition are you in?

I fell I’m prepared as I’ll ever be. I’ve had a few niggling injuries but nothing that has held me back too much. I guess most athletes are in the same boat. I FEEL LEAN, MEAN AND STRONG (if I keep telling myself that I’ll believe it!)

How long have you been doing CF?

I’ve been doing CF now for 3 years (wow where has the time gone) (EDITOR’s NOTE: Deb was an OG CrossFit Auckland WOMEN’s class members!)

Tell us about your past CF Games experience.

I’ve competed in a few club comps such as FGB, CrossFit Auckland Games, CF Birkenhead Games, CFNZ Games but the most rewarding to date was competing in the 2010 Australasian Regional Competition in the teams comp. The team was put together about 3 weeks before the event and we blew the other teams out of the water! The team qualified to go to LA (but that’s another story)

What are you hoping will come out in Dave Castro’s programming, and what are you hoping will not?

I’d love to see some moderate/heavy Deadlifts, maybe some DUs, bit of running, KB swings/snatches, box jumps. Don’t want HSPU (due to neck injury) but know they’re going to come up. I haven’t been able to practice these for 3 weeks so will just have to suck it up if they show up. Not fussed on heavy snatches either!

Although you don’t know what’s coming up you must still have some strategy figured out. What’s your plan?

Strategy is to be “Relentless” (I wonder who told me that!) I plan on not worrying about the other athletes I’m competing against are doing and focus on my own game.

When will we see you back in the club?

Unfortunately I can’t stay on in LA so will be leaving late in the evening after the Games finish. I’ll be back on the 17th July and will be in to see you all that week!

Thanks Debs! We’ll all be glued to the livestream Master’s feed and hollering at the TV set in support!