Lifestyle
MOM-u-mental! Angie Pye juggles CrossFit, kids, and a personal quest for greatness
You know the type—nurse, rugby player, mom, CrossFitter. Huh?
Those are just a few of the words that describe Angie Pye, the 36-year-old former RN, now full-time mom of two and part-time CF trainer and athlete. The 5 foot 6 inches, 145-pound powerhouse blasted her way from spectator at the 2010 Games to Canada West Regional champ the very next year. She became one of nine women over age 35 to qualify for the 2011 Games and one of only three to make it into the top 10. Her winning streak didn’t stop there: she came out on top again in the 2012 Regionals and took 16th on the Games’ leader board for the women.
Pye tried various sports as a child, including basketball and volleyball, but turned to rugby after being told she was “too intense” for other sports. “I don’t actually consider myself an ‘intense’ person,” she explains, “except when I’m put in a competitive environment.” She remembers “getting fouled out of basketball games for being too physical and trying to be everywhere at one time on a volleyball court.” Rugby turned out to be a good fit, however, because “it’s pretty tough to get fouled out, and they want you all over the pitch.” She played for the University of BC and rose through the ranks to a one-year stint on the national rugby squad.
Once her rugby career was over, and before the family came along, Pye did what most of us do to stay in shape: she went to the gym, tried different kinds of workouts, and scanned magazines and fitness shows for new ideas, always looking for bigger and better ways to channel her competitive spirit and athletic prowess. Years passed, and life delivered a husband, then two daughters, then CrossFit fever. She found that the sport was a great receptacle for that burning desire to be “all over it.” “I would say [the desire] is definitely still there when I hear 3-2-1, GO!” she notes. But with CrossFit, being all over it means competing with every aspect of herself. She was so thoroughly infected with the CrossFit bug that she eventually made it a family affair, drawing her husband, her kids, and a couple of extended family members into the sport.
She’d like to see more people like herself getting into the gym and giving CrossFit a whirl but knows it can be intimidating, venturing into new territory, especially one that involves steel plates, profuse sweating, and a staggering number of acronyms. “I think the hardest part is walking in that door the first day; having a friend for support helps a ton,” she advises. “I’ve had friends and family who were very nervous and intimidated to start, and the thing I try to assure people is that everyone feels that way at first.” Pye also suggests that those who are interested in trying CrossFit observe a class first. When they do, she’s convinced that they’ll find some comfort in seeing that CrossFit “isall levels and all body types doing what they’re capable of, which always ends up being more than they ever thought.”
Pye definitely had that kind of eye-opening experience; her high rankings in 2011 and 2012 surprised her as much as they did anyone. “I had no expectations going in and knew that all the other competitors were fierce,” she remembers. “I think we all hope and want to be among the high finishers, but I didn’t expect that.” Does she feel she has something to prove about what a 30-something mom can do? Not really. “I just want to prove something as myself, as an athlete.”
What do the kids think of her accomplishments? Pye chuckles, suddenly a bit more humble. “It’s like any job—it doesn’t matter whether you’re a doctor, or a lawyer, or a waitress, or a trainer—your kids are just sort of like, ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s nice; now play with me.’” Her training clients grant her just a bit more credit. In a promotional video, one of her female devotees brims with sincerity and a dollop of cheekiness when she says that Pye is “super supportive and incredibly positive, so it’s actually really great to be tortured by her.”
Pye currently trains at CrossFit Taranis (Victoria) and uses the crossfit.com training program. She also works with her own trainer on particular aspects of technique. Her training formula is 3 days on, 1 day off, with one WOD per day (sometimes two) on the training days. Rest days are sacred and savoured. And although lots of CrossFit athletes restrict themselves to Paleo-inspired eating plans, you won’t see Pye loading up her plate with steak, kale, and coconut shreds for daily sustenance. Instead, she just tries to eat clean and doesn’t see the sky falling if she gives in to an occasional craving.
How long will she be doing this? Pye says she feels fitter than ever and can’t see CrossFit ever getting boring. “I plan on being a CrossFitter for life. When I went to the 2010 Games, it opened my eyes to what is possible at any age. The Masters are amazing, and I hope to be able to compete as a Master one day. I think it’s so great to find a sport that has no end date on it. Life-long training—awesome!”
Meanwhile, on the other side of life—the domestic front—the kids’ schoolwork needs to be checked, dinner’s got to find its way to the table, and the mail’s piling up. No problem, says Pye. She’s all over it.
