"You don't have to win to enjoy yourself. While it is awesome to win, you can still find success without making the podium."
After a weekend of competing against some of the biggest names in the South East, including Talayna Fortunato, Cheryl Nasso and Jaime Gold, Sarina “Sass” Woodworth of CrossFit 239 in Fort Myers, Fla., says she can improve.
“It was OK, I guess. I think I could have done better.”
Woodworth finished 10th at the local competition.
“I can do better,” is a sentiment often expressed by Woodworth, 30, who is known for breaking down her performance after completing a workout to figure out how she could have done it better.
She says she’s hoping that if she does in fact “do better,” she will earn one of the top three spots on the podium for the South East and make it to the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games.
In high school, 5-foot-1-inch, 135-pound Woodworth was a competitive gymnast and powerlifter, which she says has helped in transitioning to CrossFit.
“Gymnastics has been beneficial by creating body awareness, making it easier for me to adapt to new movements,” she says. “Powerlifting helped me build strength and set a good foundation for my lifts.”
Growing up as an athlete also helped her develop a love for competition.
“You don’t have to win to enjoy yourself,” she says. “While it is awesome to win, you can still find success without making the podium.”
Woodworth competes as much as possible and through her participation on the competition circuit, she has become famous for a certain body part — her quads.
“My quads tend to get a few comments here and there,” she says. “Sometimes I’m only recognized by them … the girl with the quads.”
Her quads have become so famous in the region, they even have their own Facebook page — Sarina’s Quads — with more than 800 likes.
“A group of us were on our way home from a competition when I received a friend request from my quads and that was the start of (Sarina’s Quads),” she says. “I find the Facebook page amusing.”
While her quads do garner attention, her character is what makes her popular among her fellow athletes.
“There is a bond you build when training athletes, training with athletes or competing with other athletes that you do not always get in other sports,” she says.
If Woodworth had her way, the workouts this season would be moderate to heavy in weight.
“I’m never overly concerned about what might come out of the hopper, but I look forward to a chipper with a few heavy movements,” she says. “And (a local competition) introduced me to the Watt Bike. That is a mean machine, I want one.”
In the past year, she has significantly increased her volume, frequently working out five or six days a week for two to three hours per session.
“I think it will pay off. In fact, I have already seen major improvements in my Olympic lifting technique and my gymnastics movements,” she says.
Her sessions could involve snatching off blocks and back or front squatting, followed by some rope climbs or muscle-ups for skill work, and almost always finish with a 10-minute row.
“Something I have noticed from being active in the competition circuit is the importance of upper body strength. It is what separates the very top from the middle of the pack,” she says.
Woodworth has been adding emphasis on ring dips, handstand push-ups, jerks and push press in an effort to eliminate what she feels is a weakness.
She is hoping all of her additional work and focus on her technique will help her make it into the top three in the South East.
“Obviously I would like to go to the Games, but I am sure whether I am on the podium or not, there will be something I can do better,” she explains. “That’s what you have to love about CrossFit, you can always do something better, faster or heavier.”