"I feel flattered that people would say (I can dethrone Annie Thorisdottir). I feel there are a few women out there who can challenge Annie this year, and I think I'm one of them."
Last year at this time, Talayna Fortunato was unknown in CrossFit outside of the South East Region. Although she was tearing it up on the local competition scene, Fortunato fell short of making it to the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games after finishing fourth at the South East Regional.
Declaring that it was “V for Vendetta” ever since, Fortunato upped her training and dominated the 2012 South East Regional finishing first with the next competitor 12 points behind. At the Games, Fortunato quickly made a name for herself after placing first in the Camp Pendleton Obstacle Course. She undoubtedly gave spectators one of the most exciting moments of the Games when she outlasted former champion, Kristan Clever, on the last set of pull-ups on the final Fran workout giving her a third place finish overall.
With the announcement that Julie Foucher will not be competing in 2013, some are saying Fortunato has the best chance to take the title of “Fittest Woman on Earth” away from Annie Thorisdottir. We recently caught up with Fortunato to talk about her Games experience and her recent decision to train under a new coach.
How would you sum up your 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games experience?
I'll use the best adjectives that come to mind: exhilarating, fulfilling, painfully difficult, a true test of desire and everything I thought it would be.
Did you surprise yourself by ending up atop the podium?
To be quite honest, I decided for myself that I wasn't going to go in with the attitude that since this was my first year at the Games, I would be star-struckingly happy to wear my new swag to whatever place finish I got. I knew I had the ability to do something more special than that, so I went in with the attitude that I had just as good a shot to take it as anyone else. I see lots of people approach things timidly because they aren't sure where they stand and end up selling their own abilities short. I wanted to go in with the attitude I thought Annie or Julie would have — humble, but there to go for the top spot.
What is it like standing on the podium at the Home Depot Center? What were you thinking up there?
The (South East) Regional podium was very fulfilling for me, accomplishing something that had eluded me a year before. Standing on the podium at the Games was fulfilling and exhilarating. It took a while for what I had accomplished in just my first year there to sink in. I think of the quote, ‘If you aim for the moon and fall short, at least you're still amongst the stars.’
I felt like I went to win, but after it was all over, and I realized what I'd done, I was on a high and amongst the stars. I would say it is the best feeling in the world to work day in and day out for something for years, sacrifice nights out, time doing other things, etc., and have your efforts pay off like that. Being as tall as I am, I worked just as hard or harder to be good at gymnastics and never experienced such a big pay off from it. CrossFit has become an extension of all of that work I put in during my 19 years as a gymnast.
What surprised you the most at the Games?
I can't say anything was all that surprising, really. Besides the Double Banger (still laughing at myself doing that on national TV), it was pretty much what I expected. Maybe my own reaction was surprising to me when I got home and people asked, ‘Was it just the most fun you've ever had?’ My immediate response was ‘No.’ I didn't go there to have fun, and to be honest, a lot of it was damn painful, but it was painfully awesome, too. Sort of like doing a WOD that pushes your upper limits. In the middle of it, it's not that fun, but afterwards, nothing really compares to that feeling of accomplishment and post-WOD euphoria.
What did you do post-Games? Did you take some time off or did you jump right back into it?
My mom and I drove up the coast of California and went to Napa and Sonoma Valley wine country. We drank good wine and ate bad food for about five days. On day three after the Games, I went into a local box and the workout of the day was Kelly. I hadn't done that one in over a year, and I'd been at wine tastings all day. My buzz was gone by the third round, and I was thinking that working out in my current state probably wasn't the greatest idea. I just can't take too many days off. I get stiff and my body feels worse after one full rest day so I like active rest much better now.
After placing fourth at the 2011 South East Regional, it was no secret you were determined to make it to the following year’s Games. Has the pressure you put on yourself since the 2011 Regional eased off?
I would say (the) pressure was definitely lifted after the Games last year. The first half of 2012 was actually very stressful for me. I trained through a sprained elbow and broken rib during the Open, and then an ankle injury the entire time between Regionals and up to 10 days before the Games. I had worked so hard and was frustrated to be injured, but I didn't want to lose my shot, so I just kept going. After the Games, it was nice to just go in and lift and do met-cons without feeling like so much was riding on every session. I was setting PRs and finally healthy.
Since the Games, you have spent a lot of time traveling the world. What is it like going from full-time physical therapist to a famous, world-traveling CrossFitter?
To be honest, I went right back to working full-time as a physical therapist, and nine out of 10 of my patients still have no idea what CrossFit is, so I think it keeps me down to earth, and for that, I am thankful. When I leave work, it's like I lead another life, and it keeps me from getting burned out on either one.
I have 4,000 more Facebook friends than last year and have even been recognized in an airport, but for the most part, not enough people know what CrossFit is for me to think I'm that big of a deal. Traveling to new places was interesting, and I loved seeing them, but it wasn't as much fun as just being on vacation. The stress of travel really cuts into the gains you can make in training, and after too much of it, I was actually moving backwards, which stresses someone like me out.
You recently announced that you were changing coaches from Rudy Nielsen to Doug Katona. What made you decide to do this?
I would like to say that Outlaw helped me get strong and took me from a good CrossFitter with a few glaring weaknesses, to the next level where I could be competitive at the Games. I felt like at this stage, I needed more individualized programming than a template if I was going to climb the last two steps on the podium or even stay competitive with the ever-increasing competitiveness of the sport.
Were there weaknesses you felt you had that weren’t being addressed under the Outlaw Way?
I felt there were areas I needed improvement on that the (Outlaw Way) blog wasn't hitting enough, yes. I am very quad dominant and it shows in my deadlift, amongst other things. I'm now working on fixing that with a more multi-faceted approach, as well as building a greater aerobic base earlier. Last year, I felt pretty out of shape at the Regional, and it showed on workout number four. I actually felt like I peaked at the end of August to early September so we're starting to increase my aerobic base sooner this year.
How did you make the decision to work with Katona?
When word got out that I was looking into other coaching options, my friend Guido Trinidad, owner of Peak 360 in Miami, contacted me. He had been working with Doug since last year's Games, which he programmed all of his own training for. He has been seeing vast improvement in his performance and spoke very highly of Doug, and I speak very highly of Guido, so I was willing to listen.
How has your training changed since switching coaches?
It has been less predictable, less repetitive and more tailored to my specific needs. For the first time in my life, I'm writing down what I eat (all of it), and for the first time in CrossFit, cleaning up my diet to a new level. There is a greater focus on efficiency of movement and picking apart my technique on all of my lifts more definitively. I've never had someone critique my wall ball before, but that's the level we're fixing things at. I'm also hitting the track for more sprints, including more interval aerobic pieces and finding my posterior chain. I know it's there. I just need to convince it to help my anterior chain. Finally, I'm taking my own advice as a physical therapist and spending time doing mobility work (something I did next to none of before).
Has your change in coaches affected you physically or mentally?
Physically, I can tell a difference since I've cleaned up my diet. Especially when I don't eat clean. I almost feel hungover from it now. I'm more mentally alert and have more energy. I've also lost about three pounds already this month, and I'm getting through the awkward phase of adapting to a new program, seeing gains and matching PRs again.
Mentally, I feel more engaged in my program and more part of a team effort. Knowing someone is taking the time to personalize what I do makes me want to try harder on my end to make it effective. No one can know for sure what will come out of the hopper this year, but I feel confident I'm doing all I can to be prepared for it now.
How will you start ramping up your training for the Open?
I will be fitting in two-a-days this year, which I didn't have the luxury of doing last year. Other than that, I'm not really sure. You'd have to ask Doug. We really aren't concerned with training for the Open, so the goal is more to train through it while still trying to hit each workout fresh and one time only.
How do you maintain your level of training? Is it passion? Determination? Both?
I think there are a multitude of reasons. I am pretty ADHD and have a hard time sitting still. I get a kick out of feeling strong by throwing my body and other objects around. I hate feeling like I've failed or worse, given up. I love the endorphin rush you get after a workout. The atmosphere in a CrossFit gym is invigorating. I've always enjoyed trying to make what I'm doing athletically be something special like a performance of sorts, and whether I'm in pain or in the zone I feel most alive in those moments.
Some are saying if anyone can dethrone Annie Thorisdottir, it is you. How does that feel to hear that?
I feel flattered that people would say that. I feel there are a few women out there who can challenge Annie this year, and I think I'm one of them.
What do you think it will take to win the title?
The winner will have to bring the entire package and have a few strengths above the rest of the field, balanced by the fewest holes in their game.
How has your life changed since the Games?
I've been lucky enough to start working with my first official sponsor, WOD SuperStore. This will enable me to work part-time as of the New Year, which means more training time, more doubles, more mobility and more sleep. I'm basically making more of a total commitment to training this year. I'll still be working Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a physical therapist, and explaining to nine out of 10 patients what CrossFit is followed by, ‘No, it's not a triathlon nor is it bodybuilding.’
There's the random, ‘Will you take a picture with me?’ I realize in a few years, after I'm done competing in CrossFit, those things won't happen anymore, so I try not to get too wrapped up in it. I still take my dog to the gym on weekends and he approves of my new boyfriend. Otherwise, not a lot has changed besides my work schedule, relationship status and the number of Facebook friends I have.
