"It's crazy to think how she has consistently been one of the fittest in the world," said Fisher of Voboril.
Two very different female athletes shared the 2014 Southern California Regional podium.
Mother, wife, and teacher Val Voboril, 35, finished first in the region, while 20-year-old college sophomore Lauren Fisher came in third.
Though they both receive programming from the same coach, CJ Martin, their respective CrossFit journeys and lifestyles show how diverse the road to the fittest can be.
Where it All Started
At the age of 30, Voboril came across CrossFit while searching for her newest “fitness addiction” as she was practicing Krav Maga. A friend opened a joint Krav Maga/CrossFit gym in Culver City, California, in 2009 called CrossFit Culver City, and Voboril was offered an irresistible membership price.
Although she doesn’t remember her first official CrossFit workout, she does remember her first Fran.
“Luckily, I had no idea what that was or what I was getting myself into. Four minutes and 30 seconds later, with a bruised chin, teeth-bitten inside cheek, a 75-lb. barbell on the floor, and a smiling happy coach Adam Noble, I felt the most awful I have ever felt,” Voboril remembered.
Wait, 75-lb. barbell?
Yep.
"At 75, because Adam was always pitting me against a morning female athlete who accidentally had 75 lb. on her bar that morning," she explained. "Luckily I didn't know the difference or any better as I didn't yet know Fran!
For Voboril, a combination of things kept her coming back.
“I don't know if it’s that moment that hooked me, but I do know the variety in training, the amazing people I found myself surrounded by, and the constant opportunity to challenge and push myself was undeniably satiating,” she said.
For Fisher, 15 years Voboril’s junior, CrossFit started off as a way to improve at her first love: high school basketball. At 14, Fisher decided to follow her two brothers to CrossFit 209 Sport, located in Stockton, California.
“I think I might have done ladder drills and box jumps for my first workout,” Fisher recalled, “and it all kicked off from there. I started it to improve in the sports that I played in high school, like volleyball, basketball and tennis. I also wanted to get that edge.”
History in the Sport
Year after year, Voboril has consistently been a key competitor in the SoCal Region. Making her debut at the 2009 SoCal Regional, Voboril has four CrossFit Games appearances and is gearing up to make her fifth this year—she took 2011 off to have her baby girl, Vin.
She also didn’t just appear; she has stood on the podium twice with two third-place finishes in 2010 and 2013. She took fifth in 2012.
Although she has always chosen individual competition, Voboril entertained the idea of going team during the 2012 season. Post-pregnancy, Voboril was still limited on some movements during training, and unsure of her ability to compete as an individual. Her scores in 2012 helped contribute to the regional qualification of the DogTown CrossFit team, but she followed her heart and chose to go individual.
“Knowing that only three women from SoCal get to move on means I really had to ask myself, ‘Do I, will I have what it takes to place in the top three at regionals? I’ll be bummed if I didn’t give it a shot,’” she said of her decision in 2012.
Fisher made her debut as a competitive CrossFitter at 18 at the 2012 NorCal Regional, taking fourth on Event 1—Diane in 2:39—and finishing 12th overall. That same summer, Fisher moved south to attend San Diego State University, started training at CrossFit Invictus and made its team in 2013 as a college freshman. That team not only took first at the SoCal Regional, but also went on to place seventh at the Games.
As someone who has competed at a high level as both a teammate and an individual, Fisher said she enjoys both sides of the competition coin.
“I like competing on a team because of the feeling of knowing that the whole team is counting on you, so you can't slow down,” Fisher said. “But I also like competing as an individual because it's only me and I'm the only person that's accountable for what happens.”
All About the Training
For Voboril, less equals more when it comes to her training regimen. With so much on her plate, Voboril’s training schedule consists of one-hour sessions per day, five days a week. When school’s out for the summer, Voboril adds in double sessions a few times a week.
“A typical training session for me involves squats, followed by some Olympic lifting and ending with some conditioning,” Voboril said. “I have also been lucky enough to have the help of Julien Pineau from StrongFit, who has me doing skill work and positional strength. He likes to find imbalances and fix them, and I am a perfect project for him.”
Voboril does almost all of her training out of her backyard, which she lovingly calls the “Vobo Gym,” and visits CrossFit Intrepid when a workout requires a piece of equipment not currently available in her arsenal, such as GHDs or tall rope climbs. Since starting her Vobo Gym last year, Voboril has had the joy of having her friends and fellow athletes, including fellow Games athlete Talayna Fortunato, drop in to train with her.
“It’s a blast!” Voboril said of her occasional training partners. “Friends drop in to train with me, and on the weekends I get to train with my hubby.”
Having a decked out Rogue gym in her backyard has both it’s advantages and disadvantages for training.
“Most other times, because of my tight schedule, I train solo,” she explained. “Training solo allows me to really listen to my body and not push competitively into possible injury. The downside is not having the eyes of a coach and not having a person to race against. It forces me to really find that inner drive and motivation to keep going, which can be a challenge.”
When Fisher has any time off from her studies, she spends it training. Fisher’s programming calls for two-a-days, five days a week, typically consisting of a one-hour morning workout session, followed by college classes—she’s a business major—and finishing with a two-hour second session.
“My two off days are active recovery days, where I like to go bike, swim or run,” she said.
Although Fisher trains almost exclusively at CrossFit Invictus, she occasionally trains at her college’s gym.
“I train mainly all at Invictus, but sometimes I just go to the gym at school where all the athletes train,” she said.
Head to Head
Consistency was the name of the game for both Voboril and Fisher during the 2014 SoCal Regional. Although Voboril stayed ahead of Fisher in six of the seven events, Voboril and Fisher were never separated by more than three places in any event.
Prior to the SoCal Regional, Voboril made the two-hour trek down to CrossFit Invictus in San Diego to spend the day training with Fisher. Both women competed head-to-head as they ran through the events slated for the weekend to follow in Del Mar.
Fisher took advantage of the joint training session to get a feel for what it’s like to be pushed on the competition floor by a seasoned veteran.
“It's crazy to think how she has consistently been one of the fittest in the world,” said Fisher of Voboril. “Sometimes when you train by yourself, you forget what it's like to push and during that training day, I got reminded of that. It was just what I needed and she gave me a tip on the legless rope climb that helped me complete that event the following weekend.”
Even with four CrossFit Games appearances, Voboril admitted rookie competition still intimidates her.
“I was totally intimidated to train with Fisher,” she said. “I was insecure about her amazing lifting skills, strength, fountain of youthfulness and drive. Once I got over myself, I had an absolute blast!”
Like Fisher, Voboril took advantage of the training session to not only get her physical game in check but also her mental game.
“That training day was great to remind me to stay out of my head and that I can only control my actions,” Fisher said. “For me, that means keeping my blinders on and playing my own game of pacing, listening to my body and doing what I do best. Exerting all that energy worrying about others is expensive physically and emotionally.”
Looking Toward the Future
At the start of every season, the goal is always the same for Voboril.
“My goals are always to try to be the best version of me that I can be, which will always be a work in progress,” she said. “I enjoy the physical outlet and challenges CrossFit has provided me. This sport is growing in so many ways with so many opportunities.”
Voboril plans to continue her training while leading her full-time life outside of the Vobo Gym. Pre-pregnancy, Voboril started taking online college classes to work toward a master’s degree.
“I want to finish my master’s degree and continue to be a teacher who changes students’ lives,” she said. “And, of course, to be the best mom, wife, sister and daughter I can be to my amazing family.”
For Fisher, time is on her side.
“My goal is to stay healthy in this sport, so that I can work towards winning the CrossFit Games,” Fisher said. “I also want to be an inspiration for young people, to show that they can get anything they want by setting goals and working hard.”
CrossFit isn’t the only sport Fisher set her sights on. Fisher spent two weeks in Russia in June representing the United States at the Junior World Weightlifting Championship, where she totaled at 185 kg at a body weight of 60 kg (including a 110 kg clean and jerk).
“My goal was to just have fun in Russia and gain experience in international competitions,” she said. “I'm just excited to represent the U.S.A. Hopefully if my numbers go up, I could make the Senior World team. 2020 Olympics could be a goal also.”
Regardless of their past, present and future goals, these two competitors will bring their respective differences to the floor at the StubHub Center to represent their Southern California Region.
