Julie Weldon is a competitive CrossFitter who juggles training with her Mom duties: carpools, gymnastics, swimming, hockey, cooking, laundry, homework and story time.
Barbells and Nanos may not come to mind when you think of your mom. But for Julie Weldon’s children, they do.
Weldon is a competitive CrossFitter who juggles her own training with carpools to gymnastics, swimming practice, hockey practice, cooking, laundry, homework and story time.
It’s 5:30 a.m. on a Monday, and it’s training time for Weldon at CrossFit Park City in Park City, Utah. Starting her day with a workout helps her prepare for the busy day ahead.
Oldest daughter Riley, 12, is the leader of the Weldon kid clan and described by mom as the “sweetest, most compassionate, nicest person you will ever meet.”
Luke, 10, is “a natural-born relentless spirit” with undiagnosed special needs. Although he is non-verbal and considered multiply disabled, Weldon says Luke has not only brought their family closer to each other, but has also been a source of inspiration to try hard in all she does.
Youngest daughter, Finley, 5, has boundless energy, and is “feisty and determined,” Weldon says. “Definitely the dynamite in our house.”
To keep her on her toes, Weldon says she depends on her workouts.
“I typically train five to six days a week and still run about four to five days per week. I've cut way down on my mileage but I can't give it all up yet,” she explains. “Running is my time to pray, and think and focus on the day ahead.”
She wakes up around 4:30 a.m., runs four to five miles and then goes to CrossFit.
" … I find it's super helpful that I have time alone every morning, doing something that I love with some of the greatest people I know, before I start the day with my kids," she says. "I'm more patient, a better wife and a better mom after CrossFit.”
Fellow CrossFitter, Annmarie Buoscio, says Weldon inspires her. “Julie inspires all of us in the gym. She works hard every day during class, and without complaint. I bond with Julie every day we are in the gym together,” Buoscio says. “We talk about everything — the workout, our family, our neighborhood, something silly. We laugh the hour we are together and also cringe together through the exercise.”
Being active is in Weldon’s blood. Her brother is six-time CrossFit Games competitor, Chris Spealler, and their mother, Jill Spealler, is a two-time Games competitor in the Masters division.
“Raising both my kids, I always told Chris and Julie never to give up, never to quit at anything — never,” Jill says. “And I really am proud of them. They both really put that to practice.”
While in school, Weldon was recruited to play field hockey for Penn State.
"It was an amazing experience and I missed competing terribly when my four years were up," she says. "I had always loved running, so when my time at Penn State ended, I figured, ‘I guess I'll just keep running.’ And I ran a lot. That was my way to stay fit.”
It was her brother who introduced her to CrossFit. "Around the time I was pregnant with my youngest, Chris started some weird CrossFit thing. All I knew was my husband would meet Chris and a few other random people at the rec center for a WOD — whatever that was," she recalls. "And he would come home saying how tired he was ... I thought, 'Sure, try running seven miles a day."
Not long after he started, Chris competed in the CrossFit Games. “I thought he was crazy. But then he opened up a box and a lot of people started to go, so I figured I would give CrossFit a try. Well, I got my bum kicked, and I don't enjoy being beat … ”
This interest in being active has passed on to her children.
“I want to be as strong as my mom one day,” Riley says. “She has motivated me to never give up and to keep going.”
Today, Weldon has a new goal in mind.
“I want to compete with a team at Regionals this year, and hopefully make it to the Games. Chris always tells us to have fun. And I’ve decided, I'll take his advice and do that,” she says. “Honestly, CrossFit is fun. Our box is fun. Competing with a team would be fun, as well.”
Weldon says she looks to her little brother for inspiration.
“Chris is quietly supportive. He's very focused and intense. But helpful, and would drop everything for me if I needed him to. What I find most inspiring about Chris is how hard he works at being as good as he is. Sure, he's athletic and talented, but like all athletes of his caliber, being a successful CrossFit Games-attending athlete is a full-time commitment. When you see how much of himself he pours into his workouts alone, it's hard not to be inspired,” she says.
While it may seem a bit overwhelming to find time to compete as an athlete and fulfill her mom duties, her family — particularly her son — has taught her the importance of selflessness and doing nothing half-heartedly.
“The first time I laid eyes on Luke, I knew there was something wrong," Weldon says. "Worst feeling ever. Helpless. Alone. Frustrated. Sad. Angry. Denial … the only thing I knew was that there was no way I was going to give up or accept that anything was impossible. When Luke was 2 years old, we were told by a pediatric neurologist that we should never expect anything more from him than ‘lying on the floor laughing at us and drooling.' Those were the doctor’s exact words,” Weldon recalls. “We were also told that if he were to walk, ever, don't expect it until he's at least 7.”
Weldon has some advice on life and CrossFit.
“Don't quit — ever. Life is hard. It's amazing, and fun and a blessing, but it's hard,” she says. “If it’s easy, then you aren't learning.”
