"Seeing them do what they do makes me believe CrossFit is for life. They will be doing this forever, and so will I."
Photos by: Zach Brown
Lindsay and Allison Bourdon have always worked out on a team.
“As a family, we have always enjoyed a very active life,” Vicki Bourdon, mother of Lindsay and Allison, says. “Even our vacations are activity-based. When the girls were younger, we would take a trip to Florida every summer to meet up with relatives and call it W.O.W. — Workout Week.”
It is no surprise that Lindsay, 27, co-owner and head coach of CrossFit Adrenaline, has decided to compete on CrossFit Adrenaline’s team once again for the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games season.
“First and foremost, I love them, “ Lindsay says. “Sappy, I know, but the truth. They are my best friends and family and we have put in some hard work in order to get back to Regionals and make a strong showing.”
Lindsay currently holds the top spot among Individual Women in the South East after the first four workouts of the Open. She is also ranked third worldwide. Her sister, Allison, 23, who also coaches at Adrenaline, is in 36th place in the South East. She will also be competing on CrossFit Adrenaline’s team this season.
“I don’t think I have ever thought about competing individually to be honest,” Allison says. “I won’t count going individually one day completely out, but as long as I have five other people willing to compete with me, then team is the way I will go.”
For Lindsay, being on a team holds her more accountable for her performance.
“Sometimes during a grueling workout or competition that’s pushing your limits, your body starts to give in and give up, (and) it becomes easy to take that extra long break or throw in the towel,” she says. “At times like these, I think about the five other people out there with me, giving their all towards the fight, and I dig down deep and keep going.”
The team is not the only thing that motivates the Bourdon girls. Their parents have also inspired them to keep CrossFitting.
“When I watch my parents compete, I get choked up (because) they work so hard and fight like no one else,” Allison says. “Seeing them do what they do makes me believe that CrossFit is for life. They will be doing this forever, and so will I.”
The Bourdon sisters’ father, Tom, 55, recently got his first muscle-up just two days before Open Workout 13.3. Even though he did not get one during 13.3, he currently sits in 20th place worldwide in the Masters Men 55-59 Division. He is hoping to maintain his top-20 position so he can compete at the Games.
“I would love to join my daughters and their team in California this year if we all make it,” he says. “It would be an honor to meet some of the great Masters competitors from around the world.”
Vicki, who says this year is a rebuilding year for her, is currently in 23rd place in the South East in the Masters Women 50-54 Division.
“I have had surgeries on both shoulders and am trying my best to be competitive,” she says. “Next year, I will move to the 55-plus women’s age group. I am looking forward to the drop in weights.”
Vicki has always placed an emphasis on her family’s health and wellness.
“I have been a stickler about nutrition for all the years they have competed in sports, and I am a firm believer in the paleo lifestyle,” she says. “If we are a family example of those things, then I am very proud of that.”
The Bourdons are certainly an example of a healthy family, and working out together has only made them fitter. They have also grown closer because they all workout to raise awareness for the same cause.
Ethan, the Bourdons’ 11-year-old grandson and nephew, was diagnosed two years ago with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes disabilities such as developmental delays, lack of speech and weak muscle tone.
“During the week of the first Open workout, Ethan was hospitalized in the ICU for five days,” Allison says. “It was a rough week for our family seeing him with his oxygen mask on and fighting for every breath.”
In spite of Ethan’s hospitalization, the Bourdons all posted strong scores on Open Workout 13.1. Lindsay earned the top score for the women in the South East.
“We are a stronger family because of him,” they say. “We work harder and push through every day of training with these kids in our thoughts.”
The Bourdons have also used CrossFit as a way to make Ethan stronger.
“His Grandpa has him row, do step-ups, and he has recently taught him to pick a 10-lb. wall ball up and put it over his shoulder like the Games athletes did last year mixed with deficit handstand push-ups,” Allison says. “CrossFit has made Ethan healthy and able to do many things.”
For most teams, the goal of the Games is to finish the competition on top of the podium. For CrossFit Adrenaline and the Bourdon family, the real goal is to continue to raise awareness for Ethan’s syndrome.
“He is our hero. Seeing him happy and healthy is more rewarding than any prize or medal,” Allison says.
CrossFit Adrenaline is hosting a team competition, Battle by the Mounds, in Cartersville, Ga., this summer to raise money for the cause.
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