This Year's Michele

February 7, 2013

Kate Rose

"This year's Michele is maybe a little bit more conservative when it comes to expectations. I can't get ahead of myself."

To reach closer to the top in 2013, Michele Letendre went Down Under.

For the second year, Aussie Darren Coughlin is programming for Letendre. Coughlin, of Reebok CrossFit GCS, calls the program “Give ‘Em Cold Steel.” The programming will be similar to her program in 2012, with a few modifications.

“He’s given me some accessory work to attack specific weaknesses,” Letendre says.

Coughlin's plan included a month-long training camp at Reebok CrossFit GCS.

"I trained there with some great athletes, but my main training partner there was Pip Malone,” Letendre says. “We had a great time. It was really challenging having someone constantly on my tail and beating me.”

This is a change for Letendre, who usually trains alone.

“We woke up at 4:30 a.m., did the 5:30 a.m. ‘Give ‘Em Cold Steel’ sessions, then napped, ate breakfast, trained again, napped, ate lunch, then training another time,” she explains.

Letendre elevates her game to match the intensity of her training partners.

“They pushed me hard on my good days and encouraged me on my bad ones. I felt well surrounded and I also felt like I couldn't disappoint them, so I made sure each workout I did was the best I could.”

Letendre is reserved about her own goals for the 2013 Games season.

“This year’s Michele is maybe a little bit more conservative when it comes to expectations,” she admits. “I can’t get ahead of myself. Just like a workout, you can't do two reps at a time, so I'm taking things one step at a time and maintaining my focus on each task at hand.”

But that doesn’t mean she’s any less driven. Her love of CrossFit provides all the motivation she needs to train and compete.

“I am going in this year confident and ready for anything. I’m still doing what I love and trying to keep it simple. This year's Michele is patient, hungry and very excited for what is to come.”