I was raised to believe that daily participation in athletics is an essential part of life. My grandfather was a distance runner in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. I was a varsity athlete in high school and college, including seven years of field hockey, swimming, and diving. I was proud to be awarded "most valuable woman athlete" in my senior year at Swarthmore College.
I'm an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, which means I operate on and treat the eyelids, orbits, and upper face. During fellowship, I competed in standard distance triathlons. I had a son, Troy, in 1990, and a daughter, Casey, in 1993. For the next two decades, most of my formal athletic involvement was as a team mom or coach for my kids. I still participated in recreational sports throughout, including swimming, tennis, and horseback jumping with my daughter. I stopped running about 20 years ago because of knee swelling and arthritis brought on by complications from a childhood skiing accident.
Our son Troy introduced my husband, Art Astorino, and me to CrossFit in 2014, when I joined Ruination CrossFit. I love the intense group workouts! It's like being on a team again!
In 2015, I had learned enough to compete in the CrossFit Open and qualified for the games in the 60+ women’s division. The historical damage to my right knee continued to plague me, and I had to wear a knee brace throughout. While the leg strength I gained from CrossFit delayed my knee's deterioration, I ultimately still needed surgery in 2016 and a total knee replacement in 2018. I've recovered by now, and am excited to compete in the new 65+ Masters division!
I'm also grateful to my workout buddy and husband, Art, my head coach Michele Douglas, and everyone at Ruination CrossFit.
