Coach’s Corner – Carmen DaRocha
We’d like to welcome Coach Carmen DaRocha to the Crossfit Southie Coaching staff! We’re so excited to have her onboard, she has a great passion for fitness and helping others! Carmen was born and raised in Boston, Ma. She’s a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner during the day and a CrossFit Coach and avid workout fan during the later part of the day! Read below to learn more about our newest addition!
Experience/years as a Crossfitter/Coach?
I’ve been doing CrossFit since July 2014. I began my CF career at CrossFit on the Hill (COTH) in Roxbury. And I’ve been coaching since September 2017.
Athletic Background
When I was in high school, I got dragged to an information session about crew/rowing. I had no idea what it was but ended up falling in love with the sport and rowed 4 yrs and competed in the Head of the Charles Regatta. (Don’t ask me what place we got, let’s just say that they don’t hand out medals for anything past 45th place).
Previous to that, I tried out for my high school track team, never competed in a race and only went to our practices because I had a crush a boy who was a top athlete on the team. I’m a pretty mediocre runner.
Other than that, I didn’t have much time for sports or athletics in college back in my heyday. Being in nursing school did not allow for much extracurricular activities let alone a decent night sleep! Now I workout almost daily and get antsy if I go too long without breaking a sweat- It helps keep my sanity and I love to push myself to see what new skills and tricks I can teach myself! (Bar MUPs, I’m looking at you)
Classes you currently coach?
5:30am IGN+ITE
6 + 7am Friday mornings
Favorite WOD and Movement?
Favorite WOD: Annie
Favorite Movements: Heavy Hang Cleans & DUs
Least Favorite WOD and Movement
Least Favorite WOD: definitely has to be FRAN, Thrusters are not my friend.
Least Favorite movement: In addition to thrusters, certainly running. And let’s throw Bar muscle ups in there, only because I can’t do them (YET!)
Any advice for Newbies and/or Veterans?
Newbies: try not to worry about what people around you look like, how heavy their weight is or whether they are doing the WOD RX- if you are constantly comparing yourself to the person next to you, you’ll never be able to appreciate your abilities or how far you’ve come! Stick with it, keep going; it never get’s easier, you just get better!
Veterans: Listen to your body, take a rest day every once in a while so you can continue being present and kicking ass in workouts when you’re 85 years young. Also, if you see a new person, go up to them, say hello, help them out. It means a lot to the newbies if you can take two seconds during your day fist bump them after a WOD or to say “hey, nice job!”.
Fun fact most people don’t know about you
I married my high school sweetheart. We met in math class (9th grade at Boston Latin Academy) but really hit it off in Chemistry Class (see what I did there?). I also got pretty terrible grades in Chemistry class and I am certain that he is to blame. We then got married 7 years later on a beach in Aruba, small ceremony with just our immediate family. tbh-I’m surprised that he isn’t sick and tired of me yet since we are such polar opposites!
What do you enjoy most about the CrossFit community?
No one will understand the pain cave of doing a brutal WOD more like your fellow CrossFit pals. Having someone by your side, cheering you on, screaming your name, when you feel like you can’t push yourself any further is like nothing else I’ve experienced before. Name one other sport where you see the last person in a workout getting the most cheers and biggest applause. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Experience/Qualifications
–CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
-Crossfit Speciality Course: Rowing/Erg Course Certification
-Mad Dogg Athletics’s Spinning® Certification
-Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR/AED Certified
-Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
-State of Massachusetts, Registered Nurse
Hobbies
-Being outdoors in the sunshine, preferably with my dog, Remy and husband David
-Drinking on Patios; I’ll take a glass of white wine please or a spicy Margarita!
-Spinning; I teach a few classes here and there at Commonwealth Sports Club
-Concerts/Comedy Shows; Take me to a SNL viewing please!
-Cruising; Boston to Bermuda with Norwegian Cruise line is so fun!
-Eating pizza; and yes, I take my pizza with pineapple. THERE, I said it.
Warm-up
Run 400m
Then 2 Rounds
:30 on/:10 Off
-Fast Hands On & Off Plate
-Plate Ground to Overhead
-Overhead Lunges
Hero WOD (35 min Hard Cap)
“White”
5 Rounds For Time
3 Rope Climbs (15 ft)
10 Toes-to-Bars
21 Overhead Walking Lunges (45/35 lb plate)
400 meter Run
Level 2- 1 Rope Climb, 2 10 ft climbs
Level 1- 4 Rounds, 3 pull to stands, (15,10)
ADV – Short Rope
ADV+ – Legless 3/2
Extra Work
15-12-9
Bar Muup*
90’ HSwalk**
*Scale the #, use bands or sub C2b
**scale t0 50’, 25’ or 20 shoulder taps.