If you haven’t met Janene & Anthony aka the Mayor and First Lady of Thrusterville, here is your opportunity.  The Ritchies have been a fixture of freedom with the Bomber Crew.  They are a fun-loving dynamic duo who constantly bring excitement and enthusiasm every day.  They have an infectious positive outlook, and continue to inspire those around them.

 

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience?

Both of us had been hearing about CrossFit for years before we took the leap.  We were long distance runners, and bought in the rumors that CrossFit would inevitably lead to injuries.  Once we decided to try it, we realized how wrong that nonsense is, and we were hooked by the constant variety and opportunity to get a little better each and every day.  Our first experience with CrossFit was Team RWB’s annual WOD with Warriors on Memorial Day 2015.

When did you first come to Bombers CrossFit?

We originally started at Bombers in the fall of 2015, but took about a year off to focus on becoming debt free.  We joined again in August of 2017, debt-free and with a 10-week-old baby!  The three of us (Anthony, Janene, and baby Blane) have been coming consistently ever since.

​​​​​​​How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take?

Ordinarily, we CrossFit 5 days a week, but since Janene is expecting another baby, she’s down to 2-3 times a week with the first trimester kicks her butt.  Anthony still goes 5 days a week.  Our 6am crew has become like family, and Freedom Friday is the highlight of our week.  There’s nothing quite like it when the Sheriff and Mayor of Thrusterville get together for Freedom Friday!

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to Bombers CrossFit?

The people! Everyone we’ve me is genuine, kind, and motivating, and the coaches really care about helping you learn how to move safely an efficiently.  We also love that Blane can come with us.  Even though he’s so young, we love that he’s part of the Bomber Crew too!

What’s you favorite thing about the Dayton area?

Bombers CrossFit! But aside from the gym, we love to be active outside, so we love all of the natural areas Dayton has to offer – especially John Bryan State Park and the 5 Rivers Metroparks.  We are PCSing to the Pacific Northwest in December, and we will miss Bombers the most, by far.

​​​​​​​What accomplishment are you the proudest of (inside and outside of the gym)?

We’re both proud that we became debt-free in 2017, paid cash fro our new van, and have enough money saved to be the adoption process soon.  Inside the gym, Anthony is proud of the relationships he’s built and the traction of Freedom Friday!  Janene is most proud of making CrossFit a priority during new motherhood – it’s been a crucial part of self-care while being a full-time mom and working from home.

After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?

If it’s a cheat meal, Beavercreek Pizza Dive!  If we’re trying to be good, bacon and eggs scrambled with lots of veggies!

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?

We love to be outside as a family, and we’re also big readers – Anthony prefers classic literature, and Janene prefers memoirs and non-fiction.  We’re also involved in the local chapter of Team RWB.

What is one goal within the gym that you’re working on?

Anthony’s goals are to show up every day, Monday – Friday, lose 10lbs of his so-called “Dad-Bod”, and is working on double under.  Janene hit almost all of her 2018 goals, including a 125lb clean, and 215lb deadlift before finding out she was pregnant in September.  Right now, her goal is to say as consistent as possible with CrossFit throughout her pregnancy.

What impact has CrossFit has on your life/lifestyle/level of fitness?

CrossFit has totally changed our lifestyle for the better.  Aside from the daily WODs, we’ve also changed our eating habits pretty significantly.  We were following a pretty strict paleo diet for a while, but we’ve eased up a little bit on that and focus more on making healthy choices while occasionally indulging.  We generally pay a lot more attention our own health and wellbeing since becoming CrossFitters – both physical and mental.  We’re grateful we discovered CrossFit when we did, so that we can set a good example for Blane and our future kiddo(s).

​​​​​​​What advice would you give to a newbie?

Humble yourself to the process, and stick with it!  Learning how to move with proper form from the very beginning is SO much more important than lifting heavy weight, so don’t be afraid to use a PVC pice or an empty bar for a while.  Scaling is your friend!  It’s easy to be tempted by an RX weight or movement, but remember the purpose of the workout and scale so that you can still meet the intended stimulus with intensity.  Don’t cherry-pick the WODs with your best movements – attacking your weaknesses will make you a better athlete and a better person.  Remember that not every day can or should be a gold star day … but be sure to celebrate when it is!  And above all – encourage each other, and HAVE FUN!