-Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself or something that would surprise us.
Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world. I took a midnight train goin’ to Houuuu-ooooh-ston….about 13 years ago. I’m a product of Podunkville, USA, (a.k.a. Butler, MO), a lot of long years in school studying science, and two buckets full of sarcasm with a healthy dose of bad movie quotes and 80’s song lyrics sprinkled in for extra flair. The picture below pretty much sums me up.
I traded my maiden name for my hubby’s in 2006, when he realized he might as well marry me after making the fated decision 6 years before to let me hop into his truck after a chance meeting in a yahoo chat room (not dating myself at all here) one late night in college. Had we not met, perhaps I’d still be single and be Dr. Wright (a name that instills a lot of certainty and confidence) and not Dr. Gamble (50/50 shot)-guess that’s how you know it's love! Fast forward almost 10 years, and my favorite little man on earth came into existence. Mason is the perfect mix of Jamie and me, and appears to have inherited both mom and dad’s strong personality traits. We’re accepting prayers, well wishes, and alcohol on the front doorstep.
When I’m not at the gym or doing endless loads of laundry, I’m the biosafety officer and the director of safety at Baylor College of Medicine. In a nutshell, I review all the research that goes on at my workplace and make sure all the “nasties” (bacteria, viruses, and toxins) used stay in the lab and don’t make any unexpected debuts around town. I frequently wear the full body Tyvek suits and respirators just like they do in the movies, except I don’t infect myself and die 45 minutes into the plot. Regardless of how fit you are, your entire body will always look extra juicy in that snazzy high containment ensemble.
One thing that may surprise some of you to know is that I was once was the furthest thing from being “girly,” so much so that my mom was beyond elated when I started cheerleading and actually wore skirts in high school.
-How and when were you introduced to Behemoth?
I had the happy accident of stumbling across Behemoth in May 2017. I’d recently lost more weight than I’m ever willing to claim I was carrying around, realized I was on the road to being an Orange Theory burnout, knew I didn’t know how to put together a workout plan for the regular gym, and that I needed something to fit into my life and not the other way around. Google to the rescue! Within days I met with Leah and I knew I’d found my fitness glass slipper!
-What are you most proud of, physically, mentally or both since beginning with us?
One’s mind is a beautiful and sometimes destructive thing. Last year I was in a 5 car pile-up and lost feeling in my left arm for months. One Wednesday I was in Oly class doing snatches and loving life, and the next in physical therapy struggling with a 1lb weight in my left hand. It was a daily struggle to not give up. The coaches kept me moving. They focused on what I COULD do, not what I COULDN’T do. So I’m proud that I was mentally able to come through it all, with a lot of support (Behemoth coaches, the Behemoth community, and family) and patience with myself.
-What has been your biggest, yet most rewarding obstacle to overcome, whether in the gym or on your health journey to date?
One of my biggest obstacles has been learning to accept and be happy with where I am right now and not where someone else is or where I think I should be. I’ve learned to listen to my body more intuitively and know when I should “suck it up buttercup,” and when to have grace with myself. Comparison is the thief of joy. I realized comparing myself to others only removed the focus from what I should be excited about within myself. When you know better, you do better.
-Why Behemoth?
I could compose haikus or bust out in interpretative dance as an ode to a star-studded cast of experienced, knowledgeable, super awesomesauce coaching staff, but Behemoth is even more than that. Behemoth is a family, and there’s always an open seat at the table.
Sing along now! (Cheers)
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
-What next? What are you excited about pursuing here in the future?
I have high hopes of someday doing a pull-up….just one…and I can die a happy woman.
“3, 2, 1…Go” Mad Lib section
-My favorite lift (movement) is…
It’s a tie between a clean and split jerk and the snatch. What can I say, I’m an oly girl at heart.
-My most frequent class I come to is…
Evenings….work and life make it hard to pick just one time slot. On occasion I’ll randomly show up to an early morning class and freak people out.
-I have always wanted to…
Travel the world and speak several languages.
-When I’m not crushing weights, my favorite thing to do is…
It’s a toss-up depending on the day between: finding new and creative ways to annoy my sweet hubby, any family activity as long as we’re together and it doesn’t involve me doing/folding/putting away laundry, baking with my favorite “helper,” Mason, or hitting the gun range.
-If I could make ANY of the Behemoth coaches do 100 burpees it would be...
Hmm…probably Jonathan, and only because he has the “you best be quiet and listen and stop making jokes Miss Rachel” death stare look when I’m in his class. I’ll split them 50/50 with him and talk the whole time.
-Favorite “application of fitness” outside of the gym is…
Being able to wryly grin when someone gives me the “does the little lady need help” look, right before I pick up something that’s “too heavy” and move it myself.
-Favorite band/genre/Pandora station to workout to is…
I’m an equal opportunity Pandora station lover; however, loud and hard gets the job done.
-Beast mode engaged when this song comes on…
Disturbed-Stricken,but pretty much anything Tool, Behemoth, Disturbed, Korn, or System of a Down will do the trick.
