Bridget H. | October’s EPIC Golden Kettlebell Club

EPIC Golden Kettlebell Club Member Name

Bridget H.

How long have you been an EPIC Member?

February 2013

What is your favorite EPIC Class?

The Grynd

EPIC Fun Fact

Hmmmm well, my iPod is mostly full of 90’s music, I have an extreme weakness for all baked goods, my favorite meal after a race is a big fat juicy cheeseburger, my DVR is always above 80% full because I’m a TV junkie, I travel at least once a month out of state and I have a cat named Crazy.

Give us a quick background on yourself.

I grew up in South Florida as the youngest of 7, was always over weight, and was never athletic in my life. Sure, I was a tom boy so I flew remote control airplanes, and ran around the neighborhood playing football and scraping up my knees, but no one would ever think of me as athletic. I went to college for acting where I learned how to take a fall, and where they tried to teach me how to do a headstand. Tried being the important word there. I moved to NY in 1999, and other than walking more than I ever thought humanly possible, and a random gym stint here or there to attempt to loose weight, my active life was non existent. In 2004 I was in a car accident that messed up my back pretty bad, and stopped me from being able to lift anything anymore…..or so I thought.

In late 2012 I decided to change my life and to have a healthier and more active lifestyle. I found EPIC through a Groupon deal, and I haven’t looked back since. My life is totally different now, and my back is stronger than ever. People actually consider me athletic because of the muscles I’ve built and the races I finish. It’s amazing to me what a difference a couple of years, some amazing coaches, and a new outlook on life will do for a girl.

Have you done any OCRs? If so, which?

In 2014 my very first OCR was a 5K Foam Fest in Tuxedo. I followed that race with my very first Spartan Sprint in Tuxedo, which somehow I finished. Then I did a Warrior Dash in NJ, followed by a few other local OCR fun races through out 2014. This year I have done a few of the fun OCR races, but I’ve also done the Beast in NJ, the Super in PA, Citifield Sprint, Tuxedo Sprint, the Super in NJ, and in Oct I will do the Beast in Dallas which will earn me my double Trifecta. Now I’m even thinking of doing Fenway for fun. For FUN!!! I never thought I would think of a Spartan race as fun, and now I can’t get enough of them.

Toughest Obstacle

Monkey bars and rope climb

What has been your biggest accomplished since joining EPIC?

Being able to do anything I couldn’t do before EPIC is an accomplishment in my book, and I celebrate each accomplishment as they occur. When I first started at EPIC I could barely hang from a bar or hold myself up on the power wheel. The first time I traversed the monkey bars, or jumped onto the bigger box, or traversed the rings, or most recently did a handstand, I jumped up and down, with my fists pumping in the air. Anyone who has ever been in class with me when I’ve accomplished something new, knows I am not joking when i say I jump around celebrating. I will always celebrate each accomplishment because each one is something I never thought I would ever be able to do in my life.

I have also lost 50+ pounds since joining EPIC!

What's next on your list of goals that EPIC can help you achieve?

I want to climb that dang rope all the way to the top. I’m getting the hang of it, but I haven’t touched the bar yet. I also want to be able to traverse the ropes, do a run class without wanting to die, jump on even bigger boxes, do a muscle up on the bar, and become more confident in my handstands. I’m sure there will always be new goals for me as I accomplish others, but that’s just one more reason I love EPIC.

What would you tell other members of EPIC? What about those thinking of trying or not yet at EPIC?

For my fellow EPIC members – thank you. Thank you for the encouragement, the laughs, the strength you’ve all helped me achieve, and the support. All of you make my workouts so much better because I know we are all in it together.

For my coaches, and coach apprentices – a huge HUGE thank you. All of you push me to be better than I was the day before, and you make sure I don’t do something stupid and hurt myself.

For those thinking of trying EPIC, you should. You will be amazed what you are capable of. When I first started, I would take 1 class a week, and would then be sore until the next week. Now, twice a week I take 2 classes back to back as a minimum, and I can actually walk around like a normal not dying of soreness human being. I’ve said this before in an interview about EPIC, and I’ll always say it – It gets easier, but it’s never easy!

TAGS: Bridget Handler, EPIC Golden Kettlebell Club, EPIC Interval Training, Golden Kettlebell, Member of the month, spartan race