Coach Carolyn Joins the 12L Staff
February 4, 2025
Coach Carolyn
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Dynamic Stretch Specialist, NCSF-CPT (in progress)
Member Since: December/2024
Coaching Since: April/2023
Favorite Movement: Strict handstand pushups
Favorite WOD: Annie, fast and fun! (when doubles are doubling)
Favorite Workout Gear (i.e tape, belt, grips, wrist wraps, etc).
Knee sleeves! Game-changer for squatting, walking lunges suck less, and good protection for rope climbs.
Born and Raised: Born - Holland, the Netherlands. Raised - Columbia, Maryland
Favorite Food: Japanese hibachi or sushi
Favorite TV Show/Movie: The Vampire Diaries or Schitts Creek/The Hunger Games series
Hobbies: reading/journaling, exploring new coffee shops, brunch and brewery outings on a nice day out
Hidden Talent: I have been told that I am really good at writing/expressing thoughts with words.
Athletic Background: I tried almost every sport in high school. Field hockey was the only one that clicked, but I didn’t pursue it post high school. I participated in pick-up sports here and there, but nothing consistent before CrossFit.
Long Answer (2-3 sentences)
Favorite 12 Labours Memory: This past Resolution Games, Elena and I were dancing around 4th place leading up to the final event: Tortoise vs. Hair. (let’s just say I am a Tortoise) The pressure to “send it” for the podium spot had me shaking in my boots, but we had ironically landed 3rd in that event and 3rd overall. When the results came in, I screamed, jumped for joy, and immediately located Elena to share the great news with an extra-enthusiastic jumping hug.
Occupation: Marketing Specialist. I worked for a digital marketing agency for almost three years and have been freelancing and contracting since.
Interesting Fact: I told myself I would never move back to Maryland when I left the state to attend Virginia Tech for college. Returning home was the best decision I have ever made and greatest joyful surprise, in-part largely for the ever-evolving close relationships that I keep developing here.
Why do I coach? I coach CrossFit for greater access to the members and an ability to build close connections with athletes. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a movement “click” for someone. Supporting their growth with front row seats to all the action is a big privilege for me.
Miscellaneous - Add a custom question “What is one language you would choose to have automatically downloaded into your brain”
I am half-Turkish, and would love the opportunity to communicate with some family who live there. However, I have always dreamed of spending a few months in the Netherlands, where I was born. I would have to pick Dutch.
MORE RECENT POSTS
This past weekend, the energy was electric, and the barbells were flying high at the Cap City Open. We’re incredibly proud to congratulate our lifters—Alex, Carlin, Sally Mimi, and Katie—for their outstanding performances and hard-earned moments on the platform. Each athlete brought their own style and story to the platform, making this event not only a showcase of physical strength but also one of resilience, camaraderie, and competitive spirit. The Cap City Open wasn’t just about totals or podium finishes—it was about lifters pushing limits, supporting one another, and stepping out of their comfort zone. Alex, Carlin, Sally, Mimi, and Katie each left their mark on the meet, reminding everyone why we love weightlifting. Our weightlifters are back on the platform this week with a new training cycle. 12 Labours next meet will be Tough Temple July 12-13. If anyone is interested in joining us, please reach out to info@the12labours.com
We have gone over this in a newsletter before, but the topic of gymnastics grips is always a hot topic, especially around Murph time. So let us dive into this and explain the different types, the goals, and some tips on how to get better usage out of the gymnastics grip. Let us start by understanding that there are two different types of grips, hand protection, and grip enhancement. They both have their uses, but in my opinion the grip enhancement is far superior, especially for the type of stuff we are doing. Hand Protection grips are really more like gloves than anything else. They protect the palm of the hand, but offer nothing in terms of grip enhancement, and in most cases actually make it more difficult to hold onto the bar. The main goal of this post is to understand the difference, and make sure we are sizing/utilizing our grips to offer hand protection AND grip enhancement. There are a million different styles of grips out there, and we can't go over them all, but these principles will apply to any style of grip you choose. We will break this down into 3 parts, sizing/placement, utilizing the fold and/or friction, and hand position on the bar. Let's go. Sizing A proper gymnastics grip should be large, and at least extend to the last knuckle of the fingers.
2025 summer line will be pre-order only so make sure to get your orders in! You can check out more details and place your order at 12labours.bigcartel.com Orders are due by Friday May 9, 2025
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