Meet Coach Nicole
Mel McCamley • August 14, 2025
Meet Coach Nicole Sarao A New Addition to the 12 Labours Family
We’re excited to welcome Coach Nicole Sarao to the 12 Labours team in Annapolis! Starting today, she’s officially stepping into the coaching role and bringing her energy, expertise, and passion for fitness to our community.
About Coach Nicole
Originally from Sandyston, NJ, Nicole is a CF L1 Trainer and former D1 Track & Field athlete. She’s also a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, currently stationed in Annapolis, MD, where she teaches at the Naval Academy.
Nicole joined 12 Labours as a member in January 2025, and after months of dedication, she’s now coaching. Her journey into coaching is driven by a deep passion for helping people unlock their full potential.
Why She Coaches
For Nicole, coaching is all about empowering athletes. “I love helping people reach goals they didn’t think were possible,” she says. Whether it’s a small cue or a big breakthrough, Nicole believes in the power of guidance and encouragement to help people grow.
Favorite Movements & WOD
Nicole’s favorite movements are Front Squats and Double Unders—two powerful moves that challenge both strength and coordination. Her favorite WOD? Annie, a fast-paced workout that never fails to push her limits.
Memorable 12 Labours Moment
Nicole’s most memorable experience at 12 Labours was completing Murph in 2025 for the first time. “The community support made it unforgettable,” she recalls, describing how athletes cheered each other on during the tough workout.
Outside the Gym
Outside of coaching, Nicole loves hiking, photography, and baking. She’s also a huge fan of Mamma Mia, a movie she can watch over and over again.
We’re thrilled to have Coach Nicole on board and can’t wait for all of you to experience her coaching. Join us in giving her a warm welcome as she kicks off this exciting new chapter at 12 Labours! 💥
Welcome, Coach Nicole!
MORE RECENT POSTS
With every event we get stronger — physically and mentally. Our experiences and lessons learned shape all facets of our team, training, and coaching. This weekend’s regional event did not disappoint. As a coach, I learned how to be a better advocate for our athletes. As a team, we learned that big meets (500 lifters!) bring a whole new level of energy and challenges we hadn’t quite experienced before. The team also showed up on the platform and put PRs and strong totals on the board. Mallory faced a potentially derailing miss on her bench, but she fought back and nailed her third (a fourth attempt), finally hitting the long-chased platform PR — 67.5kg, a 5kg PR! Squat: 105kg / 232lb Bench: 67.5kg / 149lb Deadlift: 125kg / 276lb Total: 297.5kg Alanna started her day with a PR squat opener and never looked back, capping it off with a monstrous 140kg deadlift — a 7.5kg PR! Squat: 110kg / 243lb Bench: 70kg / 154lb Deadlift: 140kg / 309lb Total: 320kg — Qualifying her for 2026 Nationals and taking 1st in her division. Lulu had a fantastic day on her comeback, building back to pre-op numbers and pulling an impressive 370kg total. Squat: 132.5kg / 292lb Bench: 67.5kg / 149lb Deadlift: 170kg / 375lb Total: 370kg — Qualifying her for 2026 Nationals and earning 1st in her division. Way to go team! Now it’s time for some well-earned rest before Women of Power in November and everything 2026 has in store for us.
Congrats to Rishey Macker for receiving August Athlete of the Month! Rishey started at 12 Labours in 2023 after turning 40 and deciding to live a healthier life. Close friends inspired Rishey to try something new. Even after being extremely sore and wanting to quit he stuck with it and began to see results and improve as the months passed. Rishey attends the 6:30pm class and enjoys burpees and shuttle runs. He recently was able to complete a workout with 2 miles of running and his main goal is to be healthy and pain free. In his free time he is a Chief Electrical Engineer, enjoys hiking, sports and spending time with his family and friends "Give it a shot and stick with it, it doesn't matter what your fitness level is. I always thought you already had to be in great shape to even start CrossFit, but that is not the case." Congrats Rishey!
Join us for a special seminar with Tierra Duncan — CF-L3, long-time 12 Labours CrossFit coach, and upcoming author of The Birth Control Illusion: Reclaiming Hormones, Health, and Your Cycle (early 2026). In this 60-minute talk, Tierra will break down how hormones, training stress, and fueling directly impact women’s performance and recovery. You’ll learn: Why your menstrual cycle is a vital performance signal How stress and recovery shape strength and longevity The fueling strategies and key nutrients every female athlete needs What to know about birth control and its impact on training This seminar will help you connect the dots between your hormones and your training so you can make informed choices that support both performance and long-term health. Info: Date: October 25, 2025 Location: 12 Labours CrossFit Columbia Time: 10:30-11:30 Price: $25 / members $35 / non-members To sign up email chelsea@the12labours.com
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