DANI SPEEGLE – NEW INOV8 TRAINING ATHLETE’S TOP 10 TIPS FOR THE OPEN

INOV8 Training is proud to announce the signing of new training athlete and inspirational CrossFitter, Dani Speegle. Dani, who hails from Melbourne, Florida USA, has had a meteoric rise since she first stepped foot in a CrossFit gym, less than four years ago. We caught up with Dani for a quick chat before she embarked on the 2019 CrossFit Open and asked her to tell us a little bit about herself, why she chose INOV8 and what her Top 10 Tips are for the Open.

[Note: At the time of writing this, Dani is currently in first place in the USA and third in the world, in the 2019 CrossFit Open – Go Dani!! View the Leaderboard here]

YOU HAVE EXCELLED AT MULTIPLE SPORTS IN THE PAST (AND STILL DO!) – WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE CROSSFIT?

I had several friends ask me over and over again to try it. The first thing I ever saw of CrossFit was the CrossFit Games workout Triple 3-and I said ‘I will never do that’ (which later I would have to do at the 2018 Atlantic regionals) – go figure. Then I watched the workout called ‘The Burden run’ and I was like – ‘they have to run how long? And then flip something how heavy? And then carry what?’ – I immediately thought that these people are crazy, but I love it and I gotta get involved. The next day I walked into my first CrossFit Class at CrossFit Own It in Melbourne, FL, and I never looked back.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD I GIVE TO NEW PEOPLE STARTING OUT AND LOOKING TO COMPETE?

Enjoy the journey. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the end goal and keep looking ahead to the day you’ll step out on to the competition floor; but enjoy each day, enjoy each PR, enjoy the process. One day you’ll look back and you won’t believe where you started and it’ll happen in the blink of an eye. Capture each training day and be proud of each step you take towards your goal – it’ll make the end goal so much sweeter.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WORKOUT?

I would have to say it’s either DT or Diane if we’re talking old school CrossFit workouts. However, recently I’ve done some really fun workouts at competitions that include handstand walks, snatches, bar muscle ups, etc. I just love CrossFit.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

To keep competing as much as possible! The CrossFit Games absolutely; I’ll want to compete as many times as I can out on that competition floor.

AS A TOP UP-AND-COMING ATHLETE YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF BRANDS KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE INOV-8?

I love the versatility of the shoes. No matter which ones I’m wearing – I feel comfortable hitting a workout, going for a run, climbing a rope etc. They have a shoe for EVERYTHING. I love shoes in general and I love that I can have my running workout shoes, my box jump WOD shoes, my rope climb shoes, and so on and so on. I also find that a lot of time with running shoes there isn’t enough ankle support to actually hit a WOD as well, but the INOV8 runners give me enough support to do both.

WHICH INOV8 SHOE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

My favourite shoe to train in is the F-LITE G 290 and the F-LITE 260 KNIT

DANI SPEEGLE’S TOP 10 TIPS FOR THE CROSSFIT OPEN

1.  Don’t freak out. It’s just another day in the gym; doing another workout.

2. Don’t change anything in your normal routine just because you’re doing an open workout. Don’t change your diet, your warm up routine, your day. Just walk into the gym like it’s any other day because IT IS.

3. Know if you plan on doing the workout once or twice and set up time to do just that.

4. Have a support system. The open is all about the community within a gym and it brings people together and it’s a time of year where incredible things happen. Let your fellow members cheer you on, workout with you-let the magic happen.

5. Smile before you start each workout. Remember that you love what you’re doing and no matter the outcome of the workout you’re doing this for YOU.

6. Don’t be too hard on yourself. The open makes amazing things happen but it always seems to also bring about a lot of doubt. Keep in mind that there are 5 workouts, and not every workout is going to go your way. And that’s ok.

7. Have a plan B. You go into workout saying “ok I’m going to do this unbroken, and then I’m going to do this, this, and this” and then all of a sudden you’re in the workout and it’s not going according to plan so you start freaking out and getting into your own head, and mentally giving up. Don’t do that. Have a back up plan, and another one and realise that you might have to jump ship on your original plan.

8. Don’t leaderboard your life away.

9. EAT. Fuel your body for the workout, and help it recover after!

10. SLEEP!