When we reflect on Townley’s journey at The Rock several words come to mind but “Resilient” seems to be the one that continues to come up. I can personally say we challenge Townley daily…whether it’s a goal in a workout, to join for a run, to eat more vegetables, to read more books, etc. It never stops…but she always seems to rise to the challenge. I’d say Lauren and I probably throw more at her than most her age but we know what she is capable of and she has not disappointed. I can remember Townley coming in with Zap those first few weeks and learning the difference between being uncomfortable and “I can’t do it.” I hope that I can speak for her when I say her fitness and lifestyle will never be the same. Not only has weight melted away but she is legit strong and will row you under the table. While she may be a bit boujee, she understands what it takes to work hard. And whatever she is asked-she never says No. Stay resilient Townley…do the toes to bar, run the hill with the stroller and keep working…its paying off.
-Nate
Name: Townley Neal
Age: 23 years old
Joined Rocktown CrossFit: 2016
Where are you from or where do you live around here?
I am from Richmond, VA and now reside in “the cave” aka Nate and Lauren’s basement.
Tell us a little about yourself
I graduated from JMU in 2019 with a degree in Health Sciences. In the last year, I have been a nanny for the Black’s and worked as a patient care tech at RMH. I just started nursing school at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing that is based in Richmond.
What got you started at Rocktown CrossFit?
My roommate, Nicole/”Zap”, was doing the open and I came to watch her. All she ever talked about was Crossfit and I thought she was crazy, but after seeing how badass she was during the open I finally gave in.
When or what was your "CrossFit Moment" - the moment that you really felt pushed or felt like you really accomplished something?
Oh man there are SO many times that I’ve felt pushed, isn’t that the beauty of CrossFit? #humblepie A workout that comes to mind was a Chad workout that had 20-1 Air Squats and 1-20 Burpees to a target. It involved some tears and a lot of death glares to LB.
What are your goals for CrossFit? Why do you do CrossFit?
I do CrossFit because it keeps me healthy and challenged. I like to tell myself I am not competitive, but this really fills that gap in my heart from playing volleyball in high school.
What do you think is special about Rocktown CrossFit?
In my previous spotlight post as a JMU grad, I wrote about how much the people mean to me and this still holds true. The main reason I stuck around in the ‘burg is because of the Rock and the friends it has brought into my life. Another thing that I would like to add is the programming and hard work that is put into running this gym. Since I live with Nate and Lauren, I get to see a lot of behind the scenes work they do to make everything run smoothly and they do a dang good job!
What are your favorite movements to do in a workout? What are your least favorite?
Favorite: Rowing, Snatches, and really any heavy barbell
Least Favorite: Running and anything on the Rig
Free write - whatever you feel like you want to share.
Since I can do nursing school remotely, I will be sticking around in Harrisonburg longer than expected! I just can’t stay away!