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Athlete Spotlight – The Engine that Could
By Lindsey | January 21, 2011
Sometimes the spotlight is too narrow. Focusing only on the few elite athletes that display an ability most only dream of, time is spent analyzing these athletes with the 2 minute Fran times and the 500 lb dead lift. Often times we fail to recognize the athletes that work harder and make more monumental gains that many of our top athletes ever have. Today the spotlight is broadened to include one of the most inspirational women CCF has the privilege of including.
Eileen Gianinni Needham, is better known as “I-Train” to most of us, or as I’m now calling her; “The Engine that could”. She started with us under the impression she was doing boot-camp recommended by one of her friends. To her surprise, boot-camp was canceled and with luck, and perhaps apprehension, she joined CrossFit. I-Train and the rest of the intended boot-campers got their feet wet by attending an extended “foundations” class with Coach Holly and learned the foundational lifts before jumping into the classes.
Prior to one of the first workouts at CCF, which consisted of 5 rounds of Burpee/Pull-ups and running. She looked to Cindy and said, “Girl, I don’t run!”, and she didn’t.
But that was then…
Why I-Train rocks: A mother and wife she has been married to Mike for 23 years and has two grown children, Jessica and Jeffery. She works at Boston Financial Data Services in Canton and also at Lowes on the weekends. She works 7 days a week and when she “sleeps in” her alarm sounds at 5:40 am. She wakes up at 4:15 am on weekdays her smiling face can be seen regularly in the gym at 5am (even with a head cold).
She’s one of the hardest working, most dedicated athletes at CCF and her progress has been nothing short of amazing. Just last week I watched as she broke her personal record on a Clean & Jerk by 30 lbs, and now boasts a 145lb max Clean & Jerk!
Why we love I-Train: While her performance is incredible, it’s her even keeled – no nonsense- attitude that makes us love her. She is intimidated by nothing, and will give her best effort regardless of what challenge the workout brings. When I asked her if she looks forward to it or looks forward to the workout being over; she said “I just do what’s on the board”. Just like that, there are no excuses. No “this is going to suck”, or “I can’t’s” in her vocabulary.
I had the wonderful opportunity to get to know I-Train a little better. The following interview is only a small piece into the life of this amazing person.
Lindsey: If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
(It’s just a fun question)
I-Train: Aruba
Lindsey: When did you start CrossFitting?
I-Train: September of 2009
Lindsey: What was your biggest obstacle?
I-Train: Running, I hate running. I was the goalie on the field hockey team in high-school. The coach asked me if I would be on the team and I had said no because I saw all the girls running laps the whole practice. I told him I’d be on the team as long as I didn’t have to run, he agreed. So I was on the field hockey team all four years and never ran a lap.
Lindsey: What was your greatest fear?
I-Train: Running… and being last, “I hate losing”. I’m last all the time now though.
Lindsey: I’m sensing a pattern with the running, but you’re not last if you’re lifting more than everyone else is I-Train.
Lindsey: Where did “I-Train” come from?
I-Train: My names Eileen, so I was always called “I”, one of my softball buddies called me I-Train one day after saying that I was running at him like a train. It just stuck. It surprises me now though when people I don’t know call me “I-Train”.
Lindsey: It’s fitting, that’s why I’ve deemed you “the engine that could”.
Lindsey: What was your most memorable moment so far?
I-Train: Probably my first Pull-up. Everybody wants to be able to do Pull-ups.
Lindsey: What’s your favorite lift?
I-Train: Clean & Jerk
Lindsey: What’s your least favorite, lift or movement?
I-Train: Burpees
Lindsey: Do you have a favorite workout?
I-Train: Probably “Grace”, or “Randy”, I like the lifting.
Lindsey: What do your family/friends think of your accomplishments?
I-Train: My family thinks it’s great, my friends think I’m crazy. They think they could never do what I do. I just say,” it’s really not that heavy, it just looks really heavy with those giant black plates on either side [of the bar]”
Lindsey: Is there anything you still fear when it comes to working out?
I-Train: No, I just do what’s on the board…
Lindsey: You cleaned out your closet the other day, did you get rid of a lot, and was it difficult?
I-Train: I was keeping all the stuff I could fit into before I lost the weight (30lbs); I was keeping it for when I needed it again. I got rid of it all.
Lindsey: What is it about CrossFit that makes you come back every day?
I-Train: I come back every day because it doesn’t bore me. It is something different every day. Even though the movements repeat, it’s new each day. Also it’s the people. I like having others there offering support & encouragement when needed.
Lindsey: What is your motivation/inspiration to wake up at 4:15 every day? What makes you do it?
I-Train: I get up every day at 4:15 because I like the way I look and feel after it kicks my ass – and I know I could not really do it at the end of my day.
I-Train is a fantastic athlete and an even better teammate. There’s no negativity, just 100% effort and positive energy. While her performance seems to progress daily, it’s her energy and “can do” attitude that pushes her fellow athletes to new levels of achievement.
In any sport when we participate with a team that performs at a higher level we too become better. I-Train is “that team”.
Topics: Cynergy Central | 14 Comments »
January 21st, 2011 at 10:55 am
Go I-Train! Great athlete, amazing attitude, and all around Badass! There is no stopping you I-Train! Hey – since you love running, do you want to run the marathon with me
January 21st, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I!!!!! You are a true CCF hero! I remember your first week vividly…”Girl, I don’t run!”.
You are THE picture of what consistent CrossFit training does for a person. You really, truly give your all and I am inspired by you everyday.
Linds, great interview! Firebreathers do get the spotlight often, but it’s people like I-Train who are total BADASSES!
January 21st, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Nice Lindsey!
Keep up the good work I-Train!
January 21st, 2011 at 1:55 pm
I enjoy hearing and reading the “why’s” of doing CrossFit or training seriously in general. When performance improves, spirits soar, confidence evolves, and character develops. No doubt it takes someone special to committ day after day like I-Train and many others at CCF to the rigors this philosophy of training provides. From my experience came confidence and ultimately self-reliance in many aspects of life. What’s done in the gym is more important than we may sometimes realize.
January 21st, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Great interview! It is always fun to work along side I-train, you never know what will come out of her mouth! I see her every morning, but what sticks in my mind is the Xmass party, heals, makeup, no baggy clothes…CCF fits her well!! Thanks for joining the family.
January 21st, 2011 at 2:43 pm
I love I-Train!!
Great post! She’s an amazingly strong inspiring woman! So glad she’s in MY life! : )
January 21st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
One of the most inspirational people I have ever met!! You make 5:00 a.m. the best hour of the day. Just never know what is going to come out of you. Need to mention also that I-train plays softball spring, summer and fall until late at night and still shows up ready to take on the wod with a smile before most people even think of getting out of bed:)
Great post Lindsey!!
January 21st, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Fantastic write up about an awesome woman! Way to go I-Train…keep it up it looks great on you!
January 21st, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I-train is as good as they come. A true warrior in every sense of the word.
A coaches dream come true…a desire to BE there, to learn, be coached and to tackle every WOD like it were a mission.
I have seen her stay well into the next class….beat up and bloody, just to finish a WOD. To her, there is NO other option.
I love her fight, her enthusiasm, her love of life and her incredible energy. She truly makes teaching the 5 AM an event….even if she does only like to do 2 rounds of the warm up!
Thank you I-train for being a part of this family and for all you give back to this community.
Here’s to another incredible year of PR’s and accomplishments! I am proud to know you and to coach you!
Lindsey, thank you for doing such a wonderful job capturing this true powerhouse!
January 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Lindsey great job! I-Train your unbelievable!!!:)
January 21st, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Lindsey – THANK YOU! What a wonderful tribute and spotlight on a truly incredible athlete!! What you see is what you get and I love every bit of it! So glad to have you as a member of this tremendous family I-Train! XOXOXB
January 21st, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Wonderful interview of a wonderful person! I-train, you rock girl. Powerhouse with no quit. Keep it going! You motivate people around you and you don’t even know it.
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 am
I…I am Holly’s Mom Raye, and I have known hubby Mike for years from BFC Holly has told me how incredible you are!!!!! And that you are!!! What a motivator!! Keep it up!!! Congrats!!!
January 22nd, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@Denise – xmas party – just for the record – there was NO makeup! heels, yes (jessica’s)…. but no makeup. Ever. I am not really a girl, if you know what I mean! HA HA!!
@everyone else – thank you all for your kind words – it makes me feel good! :0)
and yes, I do only like to do 2 rounds of warmups – it wears me out!