The Garage Games
Training out of Crossfit Spartanburg, Marty Raines has proven she is seriously fit. A nurse practitioner and mother of three, she has been crowned champion of The Garage Games South East Series. Besting some tough competition in the process, including 5th place South East Regional finisher Jessa Lemoine in the process.
Growing up in Romeo, Michigan, Marty is no stranger to sport. “I played volleyball in highschool, ran Cross Country in college, and wasn’t really that good! After that, I wasted many hours of my life doing triathlons and marathons, and usually placed in my age group… That was until I found Crossfit!” Her husband starting working out at the newly opened Crossfit Spartanburg in the Spring of 2009; she joined him in August, four weeks after the birth of their third child. “I remember my max deadlift was initially 140lbs,” she says with a laugh. That would change in short order.
Humble beginnings turned into something great.
Prior to The Open, Marty had competed in a few Garage Games events since she started Crossfit. This experience would prove to aid her as she sailed to a 18th place finish in The Open, outperforming Games competitor Shana Alverson, and qualifying for the “Dirty South” Regional. Between raising her children and working five days a week, her time in the gym was limited; Marty did not think she had a shot at qualifying for The Finals, but she and her husband thought it would be a shame to miss such an experience.
Marty’s performance at Regionals fell short of her expectations, to the extent that she considered dropping out after the first day. Thinking of her children, and the example she would set for them if she quit, she pressed on to day two. She ended the day with her best performance of the weekend, a ninth place finish on the infamous Hundreds WOD; she finished 23rd overall.
“I remember at one point passing by another athlete between workouts, she was carrying a gallon of water and I was carrying my two year old. I think I spent more time at the bounce house with my children than warming up! All that being said, it really put things in perspective for me. I am grateful for the gifts that God has given me, [but] I’m not exactly sure why.”
While Marty doesn’t know what God has in store for her, or why 2011 happened the way it did, she is firmly planted in her beliefs and knows exactly what she values. “I plan to always keep my priorities in order – God, then family, then Crossfit.”
After Regionals Marty returned to her usual training regimen, concocted by her husband, who has an intimate knowledge of the Olympic lifts. “I pretty much followed the programming at our gym; I added workouts (strength or running) usually four times a week.” She turned her focus back to The Garage Games as well, albeit without the intention of winning. “Going into… the first Garage Games event, I didn’t have any expectations, it wasn’t until after the third or fourth event that I actually even thought I had a chance of winning.” Slowly, she realized that the top of the podium was hers for the taking, and claiming it was simply a matter of time. Over the course of the year, Marty competed in nine events, accumulated three wins, and had only one finish below fourth place.
Raines won 3 out of the 7 scored events in The Series
Marty is a prime example that motherhood and fitness can coexist. Her future in Crossfit is bright, but uncertain. This year she will not return to defend her title, for her family must take priority. ”Well, happily, we are pregnant with our fourth child, and I am due in early July. So, I am still working out daily, though I have to scale some of the weights and movements. That’s been tough for me! Being pregnant, my plans are a little different, but [like Mr. Miyagi said], ’…don’t forget to breath, very important!’ It’s not about me this year.”
With uncommon clarity, and the sacrificial mindset of a mother, Marty Raines embarks on another year of CrossFitting. This time her goals are different and the workouts are designed to work around her growing belly, but she will attack it with the same intense focus and fierce dedication that made her a champion.