May Member Achievements at CrossFit Durst

Every month at CrossFit Durst, we celebrate the wins that happen both inside and outside the gym. From first pull-ups and handstands to running milestones, consistency streaks, and class attendance achievements, our members continue to prove that showing up and doing the work pays off.

May was packed with personal records, fitness breakthroughs, and community milestones. We saw members achieve their first pull-ups, improve their running endurance, master new gymnastics skills, hit major class attendance milestones, and prepare for events like HYROX Toronto.

Whether you’re a beginner just getting started or a long-time member chasing new goals, these stories show what consistent coaching, community support, and hard work can accomplish.

Strength & Skill Achievements

One of the biggest themes this month was gymnastics and upper-body strength development.

Ryan DeCaire achieved an impressive 80-pound weighted pull-up, while Coach Lisa also celebrated progress with weighted pull-ups. Carrie Gleason earned her first banded pull-up, and Pete Ashe achieved toes-to-bar.

Handstand skills were another highlight. Sukhpreet Singh worked on handstand walks, while Sarah Pereira and Mark Stouffer continued progressing through handstand development. Coach Heather and Coach Kirsten celebrated improvements in handstand walking as well.

Running & Endurance Progress

Several members made huge strides in their cardiovascular fitness and endurance.

Theresa Krempa ran for 20 minutes continuously, Joanne Cooper hits Run Club weekly and ran two miles without stopping, and Sonia Jassal continued making major improvements in her running. Rita Tran also saw significant gains in her running speed.

These milestones are a reminder that fitness isn’t just about lifting weights—it’s about becoming stronger, faster, and more capable in everyday life.

Consistency Wins

The greatest predictor of success isn’t talent—it’s consistency.

Tivona Thomas continued showing up at 6 AM, Ahmed Ayoub built momentum toward earning a spot in the Committed Club, Sophie Allard & Sukhpreet Singh achieved Committed Club status for the first time, and Remi Blais attended more classes than anyone else in May.

Getting back into a routine deserves recognition too. Jamie Minns returned to classes, Patrick Hill came back to the gym, and Kateryna Baranovska restarted training after a short break.

Community & Competition

The CrossFit Durst community continues to challenge itself outside of regular classes.

Sarah Aumell completed her first HYROX event in Ottawa, while Clint, Andrew, Rachelle, Jen D, Jacqui, Katie, Mindy, Rebecca and Ellen T signed up for HYROX Toronto.

Body Composition & Nutrition Success

While PRs and new skills are exciting, some of the biggest wins happen behind the scenes through consistent habits, nutrition, and showing up day after day.

This month, Tivona Thomas and Sarah Baxter both reached an incredible milestone, each losing more than 20 pounds of body fat through a combination of training, nutrition, and consistency.

Not far behind, Nicole De Almeida celebrated losing nearly 15 pounds of body fat, proving that sustainable progress comes from sticking with the process over time.

These results didn’t come from quick fixes or shortcuts. They came from building better habits, staying committed, and trusting the process—even when progress wasn’t always visible day to day.

At CrossFit Durst, we’re proud to celebrate these transformations because they represent improved health, increased confidence, and the power of consistency.

Class Milestones

A special congratulations goes out to members who reached major attendance milestones:

• Brandon Brown– 100 Classes
• Ellen Tansony – 100 Classes
• Shawn Collett – 100 Classes
• Mark Stouffer – 100 Classes
• Clint Langer – 250 Classes
• Saloni Gautam – 250 Classes
• Denise Jolicoeur – 250 Classes
• Zori Dimitrova – 750 Classes
• Coach Heather – 1,000 Classes
• Dave Vellenga – 1,000 Classes

Why We Celebrate These Wins

At CrossFit Durst, we believe fitness is about more than workouts. It’s about learning to do hard things, building confidence, improving health, and becoming part of a supportive community.

Every pull-up, every mile run, every early-morning class, and every attendance milestone represents someone investing in themselves.

Congratulations to everyone who made progress in May. We can’t wait to see what June brings.

Written by Jacqui Veino
Owner, CrossFit Durst
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach (Pn1)