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Name and age: Marnie Schroer, 47

Occupation: I work for Morgan Stanley.

Tell us about your fitness journey.

I used to think that you either had athletic ability or you didn’t — and I didn’t.  I’m the person in gym class who got sent to the far, far, far outfield and still missed the one ball that was hit my way.  For ages, I stuck to solo workouts so no one else would see how uncoordinated I was. Then two years ago I took a Learn to Row class with Spokane River Rowing Association and got hooked. I’m still not a natural athlete (really — my group sunk our boat on the last day of class), but having a great coach and supportive club members makes me want to work at it.  

Falling in love with rowing motivated me to get stronger and fitter in general.  I hadn’t realized how weak my upper body was until the first time I went to pick up my end of a boat and couldn’t do it.  What a wake-up call!  That brought me to Farmgirlfit.

If you could tell your Farmgirlfit story in 100 words or less, how would it read?

Before I had any idea what it was, I kept seeing Farmgirlfit postings in my Facebook feed. Several of my friends were members, so when one posted about the New Year’s special, I asked her to sponsor me. (Thanks, Betsy!)  I love the attitude and the approach.  There are days where I walk in, look at a Grind full of weight-lifting, and still feel like the kid in the outfield; but I’ve never left feeling bad.  The workout is always worth it and that keeps me coming back.

What has been your greatest fitness (performance) accomplishment so far? Do you have a performance goal?

I climbed to the top of a rope for the first time since junior high! (Nice view from up there.)

My goal is to be able to do 10 regular (not knee) pushups in a row. I started the year not able to do any and now I’m up to 2. I’m going to have to up my pace to get to 10 by year’s end but it will happen.

How has FGF helped you become healthier / When it comes to your health, what goals do you have.

Farmgirlfit has had a huge impact on my workouts. My schedule is hectic and I sometimes miss class but I incorporate what I’ve learned at FGF wherever I am and push myself much harder than I used to. My friends and I will call each other out over Facebook and I even challenged my brothers to a planking contest on the dock during our family vacation!

I’m at a point in life where my body is changing. Fast!  It’s so much easier to get off track and so much harder to bounce back. I want to be strong and healthy.  In fact, I want to be stronger and healthier than I was when I was 20.  

My favorite exercise at FGF is:

I love kettle bell swings—they’re straightforward, good for strength and cardio, and I’ve already upped the weight I use.  I also like ring rows because I know they’re my stepping stone to pull-ups. (Next year’s goal!)

My least favorite exercise at FGF is:

Anything involving a barbell. Weight-lifting exercises highlight a number of my “areas for improvement” all at once: form, flexibility, strength.  It took me a while to stop comparing myself to other members lifting heavier weights and just focus on myself. If that means a 15-pound bar with no weights, so be it.

My favorite thing about Farmgirlfit is:

The most obvious answer is the people—trainers and members!  Awesome, awesome, awesome. The less obvious answer involves social media. I like seeing FGF come up in my Twitter and Facebook feeds — especially all the great photos. It’s fun to post about your own efforts during a monthly challenge and then see what someone else is doing.

How have you integrated the Farmgirlfit mission outside the gym?

As anyone who knows me online will tell you, I talk about FGF. A lot. The more engaged I feel, the more likely I am to stick with something. I even did a humorous speech about Farmgirlfit at my Toastmasters club!

When you’re not pumping iron at FGF, what does the rest of your life look like?

My wife and I got married last year just in time to celebrate 20 years as a couple. The wedding highlighted the importance of family and community in our lives and I feel like it kicked off a year of celebrations: a friend’s adult bat mitzvah, my 30th college reunion, both our parents’ 50th anniversaries…we are on the go!

In addition, I have a terrific and fulfilling job and am involved with a number of local organizations including serving as a board member for The Spokane Public Library Foundation and the Salem Arms Community Housing Association, and being an active member of the Spokane River Rowing Association, Junior League of Spokane, and Spokane Falls Toastmasters.

And, on the rare occasion when none of the above is happening, I watch reruns of American Ninja Warrior. I’m obsessed!

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