Name
Brie Darragh
Occupation
Senior Demand & Design Analyst. I build operating models for investment products at abrdn, a Scottish-based investment management firm.
When did you start at Kanna?
I started mid-October 2020. I reached out to Chris and when I walked in to meet him and see the space, it felt like home.
What are your favorite numbers and why?
11/4 (my birthday!), 66 (my favorite hockey player)
What movements do you like?
Med ball slams – great for stress management, deadlifts, and mostly anything that involves a barbell.
What movements do you dislike?
Wall balls. I despise wall balls. And any movements with high reps, as everyone has witnessed my nonexistent counting abilities.
What sports or fitness things did you do before Kanna?
I threw shotput in college, which is where I fell in love with lifting. I’ve run multiple half marathons and also did cardio kickboxing for two years prior to starting at Kanna. My company used to sponsor the Dad Vail regatta and we had a corporate rowing team, and I was stroke seat for one of the boats. I grew up with mostly all boys (including my older brother) in my neighborhood and after years of street hockey with them there’s very little athletically I won’t try at least once.
How did you find Kanna? What was your first workout?
I found Kanna through Chrissy Loftus, although it took me two years to join after she told me about it. My first WOD was “3D Printer” which according to my SugarWOD export was rounds of floor press, box pushups, and a calorie row. I was barely functional after base camp, so I’m sure it felt great!
What’s your favorite thing about Kanna?
The Kanna community is absolutely the best – they have been so helpful and supportive to both me and my family this year. From a workout perspective, my favorite thing is there’s always something to get better at or see improvement with, so even if one aspect of your training isn’t progressing as you’d want, there is always another skill to work on.
What are your hobbies?
Cooking – I have Celiac disease and the day I was able to make gluten free soft pretzels was a big win. I make Sunday dinner for my parents almost every week and coordinate/cook Thanksgiving dinner (there is a powerpoint presentation involved every year.) I worked in a retirement home kitchen as a teenager and it really provided a great base on cooking and preparing food.
Golf – I started playing a few years ago so that my dad and I could spend more time together, and it seems to have taken on a life of its own.
Gardening – growing vegetables in both a plot at my parents and containers on my patio. I love the rototiller. This year I also planted blueberry bushes. I got 5 blueberries!
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
My mini claim to fame is that I babysat Odell Beckham Jr when he was a kid. And my first name is actually Brianne, not Brie.
What PRs or accomplishments (fitness-related) are you most proud of?
Box jumps – huge mental barrier for me that many coaches and members have worked hard to get me through (and I have the bruises to prove it!). And running the full distance for my level in the running workouts. It took a while to build up to those distances in the time domain.
What’s on your fitness bucket list?
My chalkboard at home reads “what do you want Murph 2022 to look like?” to remind me of that goal – to get much closer to a full Murph with a weight vest, and make the decisions supporting that goal.
What’s on your general bucket list?
Visit South Africa and buy my dad a sportscar. He’s a great dad and sacrificed a lot for us growing up, and it’s the one thing he’s always wanted.
What advice do you have for people new to Kanna?
Judge your progress by exactly that – your progress. If you’re moving from white to yellow or yellow to orange, or starting to incorporate blue levels, that is progress. It doesn’t matter where every other athlete is, and that’s part of what I love about Kanna. Progress is the goal. You might not be the best but you can always be your best.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
For someone who came into Kanna at the tail end of a very challenging period of my life personally and professionally, the change in one year has been incredible. That’s a true testament to the culture of this community and the people in it. Thanks everyone!
***Kanna members: Brie’s custom workout will be November 13th***
How does one become Member of the Month? By embodying the Kanna values of Learning, Working Hard, and Having Fun. By contributing to the community and supporting others in and out of the workout. By being open to coaching and improving oneself for the sake of being better, not to “win” the workout. By just generally being a good person and having a positive attitude. And a lot more, but you get the idea!