Kelly Beth "KB" Clawson

Questions & Answers

Tell us about you. How did you get into fitness and coaching? I started running in 2004. I received info on the Team in Training charity program and decided to sign up for a half marathon. Yes, my FIRST race EVER was a half-marathon. I don’t recommend that approach to anyone but it got me moving. Then I found hot yoga and eventually CrossFit. I fell in love with yoga as a way to a balance running and CrossFit.  One of my favorite yoga teachers inspired me to sign up for teacher training in 2010 and I haven’t looked back since.

How would you describe your coaching style? You will often hear me say “integrity over intensity”. I never want an athlete to sacrifice good technique simply to “get something done”. We get one body and we must respect that it has an amazing ability to adapt and grow but it is breakable. I want clients to enjoy fitness for many, many years. Good technique and a balanced training plan will keep you healthy and happy for the long haul. I also strongly believe that life is short and we should be having fun while we sweat. I love to laugh. I make TERRIBLE yoga jokes, sing along to cheesy pop songs during work outs, and have been known to bust out some really tragic dance moves just to make people smile. My tag line is also “hugs and highfives”! It doesn’t matter how the workout went everyone gets hugs and highfives for showing up and doing their best.

What inspires you? I am inspired by those who show up everyday and put in the work.  Yes, I’m impressed by some of our strong guys who put up big numbers but I am consistently blown away by our clients who chip away at small victories with 1 or 2 lb increases. Those who never dreamed of running a 10k but started running 400 meters, then a mile and so on to slowly and safely build up their strength and speed. There is nothing more inspiring than watching those huge smiles appear when the client realizes they just accomplished something they never thought was possible… and then they do more!!!

How do you stay motivated to keep training? I set small goals and chip away at them. I also vary my training depending on my goals. If I have a marathon on the schedule my training looks very different than a triathlon or CrossFit competition. I log EVERYTHING so I can see what is working and what isn’t. It also lets me see each and every accomplishment big or small.

What would be your greatest life lesson and what did you learn about yourself? I’m only 34 but I’ve lost a lot of great people in my life. I feel that no one ever gets to the end and thinks about work, money, or even their marathon time. I think they smile about the friends, family, laughs, and hugs that made life pretty awesome. So I try to keep that in my heart. A sub 4 hour marathon or 300 pound dead-lift are great accomplishments but the giggles from my niece when I sing her songs from the Little Mermaid are no match. It’s all about perspective.

What was the last gift you gave someone? I gave my best friend Sara a Fellow Flowers t-shirt that says “No excuses” on the front and has an awesome list of mantras on the back. She has a one year old daughter and is training for the Pittsburgh Marathon. Moms are a special breed of humans that I have the utmost respect for. They juggle the world and still manage to do things like run marathons! We have been running buddies for years and since I moved away we don’t have our regular run and chat sessions so we are virtually training together for this one. I bought myself the same shirt so we can crush this one together!

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently? My husband installed the first few seconds of the Lion King “Circle of Life” on my phone as a new alarm. When you get up at 5:00am, its best to do it with a smile. So when that yell starts to blare at 5am you can’t help but pounce out of bed and take on the day like the King of the Jungle!  Hugs and highfives – KB Clawson

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