Jenny Parrish
Chief Happiness Officer (CHO) / Owner
Deadlift: 240
Backsquat: 215
Front Squat: 180
First Open All Rx 7 months postpartum
Qualifications
CrossFit Level 2 Certification
Burgener Level 1 Strength Coach
About Coach
I grew up playing softball and cheerleading, and I always loved being part of a team. These days, I joke that I don’t really do CrossFit… I just get sweaty with my friends. And honestly, that’s not true. Of course, I love CrossFit for the overall badassery, but I’m really here for functional fitness. One day I’m going to fall, and I need to be able to get back up again. That’s why I do burpees. Squatting is for independence… and doing one of my favorite things... for bending down to look for shells when I’m 100. I’m also a mom to two amazing young girls, and they’re a huge reason I do what I do. I want them to grow up seeing how cool hard work is. How cool it is to be strong. How cool it is to not fit into a mold or shrink yourself to make other people comfortable. I want them to know their bodies are capable of incredible things. And that effort matters more than perfection.
Turning Point
For a long time, fitness for me was about aesthetics. Looking good felt like enough. I worked out, ate decently, and checked the “healthy” box... but everything shifted when I became a mom. Doing CrossFit during my first pregnancy showed me what health actually means. I worked out almost daily right up until I unexpectedly went into labor at 35 weeks. Thankfully, my fitness carried me through it all, including an unplanned C-section where my doctor told me I was “beautiful inside and out” (LOL, no complaints here). Even more incredible? My recovery was smoother than I ever imagined. Postpartum, I came back stronger than ever and learned what mom strength really is. That season also showed me how important community is. The CrossFit community didn’t just cheer me on. They held my baby while I got my lift in, kept me sane by giving me one sacred hour for me each day, and reminded me I was still me… just with a tiny human attached! Now, as a mom of two, CrossFit has been my constant. I’ve PR’d my deadlift, back squat, and front squat while 12 weeks pregnant with my second -- because strength doesn’t stop when life gets busy. Motherhood didn’t take fitness away from me. It gave it meaning!
Motivation & Passion
My purpose for coaching is simple: the people. But becoming a mom took that purpose to a whole new level. Motherhood changed how I see everything. My body, my time, my limits, and other people. I leveled up as a human when I became a mom. I understand more now. I have more patience, more empathy, and more respect for how hard it is to show up when life is heavy, when you’re exhausted, and when you’re pouring into everyone else before yourself. As a kid, I needed a coach who believed in me more than I believed in myself. Someone who built me up, encouraged me to try again, and pushed me to be better instead of pushing me aside. That’s the coach I strive to be every single day. My goal isn’t to make people “the best.” It’s to help them try their best. Whatever that looks like on their hardest day! I want Thunder Performance to be a place where your hour here is the best hour of your day -- where you feel seen, supported, and proud of what your body can do. Because we’re not just building strong bodies. We’re building resilient humans!
