Summary: Kristi OConnell, formerly Kristi Eramo, has been passionate about fitness her entire life. A former collegiate swimmer and endurance athlete, she made her first appearance at a CrossFit Regionals competition in 2014, and by 2016 she placed first at the highly competitive Central East Regional.<br> <br> Following three CrossFit Games appearances as an individual between 2016 and 2018, Kristi placed 26th in the world in the 2019 CrossFit Open, qualifying for a spot at the 2019 CrossFit Games as an individual. Instead, she made the surprising choice to decline her invitation as part of an effort to be more present with her friends, family and her community at CrossFit Polaris.<br> <br> As fate would have it, an unexpected invitation to join Team Invictus X, had Kristi competing at the 2019 CrossFit Games after all, but this time as part of a team who prioritized FUN. The experience helped re-ignite Kristis passion for training, and also helped her to evolve her approach.<br> <br> These days, Kristi enjoys working out daily alongside her husband and her friend, Dan Bailey. Her training volume is much lower, and her focus is primarily on running her affiliate and making time to disconnect and be present with the ones she loves.<br> <br> I had the chance to catch up with Kristi and we chatted about the importance of connecting your training to your inner why, how her mindset and approach has shifted over the years, and what shes doing to make sure she continues to find joy in fitness.
