Athlete Spotlight: Erika Mendez

Meet Erika Mendez, one of the athletes who makes the CrossFit Oakland community so special. Erika joined CFO in 2024 and, two years later, she’s still showing up, getting stronger, setting goals, and proving that you don’t have to love every movement to love CrossFit. 😉

At around 40, Erika brings a lifelong athletic background, a serious appreciation for strength training, and a healthy willingness to choose running over burpees—which, in her words, is saying something.

From Softball to Strength Training

Erika’s athletic background started with softball, which she played from about age 12 through high school and college. She even kept playing on a recreational team after college.

That history of athletics gave her a foundation for competition and teamwork, but today, her favorite place to put that strength is in the weight room.

Her favorite strength movement?

The deadlift.

Her favorite kind of workout?

Any workout that involves strength.

We can definitely work with that.

Finding Confidence at CrossFit Oakland

One of Erika’s favorite CFO memories is her first CrossFit Total.

She remembers feeling nervous about showing up because she didn’t feel confident or ready. But the support she received from the CFO community quickly changed that experience.

Not only did she have fun, she also hit a deadlift PR.

That experience is a great example of what we love about CrossFit Oakland: you don't have to walk through the door already feeling confident. You can show up exactly where you are, have people in your corner, and discover that you're capable of more than you thought.

Strong Goals, One Pull-Up at a Time

Erika’s current fitness goal is simple: get a pull-up—or two.

We love a goal like this because it’s about more than simply checking a movement off a list. Building your first pull-up takes strength, consistency, patience, and plenty of practice.

And knowing Erika, we're guessing she'll get there.

Architect by Day, Athlete by... Whenever There's a Barbell

Outside the gym, Erika is an Architect and Project Manager. One of her proudest accomplishments is earning her California architect license—a significant professional achievement that required years of dedication and hard work.

That same persistence shows up in her approach to fitness.

Whether she's working toward a pull-up, chasing a deadlift PR, or simply showing up for another workout, Erika understands that progress comes from putting in the work over time.

Her Walkout Songs? Why Choose One?

If Erika had a walkout song, she's narrowed it down to two very different choices:

🎵 "DNA." by Kendrick Lamar

or

🎵 "La Chona"

Her reasoning?

"Because why not both?"

Honestly, we couldn't agree more.

The Super Smeller

Here's something you might not know about Erika: she's a super smeller.

She can often smell and identify things before anyone else around her. It's apparently both a blessing and a curse, depending entirely on what she's smelling.

We're now wondering whether this is an underutilized CrossFit superpower.

Running vs. Burpees

Erika has one very strong opinion about conditioning:

She absolutely hates running.

But she's willing to make one important concession:

She would choose running over burpees.

That's a pretty serious statement.

What Erika Loves Most About CFO

For Erika, the best part of CrossFit Oakland isn't a particular workout or movement. It's the community.

She says she has experienced an incredible amount of support from the very first moment she walked into a community class.

And that's exactly what we hope every athlete experiences at CFO.

CrossFit can make you stronger, but the people you train with can make showing up something you actually look forward to. The encouragement, shared struggles, celebrations, inside jokes, PRs, and high-fives are all part of what makes a gym feel like a community.

We're grateful Erika is part of ours.

Keep Showing Up

Two years into her CrossFit journey at CrossFit Oakland, Erika is still working toward new goals, getting stronger, and finding ways to challenge herself.

Next up: the pull-up.

And when she gets it, we'll be there to celebrate.

Thanks for being part of the CFO community, Erika! 💪

Want to become part of the CrossFit Oakland community? Come meet us, try a class, and see what makes CFO different. Whether you're brand new to CrossFit or an experienced athlete, there's a place for you here.