Brooke Haas had a plan: To compete at the CrossFit Games this summer with her teammates.
And it was looking promising.
Haas’ ROMWOD MeatSquad team, which also included Kelly Baker, Dex Hopkins, Christian Harris, became the first team to qualify to this summer’s Games at the Filthy 150 Sanctionals competition in Dublin, Ireland in November, 2019.
After that, the 31-year-old said she was looking forward to taking a bit of an off-season before ramping up for this summer’s Games, because in her words, her team isn’t made up of “spring chickens,” at least not compared to some of the other teams.
Fast forward a few months, and with the team competition at the CrossFit Games being canceled because of the global pandemic, Haas will have the chance to compete at the Games this summer as an individual. This is because she placed an impressive 22nd in the worldwide Open competition and earned an individual berth, as well.
10 Questions with Brooke Haas
BarBend: You also competed as an individual last year. What was your rookie experience like?
Haas: Making it to the Games was a milestone in my career. Since the first time I stepped on that Regionals floor in 2014, I knew there was only one goal from there on out.
Do you have a home gym? What has your preparation looked like in terms of where you have been training, what you have been training with etc?
Hass: I do have a home gym, fully equipped from my sponsor Again Faster, along with each Concept 2 machine, so I was able to keep fully training. I also live by an ocean so some swimming has been possible, too.
Tell me a bit about your career in general. Highs and lows?
Haas: 2014 was my first year at the Regional level. I was brand new to CrossFit, but had the fire in my belly to compete after that. I continued to qualify (to Regionals) as an individual each year, (but) some years I competed (with a) team. Each year we went team, we were only one or two spots out from qualifying (to the Games), so those years were heartbreaking. In 2019, I finally got my chance and qualified through the Open, having had a couple very high placings in workouts that year. 2019 was full of even better highlights; though, the best would have to be qualifying to the Games with my Team ROMWOD MeatSquad. (But) truly bittersweet (because the team competition has since been cancelled).
Do you still work, or are you full-time CrossFit?
Haas: I work full time as a head coach at CrossFit Total Control in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, so between work and training, my days are full.
What does a day in your life look like?
Haas: I usually wake up at 5 am, coach from 6 until 8am, train from 8 until 10am, coach from 10-11 am, head home for a bit to refuel and relax. Then I head back and train from 2:30 until 4:30 pm, coach again from 4:30 until 7:30 pm, and then eat, sleep and repeat. Some days I have the mornings off, so I get to sleep in a bit longer.
Do you count your macros? If so, what’s the day-to-day breakdown?
Haas: I do. I’m usually just under 300 grams of carbohydrates, 145 grams of protein, and 80 ish grams of fats. This changes as training changes and demands become different.
What’s your vice (food wise)?
Haas: Chips and salsa
If you had to have the same dinner every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Haas: Breakfast for dinner. Eggs, waffles, or toast, bacon and sausage.
How many hours of sleep do you strive to get each day?
Haas: Typically, around seven or eight (hours) would be ideal. WHOOP helps me keep track to make sure I’m getting enough.
Now that you’re competing as an individual again this summer, what are your goals?
Haas: To soak up the experience, and to not leave anything out on the floor. Last year, I left a lot to be desired leaving the Games. This year, that won’t happen. I don’t care about my placing, just so long as I give everything.
How are you feeling about the Games being in the Aromas, California without the thousands of spectators as per usual? Does this make the experience less exciting or not?
Haas: It’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience.
Featured image: @brookedahook on Instagram