Emily Schumann: Power, Positivity & PRs
Bright, dedicated, and undeniably powerful, Emily Schumann brings her full self to every workout and it shows. Originally from Baltimore, Emily's athletic roots were planted early through lacrosse and blossomed through years of lifting, coaching, and competing. Despite having a full time job, you can catch Emily at the 5:30 am WOD, and then next door in the Sweat Lodge working on her gymnastics strength, and sometimes even again in the evening for Powerlifting. Whether she's repping out squats or avoiding burpees at all costs, Emily shows up with intensity, grit, and a smile.
Emily's journey to CrossFit was born out of a longing for community and challenge. After years of training alone, she was ready to find a space that combined camaraderie with competition and we're so lucky she walked through our doors with her infectious energy. Every WOD has tested her in new ways, especially when it comes to cardio and learning to give herself grace on hard days. She's left her ego at the door, embraced the tough stuff, and grown stronger physically and mentally with every rep.
What makes Emily exceptional isn't just her strength or work ethic, it's the way she lifts up those around her. Emily turns every session into something more than a workout, it's a shared mission to be better than yesterday. Her advice to newcomers reflects her own journey: start where you are, lean into the discomfort, and let the people around you inspire you when it gets heavy. Because at the heart of Emily's success is a love for the process and the people who make it all worth it. Meet Emily.. .
Tell us about yourself
My name is Emily Schumann. I'm 26, about to turn 27 and have grown up in Baltimore my whole life. I went to Immaculata University for my Bachelors in Exercise Science ('20) where I also played lacrosse. But I graduated during COVID, so, I had to take a bit of a detour and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I worked as a performance coach/personal trainer for a few years before going back to school. I ended up earning my Masters in Data Analytics from Villanova University ('23), and now I work as a data engineer for an insurance company!
What was the turning point that led you to CrossFit? What keeps you coming back to Blackbird week after week?
I grew up playing lacrosse, and part of our regimen was lifting in the weight room. Of course, as a small DIII school, we didn't have a strength and conditioning coach until my senior year. Even then, working with him was voluntary and only twice a week.
When I got my job as a performance coach at a local gym back in Maryland, I started working with one of the Personal Trainers there. He's the one that helped me transition into powerlifting. He would write my programs, and I followed them for a couple of years before trying to train on my own at the next gym I worked at.
Training by yourself to compete is not as fun as you think. I missed the team aspect of lacrosse and having people to compete against. So, when I ended up getting my job as a data engineer and was preparing to leave the gym I was working at, a friend of mine started talking about CrossFit, and I thought, why not give it a shot?!
It took one week of training at Blackbird to know that these were the people I wanted to surround myself with and who were going to push me to be a better athlete.
Can you share a specific instance where CrossFit has challenged you in a positive way? What did you learn from it?
Honestly, every aspect of CrossFit has challenged me. I thought I was a strong athlete before, but the "CrossFit cardio" is on an entirely different level! I will always bring my inhaler with me!
Leaving my ego at the door has been the biggest challenge, though. It's hard going from solo-training at a recreational gym to pushing yourself to keep up with all of these badass females. Some days are better than others, but I'm constantly learning how to improve and how to give my body grace when necessary.
What is your favorite memory or experience from the gym?
My very first Open ('24)! I had no idea what I was signing up for, but the way the community came together to rally around one another, that's something special.
What is your favorite CrossFit movement, lift, or WOD? Least favorite?
If I never had to do a burpee again, you wouldn't hear a single complaint out of me! Give me all the heavy lifts, especially squats!
What do you enjoy the most about Blackbird or CrossFit in general?
The people, you'll never find a community like the one we have at Blackbird. It truly is a family atmosphere!
Can you share a specific health improvement or positive change in your life that you attribute to CrossFit?
I'm in the best shape I've ever been in, strength- and cardiovascular-wise! I've never felt this confident in myself and what my body is capable of, and I give all the credit to CrossFit and the people who constantly push me to do better.
What are your CrossFit goals and how close are you to reaching them?
I want to consistently RX workouts. Some days are better than others, but I'd rather try and fail, than not try at all! It helps when your friends don't let you scale movements/weights they know you can do RX.
When you are not CrossFitting what is your favorite thing to do?
I love being outside with my fur-baby, Lany, or snuggled up reading a good book, or watching a scary movie!
What is one fun thing about you that we may not know yet?
I love to have concerts in my car! You guys have heard me yell, but you haven't heard me sing!
What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to try CrossFit?
The only person you should be comparing yourself to, is the person you were yesterday. You're going to meet people with various athletic abilities, but we all started by walking through that door for the first time. The first day is the hardest!
How has your approach to nutrition changed since starting CrossFit? If you've worked with one of our Blackbird Nutrition Coaches, tell us about your experience.
I LOVE to eat! So eating enough has never been a problem for me, it's eating enough of the right things, like getting in enough protein.
My eating habits have fluctuated since starting CrossFit. My appetite increased at first, but once I started properly fueling myself with the right proteins and carbs, I started noticing the increase in muscle and my clothes fitting slightly differently.
And we can't forget the creatine!
What is your favorite workout fuel? What about your favorite indulgence?
I always have a Barebells Bar before a workout, it's like a Snickers bar with 20g of protein! Just what I need at 5:30 in the morning! But if I really want to treat myself, you can catch me curled up on the couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry's!
Results? Tell us about your results!
I just competed in my first Powerlifting competition in May, and came in second-place for my weight class! I PR'd my squat and deadlift, so now it's back to training to hit my next set of goals.
FREEWRITE: Is there anything you'd like to add about your CrossFit journey, the coaches, the community, or your experience at Blackbird?
The heart of Blackbird is truly the people. Lifting with my PowerBuff Gals (Coach Andi, Coach Kristin, and Coach Kristie) or training with the boys on Saturdays (Coach Brett, Coach Dan, Coach Justin, and Coach Austin), I never fail to leave the gym with a good laugh and a full heart.
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