The Fastest Finish

by Catherine Hapka

  Q. Can you tell us about your experience with getting to the final round? How does it feel to be the second woman ever to reach stage two?

  A. I remember getting past the Propeller Bar in the stage one finals and thinking, “Well, at least I made it past the obstacle I failed on last year!” Then I got through the next obstacle, and the next, and the next . . . before I realized it, I was standing before the final obstacle. It didn’t quite feel real until I saw that 0:30, 0:29, 0:28 on the countdown clock as I was swinging through the Flying Squirrel. When I hit the buzzer, I felt both excitement and calm accomplishment. That was what I came to do!

  It was bittersweet going to stage two without any other females. I fully expected to compete in the final round with at least one or two other strong women, but it was a pretty cool feeling being able to represent women, and myself, in stage two! I remember thinking about Jessie Graff, the first female to complete stage one, as I hit the stage one buzzer, and realizing I was also making a bit of my own history in that moment. Being only the second woman to reach stage two, I felt like I joined some sort of elite club. Hopefully that club will continue to grow as we all get stronger!

  Q. What has life been like since competing on the show? Does anything feel different? What is it like to watch yourself on TV?

  A. Since my last season on the show, life has been busy as ever! When I’m at school teaching, I’m Ms. Beird, just like I’ve always been. A lot of the students in my school will wave to me in the halls or smile excitedly, but other than that it’s pretty normal. Outside of school, in the ninja world, there’s definitely a bit more of a buzz. I’ve received so many messages through social media about being an inspiration to young girls and boys, aspiring athletes, and families who are inspired by my dual “teacher/ninja” life. Everyone is so supportive and wonderful! It feels different to have so many people looking up to me, because I still feel pretty normal: I’m just . . . me! This also made it a little weird to watch myself on TV my first season. I’m a bit more used to it now, and it’s exciting to see what NBC decides to air, and I get to share in rewatching some exciting moments with family and friends. It’s also been absolutely amazing to have something like The Ellen [DeGeneres] Show or the Today show reach out to me! I never dreamed I would do anything cool enough to get invited on The Ellen Show, so that was a very surreal experience. Most of the time, though, I wake up and continue my daily routine of being me!

  Q. What does your pre-competition routine look like? Do you get nervous or have any last-minute rituals to stay calm and focused?

  A. I love talking about this with other ninjas on the show. When I compete in local gym competitions, I get SO nervous! I feel like I’m out of breath before I begin, and I’ll get shaky. However, unlike many other ninjas, when I walk up the steps to the starting platform of American Ninja Warrior, I usually feel calm and ready to go. I’ll take a few deep breaths before starting, but once I’m on the course, I’m focused and working toward my goal of hitting that buzzer at the end. It’s such a fun experience that I make sure to focus on that more than the pressure of competing.

  I don’t have any pre-run rituals, aside from visualizing the course. I’ll run through the course in my head over and over again and try to imagine each obstacle in real time: what it feels like, how my body will move through the obstacles, how long it will take to finish each one, how to dismount. Visualizing is something I’ve had to really train myself to do, but it’s a very helpful strategy to make a course I’ve never touched before seem familiar!

  Q. How often do you train? Do you balance ninja workouts with other methods of exercise?

  A. My training schedule is probably not as intense as most people would imagine. I train at ninja gyms Monday and Tuesday nights; I try to go rock climbing at a local rock climbing gym on Wednesday or Thursday; and Sunday, I do a leg-day workout of some kind. In between these scheduled workouts, I do a lot of pull-ups, squats, and leg work (things I can do in my living room), and I make sure to stretch and roll out my muscles with a foam roller. Rest days are just as important as workout days, so staying healthy and listening to your body is a must! Now that I’m more familiar with the obstacles, I use my ninja gym days as fun training days, and the in-between workouts as my strengthening days. Something I’d like to add to my training is more running, but it’s been a hard thing to make time for in my busy schedule!

  Q. Are there any obstacles that you feel like you’ve mastered? Any that still seem impossible?

  A. It’s hard to say that you’ve mastered an obstacle in the ninja world because someone will always find a way to give it a twist that will throw you off. That being said, I’m very comfortable on the Salmon Ladder, and I love working on the peg board! Once I found a technique on these two obstacles that worked for me, I was able to play around more and challenge myself in different ways. It’s a great feeling to compare where I used to be, when I was unable to even complete one rung on the Salmon Ladder or one move on the peg board, to where I am now. I can move up, down, backwards, forward, skip rungs, complete rungs with a partner on the bar, and I’m even working on flipping between the rungs! These types of workouts beat the regular gym any day.

  An obstacle I am forever struggling with is the Cliffhanger. Finger and grip strength are something that you need to continually train or else you lose it, and I have a hard time keeping up with it enough to feel really good on the Cliffhanger. While I don’t see any obstacle as impossible, this one definitely doesn’t make me feel excited to jump up and go. Hopefully I’ll feel differently as I continue to work on it, but it’s always good to have something with which to compare your strengths and something to work toward!

  Q. What’s your next ninja goal? How do you stay challenged?

  A. My next goal is to beat stage two and be the first female to break through to stage three! I’m continually honing my training to work toward attaining that goal, and I know I will reach it! All good things take time, and if you’re willing to put in that time and effort and work through the good days and the bad, you can reach all of your goals!

  Every time I get into the ninja gym, there are new challenges. I train with a great group of ninjas and we’re constantly challenging one another. We come up with fun courses and try to race through them. We also bring new life to the obstacles we already know by adding in a higher swing, a bigger reach, or a longer jump. Most challenges for me, however, are not found directly in the gym. Working full-time as a teacher, working for my dad’s website business, finding some quiet relaxing time for myself, and still finding the time to train and make sure I’m listening to what my body needs (staying hydrated, taking a rest day, etc.) are sometimes bigger challenges than the most challenging obstacle in the gym! Setting little goals for myself helps me stay focused. If I was able to complete eight consecutive Salmon Ladder transfers, next time let’s go for nine or ten! If you are constantly working toward your goals and feeling proud of your accomplishments and hard work, you will always find ways to continue to challenge yourself and set the bar higher and higher (literally and figuratively). It’s a great feeling!

  Q. What are your best tips for anyone working on their ninja skills or interested in trying?

  A. If you’re interested at all in trying out the ninja world, I would absolutely encourage you to do it! The one thing to know about entering this “ninja life” is that the moment you step into a ninja gym or decide you want to train as a ninja, you are welcomed into our ninja family for life. I started training at a ninja gym on a whim and knew nobody. Now, I can’t imagine my life without these amazing people!

  If you don’t feel ready for a ninja gym quite yet, start with pull-ups. Not feeling a pull-up yet? See how long you can hang on a bar! Work on your grip strength, then slowly work up to holding yourself on the bar with bent arms (this is called a lock-off). If you have a resistance band, use this to help with pull-ups.

  Balance and agility are also very important skills to train. Walk down the edge of si
dewalks or concrete parking space barriers, leap across painted parking lot lines, and stride down the track. Becoming comfortable with moving your body will naturally translate to comfortableness on obstacles. Play on playgrounds and connect with your inner child! Find ways to work out that are fun and that you look forward to. You don’t have to be a pro athlete to be a great ninja: all it takes is a little bit of time, some dedication, and a whole lot of heart! Catch you in the ninja gym!

  To learn more about Allyssa and her ninja journey, visit allyssabeird.com.

  About the Author

  CATHERINE HAPKA will never be mistaken for a ninja, but she has published more than two hundred books for kids in all age groups from board books to young adult novels. When she’s not writing, Cathy enjoys horseback riding, animals of all kinds, reading, gardening, music, and travel. She lives in an old house on a small farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she keeps three horses, a small flock of chickens, and too many cats.

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