Semma Burba
Owner, Coach
I'm proud to say that I am the first and only athlete in the Lansing area to make it to the CrossFit Games. I've competed at the Games for four years in a row as a masters athlete (40-44 and 45-49 divisions) I've had an event win and top 10 finish every time. My personal best is 2nd place at the 2019 CrossFit Games. I work out once a day, 5 days a week, and simply follow my box's excellent programming.
Qualifications
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification, Mental Toughness Trainer Certification, CrossFit Weightlifting, CrossFit Gymnastics, CrossFit Kids, CrossFit Scaling, CrossFit Competitors Course, CrossFit Judging, Freestyle Movement Connection Seminar, Regional Competitor (2014), CrossFit Games Competitor (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), B.S. in Human Behavior (USAF Academy), M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction (Lesley University)
About Semma
Somehow life turned me into an overweight stay-at-home mom who was at a breaking point. I was super athletic as a kid. I loved running and excelled at it. I was the high school state champion in 1600m run and my 4x400m relay team placed 3rd in the state. I became a competitive intercollegiate athlete at the US Air Force Academy. And I continued running into adulthood. Little by little, life chipped away at the time I had for myself and my priorities shifted. I felt like I didn’t have time to workout and I didn’t want to take the time to prepare healthy food when there were fast and easy alternatives that the kids liked better anyway. Before I knew it, I was eating my kids’ Goldfish crackers and leftover peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and my physical activities became the walk to the sidelines of my kids’ physical activities.
I didn’t like what I had become: overweight, out of shape, and unable to show self-control. I was embarrassed and sometimes those feelings were expressed in front of my impressionable girls, which I know isn't good. I wanted to be a better example to my kids and I feared that they would eventually become embarrassed of me. Or worse, follow my footsteps. I finally decided to make my well-being a priority and do something about my condition.
I found myself inside Spartan CrossFit touching a barbell for the first time at the age of 39. It wasn’t easy to walk through that door, but it was a pivotal moment in my life. As soon as I did one workout, I knew I found my solution. I loved how different the workouts were and found myself actually excited to try them. I prioritized going to CrossFit and I stuck to a good nutrition plan. It wasn’t long before I lost my blobby mom body and replaced it with a physique that somehow gets compliments in the middle of the grocery store. I am in better shape now at 45 years old than I have ever been in all my athletic endeavors. I can’t even tell you how nice it is to not worry about how I look in photos, even in a swimsuit. And I love feeling like I can outdo my athletic 13, 16, and 18-year-old girls…or at least give them a run for their money. Not surprisingly, my children ARE following in my footsteps. Together we live healthier, athletic lives and I know that I am providing a solid example of how things can go as you age.
Turning Point
Motivation & Passion
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