Deanna Farney

CrossFit - L1, USA Weightlifting Coach, CrossFit Scaling

Deanna started coaching in 2019 at Mercy CrossFit in Fort Smith, then moved to Central Arkansas with her husband in 2020 where she joined the Refine family. She likes to look at fitness as an important step towards living a longer and healthier life. When not at the gym, Deanna enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two dogs.

How long have you been involved with CrossFit? What got you started? 
I was first introduced to CrossFit when my dad and I decided to jump in on a class at a local gym. I really got involved after college in 2018.

What’s your favorite CrossFit move/lift? Why? 
My favorite lift is the snatch, it is complex and technical so it is challenging to learn but when you get the components down and have a good lift it’s so rewarding because of all the work behind it.

What’s your least favorite? Why? 
Burpees, they are so simple but so hard that they just frustrate me.

What’s your favorite part about coaching? 
My favorite part of coaching is getting to be around like minded people that are willing to put in work to become better and have a desire to do hard things. Especially, when they’ve been working towards improving on a movement and they see their work paying off.

If you’re going to cheat on diet, what’s your guilty pleasure food or meal? 
All the food! But really donuts are my weakness.

Favorite hobby outside of the gym? 
Gardening is my number one but really anything outside during the summer time.

What keeps you coming back to CrossFit every day? 
The feeling after a workout, it’s the stress relief, the knowing it’s going to benefit me today and tomorrow, and the community most of all.

What’s your favorite thing about Refine?
The people, hands down, this is the place where I laugh the most, feel at home, and get to have an impact on someone’s day.