Women Who Win: Natalie Rodriguez
August 3, 2018
The D10's Women Who Win series, brought you in collaboration with ADAY, spotlights some of the incredible female athletes who take to The D10's playing field each year.
Meet Sgt. Natalie Rodriguez, United States Marine Corps veteran
You left the United States Marine Corps last July with the rank of Sergeant. Thank you for your service. Was military service something you saw in your future from a young age?
I always knew that I wanted to be in the military. I had the tough girl mentality and wanted to prove to everybody what I was made of. When I heard what people said about the Marines - they’re tough, they’re the bad ones - I was like, Challenge accepted.
I went up to my recruiter junior year in high school. He didn’t approach me; I approached him! He told me later he didn’t take me seriously at first, because I was wearing khaki skirts, a navy blue shirt, and bright pink Uggs.
What was your occupational specialty?
I wanted to be military police, but I was too young. I became an Aviation Operations Specialist, working under the pilots. I kept track of their information, and briefed them on certain missions. I hadn’t even known there was an air wing side of the Corps when I enlisted!
That job didn’t require a lot, so I also took on the training aspect for the unit, and that is what got me into fitness. If a Marine didn’t make their height and weight standards, it’s my job to put you on a three-month program. The Marine Corps had installed HIIT centers all over its bases. Three times a week, I was leading workouts.
I always saw myself staying the full 20 years and retiring, but once the Marine Corps made me fall in love with fitness, I saw a lot of opportunity. I want to get a strength and conditioning certification. My long-term goal is to own a training facility specifically for law enforcement. I’ve got two more semesters for my B.S. in Exercise Science at Hofstra University.
How did you get connected after your service with Ruben Belliard and The Training Lab?
For the Marine Corps birthday on November 10, we all get together and throw a huge ball. At that time, everyone at The Training Lab was a Marine, so after I met Ruben, he contacted me with an offer to be a trainer. I wasn’t actively looking for that position, because I was still going to school. But I knew I eventually wanted to work at a gym, so I was up for anything. My commute from Long Island was long and tough, but it was definitely worth it. My co-workers and clients became like family. I will always be grateful for the experience - a great learning opportunity.
Take me from The Training Lab forming its D10 team up through your Game Day experience.
Ruben brought it up. He said, “We're doing this event - I want to make it an all-women team, and I want you to be in charge of it, because you're our first female instructor.” I didn’t get to train with the other girls very much because of schedules. For the most part, they always took morning classes, and I was at the Lab in the afternoons. We all supported each other, and we all had our individual goals. I remember when Shelly had to do her row, she was stressing out that she wouldn’t reach her goal of 1:41. I said, “Shelly, you need to stay focused and keep positive thoughts!” Every time she stressed over it, I would get more and more nervous for her, but I knew she could do it. The entire environment around that event - the people leaning in and cheering her on - it gave me goosebumps.
At that time, I was prepping for my national bikini show. I was very irritable, very tired. I wasn’t myself that day. I have really great sportsmanship, but I’m serious. I had no intentions on doing the running events. I’m not really a runner. I don’t run! So of course, first thing, Ruben comes up to us the morning of the competition and says we’re all going to run the 400. Now I was panicking, but getting that race under my belt and all of us doing it together, it reminded me of what it felt like to be on a team.
I eased down after that. I was very focused. I told myself I would do 20 Pull-Ups, and I ended up doing 25. I had never done that in my life. It was a great day, and it taught me a lot about myself. It felt really good to have three other women next to you, going out there, beating all of our PRs, and looking great.
How would you summarize your first D10?
It was a great experience, because it’s fun to see how far you can push your body. When actual Game Day comes, either you’re all in or you’re out. It made me realize I should stop bodybuilding and do more events like these.