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We’re huge fans of Allyssa Beird’s American Ninja Warrior strategy. Over her four previous seasons on the course, she has always approached the obstacles with a thoughtful eye that has proved quite successful for her. And now season 12 is off to a great start for the veteran Ninja.
Back for her fifth season, Allyssa used that analytical approach to navigate the new obstacles. A slip on the Warped Wall wasn’t enough to throw her off. She casually made the adjustments needed and locked in her third Qualifying buzzer. Watch her full run below.
We spoke with Allyssa prior to her Qualifying run. It was almost impossible, between the masks and the over-six-feet-distance between us, not to ask about how it felt to make Ninja Warrior during a pandemic.
“It’s like a strange Twilight Zone feeling!” Allyssa responded. “I’m super excited things are happening. We train all year to get on the big stage. But there’s a different vibe. It’s exciting.”
While it was exciting, it also came with a bittersweet feeling.
“Being so close to people that I love and not being able to hug them and interact with them in ways that I want to,” Allyssa said when asked about what would be difficult for her. “That was harder than I expected it to be. The weird pandemic part of things is difficult. I look forward to this all year not just for the course, but for the people and my whole Ninja family.”
It’s well known that Allyssa is a teacher. That means her whole life and career were turned totally upside down as lockdown settled in and schools closed. However, it may have changed how Allyssa was able to prepare for the season she wasn’t even sure would happen.
“During the school year, September to March-ish, I wasn’t training as much or as well as I usually would like to. It was a little stressful. Then when lockdown hit, I actually had more time to myself, so I was able to train everyday.”
What could all that extra training lead to? Allyssa’s accomplishments include multiple Qualifying buzzers and a buzzer on Stage One of the National Finals. With no trip to Vegas on the line this year, we asked what her intentions are for season 12.
“For this season, I have so many unmet goals. The goals that I haven’t yet reached are always first in my mind. That extended course buzzer would be amazing.
I’m my own worst critic and I’m hardest on myself. Usually, what’s most motivating for me is feeling proud of what I’ve done when I walk out at the end. Some seasons are better than others in that regard. Just feeling like I gave it my all and if something happens, that something was a crazy fluke, not because I didn’t do something that I planned on doing. Just feeling good about everything that happens.”
Allyssa is off to a great start this American Ninja Warrior season. We’ll find out if she can keep the momentum going when she returns in the Semi-Finals.