How old / young are you?
I am 51 years-young.
What is your occupation?
I’m a Sr. Product Manager in Biotech.
When did you join Widespread Fitness?
I joined in December 2022, one year after my last spine surgery.
Why did you decide to give Widespread Fitness a try?
I’d been doing CrossFit at a couple of other gyms for about ten years and had always been aware of Widespread Fitness being in the neighborhood. I’d been forced to take a full year off after my second spine surgery and needed to return to the gym but my gym had closed. I also needed to return to CrossFit very slowly and thoughtfully without the pressure to wreck myself in every workout that I’d become accustomed to at other gyms. Matt was willing to work with me however I needed and made it clear that my long-term spine health was the number one priority. I decided to give it a try.
What was your athletic background before starting?
I live for the outdoors: mountain running, mountain/road biking, obstacle course racing, trail running, telemarking / alpine touring, hiking, ice climbing. I’ve been a rock climber for over 26 years (mostly trad, some sport, partial to sandstone cracks).
What changes in your health, physique, and overall performance
have you seen since starting?
My joining Widespread Fitness was my return to CrossFit after a year-long hiatus. After spine revision surgery, I lost strength, speed, agility, coordination, aerobic capacity, flexibility, muscle mass – you name it, I lost it during my lengthy recovery. Further, my biomechanics were significantly different (as one would expect when half your spine is locked down with hardware).
Since starting at Widespread, I’ve been able to regain many of my max weights and skills, greatly improved my flexibility, and am slowly recovering my prior stamina and endurance. It took a while to find my new squat stance but I fully believe I’ve improved my form overall in all my complex lifts.
What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting?
I’d say: stick with it. It’s a bit intimidating at first, and everything seems hard and complicated and all the acronyms are bewildering but stick with it and keep coming back. Nothing else will make you mentally and physically tougher or more resilient quite like CrossFit can, if you stick with it.
What is your favorite and least favorite exercises / movement?
Most favorite: pistols
Least favorite: (there are more than a few) wall balls
What is your most memorable moment so far?
Accidentally spraying the entire Widespread office and myself
with liquid chalk
What do you like to do outside of the gym?
Climb. And sleep.
What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal?
Fried chicken
What is something people would be surprised to know about
you?
Most people don’t expect that I am a Swiss citizen. I was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Who or what inspires you the most?
Buddha. Aside from that, I am rather admiring of the climber Pamela Pack. She’s only 5’2” and maybe 120 lbs but she’s the queen of impossibly difficult off width crack climbing and she’s absolutely fearless. She continues to put up first ascents and test pieces that make even the strongest male pros puke their guts, even after breaking her back, a few ribs and damaging her kidney in climbing falls.
What is one goal you would like to accomplish?
Never grow old.
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