Athlete of the MonthMarch
How old / young are you? I’m 46 and ½ yo. What is your occupation? I am a business development leader at Cisco — not Sysco the food business, but Cisco the technology company. We build cool tech like Webex Meetings and video conferencing devices that allow people to work wherever they are and have a better work/life balance. When did you join WSCF? Summer 2015 Why did you decide to give CrossFit a try? Back in 2015 I ran a few Spartan races and I noticed these incredibly fit people with real muscles and stamina who would go through obstacles like heavy carries or heavy pulls as if they were nothing, while I was struggling to get my weight to budge a millimeter. They would finish those races way ahead of me despite my semi-decent running abilities. I later realized these people were part of this secret cult called CrossFit, and I decided that if I wanted to be a better athlete I had to try it too. I did my research and tried a few boxes and realized WSCF had the perfect mix: great coaches who care, great community, small classes and supportive environment. What was your athletic background before starting CrossFit? I’m a nerd so I mostly played video games my whole life (and yes, you CAN go blind doing it, ask me over a beer). From a nutrition perspective, I would eat a bag of Oreos for lunch and a milkshake for dinner. Never had a vegetable in my life, unless olives or pizza sauce count. When I turned 40 and did my physical, my cholesterol was high and the doctor gave me two options: change my diet and exercise, or take a pill every day for the rest of my life. That year I ran my first half-marathon (Leadville) and my first Spartan races, and I never stopped. What changes in your health, physique and overall performance have you seen since starting CrossFit? I am eating much better now (thank you Kari!), and I’m much more conscious about how nutrition impacts our health, well-being and performance. I don’t have sugar crashes in the middle of the day as I used to have. My energy level is higher than ever. I gained almost 20 pounds since I started at WSCF and it’s not all fat. Oh and this year for the first time in 6 years my cholesterol test came back normal. What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting CrossFit? CrossFit is not for everyone, just like yoga, running, swimming or working out at PlanetFitness aren’t for everyone. But you won’t know if you’ll like it unless you try it for yourself. My advice is to try it out – start by finding a box that matches your style, with good coaches who inspire and motivate you, that’s the key. Oh and never ever compare yourself to others – everyone is on a different journey. What is your favorite and least favorite CrossFit exercises / movement? I dread anything that has to do with a barbell, but I specially suck at cleans. I arch my back every single time, maybe it’s genetic. My favorite movement is (wait for it…) burpees. What was your most memorable CrossFit moment so far? I was there when Alyson did her first pull-up and that was a magical moment! Competing in the intramural head-to-head was also a great experience, I couldn’t move afterwards and I thought I was dying but the vibe from the crowd was awesome! What do you like to do outside of CrossFit? I still play video games and read a lot, but now I also run regularly and I pick a couple of events to do every year like Leadville and/or the Spartan races. I also like hiking fourteeners and my wife and kids are now getting me into bouldering. I’m also a sucker for a good movie. What’s your favorite cheat food or meal? A good pizza, hands down. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I was in the labor room when my daughter was born in Florida while there was a CAT 5 hurricane destroying everything outside. That’s why we moved to Colorado – beautiful mountains and no hurricanes, check! Who or what inspires you the most? I know it’s cliché, but I look up to my parents for inspiration every day. My father’s left leg is 5” shorter than his right leg because an infection spread through his knee when he was a toddler, causing him to limp his whole life. He has horrible leg and back pains. Despite all this, he never complained once, never used his condition as an excuse, and worked hard his whole life to put bread on the table. My mother worked two jobs and went to college at night to get a teaching job that paid the rent. They were selfless, loving and dedicated and always put their kids first. They have been together for 49 years and I was very fortunate to spend a week with them to celebrate their 80th and 77th birthdays which are just a few days apart, earlier this month. What is one goal you would like to accomplish through CrossFit? I want to instill fear in the hearts of the boys who dare to look at my 14yo daughter. I may need help though…. 🙂
