Athlete of the MonthNovember
How old / young are you? 41 years old What is your occupation? I am sure I have one of the most interesting yet odd ball occupations out there. I am the head of Strategy for Nuclear Solutions which is part of a large, French-based, global environmental company called Veolia. We cleanup everything from WW2 weapons production sites to disaster recovery sites such as Fukushima in Japan. When did you join Widespread CrossFit? October 2016 – where does the time go?!?! Why did you decide to give CrossFit a try? I had been going to big box gyms for years and decided I needed a change. The functional fitness aspect was interesting to me and thought I would give it a shot since Crossfit was getting popular so quickly. The challenge of getting out of one’s comfort zone with a new workout daily was exciting to me. No more of the routine, monotonous workouts that I used to talk myself into regularly at other gyms. What was your athletic background before starting CrossFit? I am a former college football athlete that played pretty much every team sport growing up. After college I tried all sorts of things including marathons, triathlons, and road biking. Nowadays I stick to CrossFit, the occasional spin class, and skiing when possible. What changes in your health, physique, and overall performance have you seen since starting CrossFit? My overall fitness level has certainly improved. Training for a specific sport like football for so many years created an imbalance in my overall fitness level. Also, I have had a total of 8 orthopedic surgeries since the beginning of college. I limited myself because of the injuries for so long thinking I would never be able to do those things I enjoyed ever again. CrossFit reopened those opportunities, and I am proud to say my injuries do not limit me nearly as much as they used to. What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting CrossFit? People join CrossFit for a variety of reasons. Those reasons are personal, and every individual has their own “why”. Breaking down personal barriers and getting out of your comfort zone can be intimidating and challenging which is completely natural! Once you can come to grips with your “why”, you will find so much fulfillment in the personal goals and accomplishments you make for yourself inside or outside the gym. There is truly no better feeling for yourself and the effect it has on the people you are most often around. What is your favorite and least favorite CrossFit exercises / movement? Any barbell/weightlifting movement is my favorite. Cleans and any kind of press specifically. Least favorite (and its not even close) are sled pushes… Unless of course you count Saturday partner workouts with Chris Jackson that are heavily cardio based. The carnage left and recovery that follows lasts a good 24 hours! What is your most memorable CrossFit moment so far? All the Open Workouts (some I would rather like to forget) as well as any of the Hero workouts. Every year I love the anticipation and to compete in Murph or some of the other benchmark workouts like the Filthy 50, etc. What do you like to do outside of CrossFit? With my wife, and as a father of two girls, I love to spend time with them either traveling or doing activities such as biking, skiing, or hiking. For me personally, I have found the occasional spin class is a great breakaway from the noise and day- to-day stresses in life. What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal? Being almost a full blood Italian, anything pasta related. Nothing beats spaghetti and meatballs from Scalzotto’s or Parma Trattoria for those not currently on Kari’s nutrition program. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I have lived or worked in 7 different countries. Other than living in Colorado, I have spent most of my time in Scotland and Australia. For those needing travel recommendations, Japan should be on the top of your list. The culture and the people are simply amazing. Who or what inspires you the most? Whether it is in the gym or in my personal life, I love to hear about people’s backgrounds and life stories. So many people amaze me with the accomplishments and the things they are most passionate about. It pushes me to be better in all aspects of my life and encourages me to fight for my goals and personal objectives. What is one goal you would like to accomplish through CrossFit? I would really like to finish Murph one year with a vest. In general, continue to see improvements and gains regardless of age.
