Athlete of the MonthMay
How old / young are you? I am 30 years old What is your occupation? I’m a Software Engineer at Knowledge Factor When did you join Widespread CrossFit? I joined 2 years ago. I was lucky enough to be in the first WSCF on-ramp class. Why did you decide to give CrossFit a try? I had initially heard about CrossFit in 2011 and had been wanting to try it ever since then, but never pulled the trigger. When I finally did try it, I was bored with my current programming and was getting frustrated trying to work out at 24hr Fitness and their lack of squat racks and space for barbell movements. What was your athletic background before starting CrossFit? Immediately prior to joining WSCF, I had been doing Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength program at 24hr fitness for about 6 months which really helped my strength, but not my overall fitness. Prior to that, I had made various other attempts at staying in shape and staying active including: running and programs like P90x. In high school, I played football and ran track. What changes in your health, physique, and overall performance have you seen since starting CrossFit? My overall fitness is much more well-rounded now, but my strength has continued to develop as well. I feel generally healthier not only because of the workouts and time in the gym, but also attributed to a shift in how I view food and proper nutrition. I had a lot of conversations with Matt early on about nutrition and diet and that was a huge help. What advice would you give to someone with regards to starting CrossFit? Just give it a try. You’ll figure out pretty quickly if its for you or not. If you decide to commit, I recommend going to classes consistently. Pick a schedule and try to stick to it as closely as you can. Eventually it’ll be habit. What is your favorite and least favorite CrossFit exercises / movement? I like Olympic lifts and wallballs. My least favorite is easily sled pulls. Which is not because I hate the movement itself as much as it is that my legs cramp up every time. What is your most memorable CrossFit moment so far? My 4th CrossFit workout ever was Murph and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I scaled with ring rows and did the majority of the pushups on my knees. The final mile run was especially brutal. When I got back, I could barely walk and my knees were bleeding (pro-tip: if you’re doing 200 pushups on your knees, put an abmat under them). I remember being in awe of everyone who completed the workout Rx and Kari expecting me to cancel my membership. What do you like to do outside of CrossFit? I’m a big DIYer so I’m always doing something around the house. I enjoy tinkering on my old Chevy truck that I restored. Toward the end of college, I got into home brewing beer and don’t do that as much as I’d like, but love that whole process. What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal? I have a weakness for fast food hamburgers. My go-to is the Dave’s Triple combo from Wendy’s, large, with an iced tea. That’s about 1500 calories so bring your appetite. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I have 2 stainless steel plates and 14 screws holding my left forearm together. Sometimes it impacts my mobility and at least once a year its randomly sore for a few days and I’m convinced that one of the screws is backing out. Who or what inspires you the most? My parents are the hardest working people that I know. Their work ethic is inspiring in my day-to- day life. I think that all of the members of WSCF are inspiring. CrossFit is hard, yet everyday people walk through the front door ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. What is one goal you would like to accomplish through CrossFit? I think sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day is pretty detrimental to overall health. My goal for CrossFit right now is to use it to help combat that sedentariness (that’s a word – I looked it up).
