Upper East Side

How/when did you get involved in CrossFit?
I found out about CrossFit late in 2011 through word of mouth and YouTube videos while training for a mud race. I watched Dan Bailey and Rich Froning do the 12.2 open workout on YouTube, and I thought that was pretty awesome. That spring I took the free into class at another box. Coincidently, when I finished the On-Ramp there, EVF opened its doors for business. It was fate.

Do you remember your first workout? How was it?
My first workout was “Tabata Something Else” pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups and bodyweight squats 20 seconds on/10 seconds off. Sounds simple with no sexy movements, but whoa was it effective. I was sore from stem to stern for a week. I couldn’t believe something so simple that only took 16 minutes could make me hurt that much. After that, I was hooked.

What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed? 
My goals when I first started were to find the hardest workout program I could. I figured if special operations guys were doing this stuff, it must be hard and effective. I pretty much have the same goals, except I measure myself against 45 to 49 year olds instead of the 40 to 44 year olds.

How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
I came to EVF with a decent base of fitness and had spent in a lot of time in prescribed strength and conditioning programs for competitive athletics, but I have definitely become much fitter by CrossFit’s definition. I have a better understanding of fitness overall including nutrition, which I used to take for granted. I am more focused on what I need to do in the gym and if I am actually doing those things correctly. Having benchmarks to measure against is important and they’re basically nonexistent outside of any organized sport, but the CrossFit methodology builds them in for you. Oh, and don’t forget the EVF community. I definitely have grown the number of friends I have on Facebook and Instagram since I started here, heehee. Seriously, the community is the biggest reason why I’ve been here for 5 years; some of you have become like family to me.

What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
That’s easy — the camaraderie. When you’re suffering together with likeminded people you form a bond, and I think that’s cool. It reminds me a lot of football training camp when the whole team suffers together over an extended period of time. When you finally break camp, you’re all a lot closer than when you started because you’ve shared that agony together.

Favorite lift and WOD?
I like all the movements just because they’re all part of the regimen, but if I’m pressed for a lift I have to say deads, because it’s just brute strength (and you don’t have to go overhead). If I had two working shoulders maybe I would say snatches, but for now that’s just fantasy. My favorite WOD is Fight Gone Bad. It’s quick paced with different stations so you’re always on the move, and like a lot of workouts it starts off feeing very doable and after the first round you’re like “Holy shit, this really gonna hurt.”

What about your least favorite?
The Assault Bike. It’s the least athletic piece of equipment I can think of. If my dog had opposable thumbs, I’m pretty sure he could work that machine. You sit on that thing going nowhere burning out your lungs. I’m not sure the function or skill that it serves except to make you hurt.

What motivates you?
A combination of the community, which helps keep you accountable (also, some you guys are actually funny and fun to be around) and the idea that you’re never finished. There’s always another test to take or another milestone to attain, but putting in the work to achieve those is fulfilling in itself.

Do you have any advice for new members?
1. Listen to your coaches and 2. WHEN YOU’RE SETTING UP FOR A WORKOUT LOOK AROUND THE GYM, SEE WHICH DIRECTION EVERYONE IS FACING, FACE THAT WAY!

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
I’m coming off a year when I had surgery on my shoulder for the second time (not directly gym related). My goals are first to rehab that shoulder and then stand on the podium again with Damon Pazzaglini.