Upper East Side

Congrats to Ed, our August Upper East Side Athlete of the Month! Ed has been uber dedicated and has improved each week, conquering movements he struggled with when he started at EVF.

He’s friendly and welcoming — he knows everyone by name and is a big part of our 9 a.m. crew. He builds his week around this place, and we’re thankful to have him.

Ed Ferbel, CrossFit Upper East Side

How/when did you get involved at EVF? What has motivated you to stick with it?
I am approaching the completion of my first year (9/21). I live around the corner and must have passed the place a million times, as a former marathon runner, I’d fallen into couch potato mode. At the time I was 64 and while not on death’s door, I needed to get into better physical shape, and I wanted to see my son graduate college. He was 15 when I started.

What do you enjoy most about being a member at EVF?
This might be the easiest question ever asked. While I have had the pleasure of working with many of the coaches, Matt makes it easy to return — calm, attentive and a willingness to make the athlete progress. That and the awesome people of the 9 a.m. weekday class. I would name them all but would leave someone out by mistake. No pressure , no competition, no judgement. Everyone is so supportive and friendly.

Do you remember your first workout? Looking back how did it go?
First workout after doing nothing for 25 years? I thought I was going to die. Got through it, came back and back again until I felt like I was getting somewhere. That took until around the holidays, but I kept going. Something I like the tell the new people who have come after me, we’ve all been where you are now. I’ve never been in a recovery program, but my wife is a substance abuse doctor and I learned a bit about AA from her. This will be corny but EVF 360 is like AA: work the program, achieve your goal.

What were your goals when you first started? How have they changed?
My initial goal was to lose some weight (15 pounds gone, my MD is happy) My new goal is to complete the entire workout for a week without having to stop to catch my breath or scale down the workout. I’m getting close, not there yet.

How have you grown in that time — health, body, mind, etc.?
I just feel better about me and when I look in the mirror I see a 65-year-old man who finally has some tone and muscle on his body. I also eat better. Maybe I do need AA — I miss the days I can’t get in. Also the word no doesn’t work in the gym. Again as Matt will say during class, remember when you couldn’t jump rope or do 5 burpees? (Jeez I hate those things.) Now it’s try if it doesn’t work, scale back, and you’ll get there.

Favorite moment?
Finishing a workout for the first time. Even if I had to stop a few times along the way, I didn’t quit.

What drives you through the door each day?
Seeing the group and just loving every workout. I’m tired, but I feel like I accomplished something, like finishing my first marathon back in the day.

Do you have any advice for new members?
As I said above, just keep coming back, the only bad workout is the one you didn’t do (borrowed I know). You have to be there to do the work.

What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
I’d like to build some more upper body strength but not sure if I’m ready to start lifting weights, will have to see about that.