TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
Outside of the gym I am a middle school school teacher. Teaching takes up alot of my time; getting my classes to understand content material is like playing whack-a-mole. Before covid I also coached cross country and ran some competitive clubs. When I am not working, I paint and draw, read comic books, travel, go camping, and do dog stuff with my hound, Nova, and my girlfriend.
WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
I initially got into training because I just wanted to be fitter as I got older. I walked into hardware hoping to find a better gym program that would tire me out so I could sleep better and work off some of the stress that comes from teaching apathetic teenagers 7 hours a day. I really liked the idea of not having to program anything myself, just turn my brain off and move around for an hour. Eventually, I started to enjoy the competitive nature of the workouts. Every time I do a workout, I am working towards a concrete goal, which is to be better than I was before.
One of the biggest things that keeps me coming back is the focus on the things you can do, not the way that you look. I think it is so much cooler to accomplish an actual movement than it is to try to look a certain way; it really makes a huge difference in the feel of the gym, and definitely plays a role in keeping me coming back.
WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
When I first joined and started doing crossfit, I wanted to learn how to handstand walk. I still cant handstand walk, but I have learned how to do a bunch of other things. I would say I am fairly close, but I dont practice enough because I am afraid of falling on my face.
WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?
I am not a super proud person, I always think of achieving one of my goals as temporary because as soon as I achieve one I set a newer, more difficult one. One big milestone for me recently was getting a clean and jerk heavier than 225 pounds. Picking up big weights and dropping them is very therapeutic.
FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Grace, strict pull-ups, heavy barbells, anything with 21-15-9 rep scheme, or descending rep schemes.
LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?
Zercher Squats. I understand them, I just hate them. I would also say thrusters but I feel like thats overdone.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?
Just jump in and try it out. I have learned so much just from being around people who are better at crossfit and more fit than me. All you have to do is show up.
