Athlete of the MonthDecember

Dennis G.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?

Outside of my time at the gym I am an actor as well as a live, experiential, and broadcast events producer.  I also love to walk all over the city and try to get 3-5 miles everyday.

WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK? 

In all honesty, I initially joined the gym out of pure vanity, particularly to look better on camera.  I knew Coach Adrian’s name from the theatre community and that he had trained a handful of actors around town  who were real fit. I wanted to invest in myself so that I would be better positioned to book some jobs, so wherever he was was where I wanted to be.  Pretty quickly it became clear to me that Hardware meant a great deal more than a place where one person could help me reach some vanity goal. It’s cliché, but the community is truly what keeps me coming back.  Everyone is so kind and supportive, the environment is oriented toward positive growth, and that everyone is so committed to celebrating each other wherever they may be in their fitness journey, means a great deal to me. It’s improved my physical and mental states, in unexpected ways. It’s a place where values are lived, people are respected, and well being is nurtured.

WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

Short term goals would be to complete as many of the named WODs Rx’d without stopping. I don’t know where I am in that cycle, but I’m hoping 6-9 months out.  Long term, I want to execute a no kip ring muscle up, front and back lever, a plancé, and string at least 50 Double Unders and 10 HSPUs.

WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?

Stringing the Power Snatches last week was pretty cool. My snatch technique has been a little slow going and it has been a bit of a mental hurdle to get the locomotion right enough to get that weight overhead. Getting two sets of 10 unbroken felt like a big step.

FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?­­ 

I love hopping on the rower and going for long distances, as well as the bear complex.

LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?

Double unders because they have my number. It’s the fastest way for me to get frustrated and completely lose my cool.

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?

Try to take class with as many coaches as possible. I have learned a great deal from each coach, and it’s the secret sauce to have so many skilled people who can offer so much with such generous spirits. It’s always the people that make a company great, and the coaches at Hardware are a value add that is truly unique, a big differentiator.  I’ve been going to gyms and working at gyms for nearly 20 years, this is the first place that I bend my schedule around to make sure that I can fulfill my need to get in 4-5 times per week.

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