Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do outside the gym?
I’m a guy who loves learning and helping people learn. I used to work as an engineer, but now I split time as a teacher and an entrepreneur. I tutor ACT and SAT prep, I teach private piano lessons, and I’m launching an app called Pico for kids who are learning music: pico-progress.com. I love trying to get out of my comfort zone and learn from other people and cultures. Also, I don’t know how many people at the gym know this, but I’ve been vegetarian for 13 years. Yes, it’s possible to be super into exercising AND not eat animals!
What initially got you into training, and what keeps you coming back?
I think I owe my interest in challenging fitness stuff to my dad, who ran the Chicago Marathon several times when I was a kid. He spoke about the good feeling running gave him, and that motivated me to start running and join the cross country team in high school. I developed a pretty strong stamina level, eventually running marathons myself and even completing an Ironman Triathlon. After all that solitary training, my first Crossfit experience in 2013 was a refreshing jolt of energy and camaraderie. Now I see that style of fitness as an integral part of my quality of life, and I keep coming back because I keep learning and growing.
What are your fitness goals? How close are you to reaching them?
My goals in 2026 are to be able to hold a handstand for 10 seconds and to be able to run a mile in under 5 minutes. I think I’ll achieve one of them.
What’s an accomplishment or goal you’ve reached at Hardware that makes you the most proud?
I had a knee surgery to repair my meniscus in 2023 that took me a long time to recover from. In March of 2026, I did the Hardware Lift-Off and managed to PR in all three lifts (squat, bench press, and deadlift), beating my personal bests from 2016. It felt amazing to see how slow, steady consistency at Hardware managed to get me to the strongest I’ve ever been, despite having had surgery and being 10 years older.
Favorite WOD/movement?
I remember having a lot of fun with “Fight Gone Bad.” I love those measured workouts and checking in over the months/years to see whether I’ve improved. My favorite movement is the power clean. I love that split second where the bar feels weightless before I catch it.
6. Least favorite WOD/movement?
Deadlifts are for sure my least favorite. They seem so simple, but I’ve found ways to mess them up more times than I can remember. I’ve finally gotten the hang of them, but I still treat them like a wild animal just waiting to bite me if I’m not careful.
7. Any advice for someone interested in trying out Hardware?
Working out at Hardware is an amazing gift you can give yourself. I would just suggest you take it slow at first if you’re new to this kind of thing. It’s easy to feel excited to try heavier weights or more complicated movements, but taking 10% off the top is never a bad idea.