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I started at 26.2 CrossFit 12/26/2012, a Wednesday.  I returned the next night.  Friday morning, I woke up and could barely move, but I returned on Monday and I’ve been going 4-5 nights a week ever since.

I’m most proud of the physical changes I’ve experienced over these years.  It didn’t happen overnight and its not been easy…daily hard work, gallons of sweat, a few tears (mostly during weighted front lunges), a few almost-pukie WODs. But the positive results have far outweighed those “inconveniences”.  Most recently though, I’ve lost weight and decreased my body fat which has changed not just my appearance but my performance.  I’ve finally been able to get pull-ups (thanks Kyle!), my burpees are so much easier, and my intensity is stronger.

With my renewed performance at the gym, I wish my next goal could be to do another Festivus competition, but unfortunately physical limitations now require me to modify a few things more than would be acceptable at a competition.  Other than trying to get my body fat percentage down a little more, I don’t have a specific goal at this point.

What’s my favorite workout:  My least favorite are those with weightlifting movements in the WOD.  The WODs I like the best are Hero’s because they’re so challenging and they leave us with a sense of accomplishment.  But my favorite WOD is any one that I get to do with my 26.2 CrossFit family, whether it’s with one other person or ten.  The encouragement, the pushing, the excitement from the other athletes and the coach is why I like this gym so much!

One day, out of the blue with no forethought, I called my friend Jennifer and asked her if she was planning on going to her gym that day.  She said yes and I went with her.  The next day I returned, I joined, and I’ve been here ever since.  Then one day last year I went to an orthopedic doctor to look at my knee, he also did an MRI on my lower back that had been hurting a little off and on for the last three years, thinking it might be related to the knee pain.  He sent me straight to a spine surgeon because he found that I have scoliosis with a 43 degree curve. To put that in perspective, people are often in pain at 20 degrees, surgery often happens at 40 degrees. Yet I only have a little area on my back that flares up here and there, but its not debilitating. My fear was that he was going to tell me to stop CrossFitting but instead he said don’t stop, it’s the very reason that I’m not in pain, I’ve created strong back muscles to protect my spine.  I’ve had to lighten some of my weights though, alter how I do a few things, and find that happy spot between keeping the muscles strong and making the spine worse.  I never knew why I made that phone call to Jennifer, although I think God had a hand in it, but I’m so glad that I did, and grateful for 26.2, Allie and the wonderful coaches along the way.

I first started at 26.2 January 2018.  I had been driving to Orlando for 4 years 3-4 nights a week for a boot camp style work out. I was tired of the drive and wanted something closer to home. I work part of the year in Australia and had been working out at Crossfit Barossa while I was there. I decided to switch to a Crossfit here.  I am most proud that I keep up or actually excel and  can  encourage others. I used to be intimidated at any work out. I was afraid I would hold up other people and keep them from getting a good work out particularly in partner WODS  After I overcame that it became important to me that I try to include and motivate someone new or struggling.  The joke is that my goal was to live until I was 60. I’ve done that. So I have been thinking about the next goal. I think I’d like to try some type competition in my wheel house  My favorite work outs are the intense cardio work outs….bike, row, burpee, box jumps, jump rope, wall balls etc. I set my pace and just don’t stop.  My favorite 26.2 story is my 60th birthday WOD and dinner. It was so humbling that so many people came out and participated. It was a very special moment in my life. I have gotten close to so many members and seeing them for a WOD is the best part of my day.

I began doing CrossFit in July 2018.  In that time I am most proud of the determination I feel when I am at CrossFit. I want to do it, I want the hurts so good, I want the endorphin rush at the end.  There are a few exercises that I am still afraid of…box jump to name only one…but I definitely feel like I have overcome some fears of what I thought it would be like to work out in a CrossFit gym.My goal is to one day… click here for the rest     I won’t be afraid of the box…  Believe it or not, I actually enjoy thrusters. They make me feel strong. My current lift weight is not terribly heavy but to heave that bar over my head time and time again with a squat in between is badass. But, truly, my favorite workout is done with my friends. They are all awesome, I had current friends join me at 26.2 and made new friends there. We all encourage each other, even though we are all at different levels. It’s awesome. The stigma or stereotype you hear about CrossFit is simply not true, at least not at 26.2. The coaches are patient and genuinely want to help everyone understand the benefits behind CrossFit training.  My best 26.2 story is when I ran a mile in under 10 minutes. I know there are some fast folks at the gym but for me, this really mattered. Cross training works.

I first heard about CrossFit by watching a regional event on television while shoveling greasy New York style pizza down my throat.  A few months later I was at my first WOD at 26.2, sizing up my competition of the LBN (Look Better Naked) class of soccer moms and grandmas.  The workout was 3 Rounds of 50 squats – 40 sit-ups – 30 push-ups – 20 lunges – 10 box jumps – 400m Run.  Okay cool, I can finish this easily so I set a mental goal to finish in the top 5.  Somewhere in the middle of the second round I saw people sitting down and drinking water.  Was this workout so tough they had to take a break?  It wasn’t until more of these “break takers” started gathering around me yelling, “Keep going Dave,” and “You got this Dave!”  My name isn’t Dave and I certainly did not see any other guys around.  My poor, stupid muscles were too exhausted to bother correcting them and now I just wanted nothing more than to finish the workout so they can stop “encouraging” me.  I finished last.  Those “break takers” were actually done with the workout well ahead of me.  Humble pie was devoured that day and thus started my respect for the workouts and the athletes.  What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CrossFit? (before/after)  I notice I do not tire as easily.  I found out that my attitude was more positive.  The changes I focused more on was comparing who I am now versus yesterday.  Moments when I learn a new skill helped foster more confidence in my ability to tackle any situation I may encounter in life.  This made me feel good; which was something I am glad I have control over rather than obsessing over a specific aesthetic look to which my sense of self is qualified by the opinions of others.  What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?  I am really surprised at how effective exercise with a good community helped me with my mental well-being.  Having a bad day?  Go to the gym and embrace the suck with others.  You are guaranteed to stop thinking about crap during the workout.  There is something cathartic about doing something tough with people and developing that camaraderie.  Share with us any favorite CrossFit/26.2 CrossFit moments?  After several weeks of training for my first marathon, Coach Shane wanted to do some benchmark runs to gauge progress.  So he had the endurance class run 1 mile sprints.  I got back from the mile out of breath and in between gasps asked for time.  “7 minutes 11 seconds”  “No way!  You must have started the stop watch late.”  “Dude, you really got 7 minutes 11 seconds.  Look.”  Coach Shane showed me the stopwatch and I had hard time believing it.  In middle school, my asthma was pretty bad.  I was the kid that had to carry two inhalers.  One was to help maintain my lung airways open, the other was for a rescue during an attack.  Because of this, I couldn’t run anything faster than a 9 minute mile.  I have not really run 1 minute sprints since middle school, so growing up, that was the threshold I held myself to.  So this was a pretty big deal for me.  Any advice for people just getting started?  Figure out a long term goal that will keep you motivated to consistently come to the gym.  Competition is healthy and it is okay to finish last.  Finishing the WOD is a feat in itself.  So celebrate each one you complete and focus on becoming better than who you were yesterday.  What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?  I like chasing rocket launches and follow human space exploration closely.  I also mentor high school students in designing and building robots.  I do my best to travel and enthrall myself with good eats, so if you need suggestions of local eats, hit me up.