January Athlete of the Month: Christian
Christian has been at NoCoast for going on three years. Long enough to have experienced Little Blue. And in Christian's start student style, long enough to get his CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Certification, and his CrossFit Kids Certification. Long enough to smash the whiteboard on the daily, a force to be reckoned with, and a devoted Black Track Athlete. He takes care of his two girls, Elizabeth and Anna, and from this his passion for CrossFit Kids has sprung. He'll be coaching our Kids Classes on Thursday nights, and has proven himself to be an adept athlete, and now, coach. Read more about him!
Age/Weight: 47 (this month), 177
How long have you been CrossFitting? 3 years in February
Athletic/Sports history/highlights:
High School football & soccer. As an adult I did several Olympic length triathlons after college and then stayed active by running and occasionally lifting weights. I ran 2 marathons in November 2005.
How did you get into CrossFit?
My wife, Evelyn, signed me up to “try a month” as a Valentine’s Day present.
What is your favorite WOD/CrossFit movement?
WODs”: I prefer metcons and chippers…Murph or 1775 - like (longer and just-keep-moving). Movement - Squats.
What is your least favorite WOD/CrossFit movement?
One where I have to go overhead (I have some damaged tendons in both shoulders from stuff over the years). That said, I’m learning to see the value of working within the bounds of what I can do overhead (scaling weight, reps, etc) and I’ve seen physical benefits from not avoiding those movements altogether.
What is your most memorable CrossFit moment?
Participating in my first competitions this past fall is going to have some lasting impact on me going forward. Both the individual and team comps were such great learning experiences in that they added new lenses through which I now see my workouts.
How does nutrition play a role in your fitness and recovery?
Nutrition is a HUGE part of my fitness and recovery. Starting with a Clean Challenge in January of 2015 and following that up with the Performance in Summer of 2015, I found that not only did I feel better post workout (soreness essentially became a thing of the past) but I found that my body composition really changed. Prior to 2015, I thought I ate healthy and felt good but now “the veil has been lifted!” And I really notice a difference when I stray from the Zone more than a meal or two.
How has CrossFit improved your overall wellness?
The entirety of the CrossFit Experience….workouts, mobility, nutrition, community…has really taught me a lot about what total body wellness really is. I have always been active but I now see that how I was “staying in shape” (mostly running) left out several other aspects that contribute to overall wellness.
How has CrossFit changed your family?
Evelyn got started in CrossFit in 2015 after she says, “I saw Christian’s results.” We now both follow the Zone and are gradually incorporating better “balance” of macronutrients to our kids diets while still letting them be kids. Our daughters know that our workouts are a big part of our day and they look forward to CrossFit Kids days.
What is your hope for the CrossFit Kids Class that is starting this month?
My hope is that kids will learn that working out is fun and that they will get started on a lifelong path of solid movement and nutritional knowledge (we’ll be weaving that in at some point) and that they’ll learn the value of working hard alongside and encouraging others.
Advice to new people:
CrossFit is a journey…take your time…ask lots of questions…challenge yourself…try things outside your comfort zone. You have no greater community than this one and the broader CF community to support you.