June Athlete of the Month: Dylan Stanton
Congratulations, Dylan! You’re our NoCoast Athlete of the Month!!
Dylan has been a member at NoCoast for exactly 1 year now! In December he had shoulder surgery and we have been so impressed with his consistency, hard work, and most importantly, his determination to come back from a major surgery! Dylan has been so methodical in his recovery and willing to try and do new things; it's really cool to see his progress!
Congratulations on Athlete of the Month and for 1 year of CrossFit!
Quotes from Dylan:
“I had shoulder surgery in December and have since hit all my pre-surgery lifting PRs - most of them within 3 months of Surgery, and 1 month of being out of the sling. I largely contribute my recovery speed to NoCoast's staff for helping me modify movements in a way that was still challenging but safe for my shoulder. Even on days when I couldn't pick up a barbell, we worked on hip power and explosiveness, which allowed me to make progress in my olympic lifts without even touching weight. Some of the coaches have joked with me that I could be a huge success story for my surgeon, but I think I'm largely a product of NoCoast and CrossFit, as they helped me find ways to stay strong during rehab so I wouldn't miss a beat once I was cleared.”
“CrossFit has quickly become something I look forward to every day. Not only does the workout rock, but the friendships I've built also extend beyond the gym. I'm very thankful for NoCoast's approach to physical and mental wellness. No matter what kind of day I'm having, good or bad, it always becomes more positive after I've left the gym. It teaches lessons in perseverance, camaraderie, and discipline that can be hard to find in normal adult life. Being fresh out of college, I struggled to find something besides sports that pushed me physically and mentally, but CrossFit became a great new opportunity to continue pursuing my competitive spirit.”
Age/Weight:
23 | 220lbs
Athletic/Sports history/highlights:
I have played sports my whole life - a little bit of football and basketball, but focusing on lacrosse since 6th grade thru college, and now I coach lacrosse full time. I believe that sports/athletics in general contribute to personal development on a physical and mental level, so I have always strived to stay active. The things we can learn from athletics transcend normal day-to-day life.
How long have you been CrossFitting?
June 2020. Exactly a year!
How did you get into CrossFit?
I had watched the CrossFit Games on TV a lot as a kid and always was intrigued to join and compete. Ethan and Brian (from the gym) introduced me to NoCoast, and I never looked back. I have seen significant progress in my overall fitness, and don't plan to change any time soon.
What is your favorite WOD/CrossFit movement?
All barbell movements are my favorite because I come from a lifting background - Clean\Jerk probably tops the list, but I think what I like most about CrossFit is that it's constantly varied. I've tried about every workout regimen I could find online but always got burned out in one way or another. CrossFit keeps it fresh and interesting, and makes the barbell days that much sweeter!
What is your least favorite WOD/CrossFit movement?
I HATE burpees. Between a bum shoulder and being tall, getting up off the ground really sucks.
What is your most memorable CrossFit moment?
Either my first muscle-up that I got 1 day prior to shoulder surgery or rope climbs - I could never climb a rope in elementary/middle school gym classes because it never clicked for me but the NoCoast staff helped me a lot with my strength and technique, and now I feel comfortable climbing a rope! My first muscle-up was a big deal too because I tore my labrum in 7th grade and always struggled with gymnastic movements and even just day-to-day living. I am not back to the point where I can do a muscle-up yet, but that's my benchmark for being 100% recovered from surgery and I hope to get there soon so I can continue challenging myself with other things I've never been able to do. HSPU is first on the list of goals!
How does nutrition play a role in your fitness and recovery?
Nutrition is huge. I don't always follow a good routine (I LOVE wings) but I feel much better and capable of achieving the movement/intensity standards necessary to compete in CrossFit when I fuel my body well. I am still exploring the balance between competition/leisure, but I can wholeheartedly say I feel better working out on days when I commit to taking care of myself. I feel drained, like I'm not reaching my full potential, if I don't properly fuel and rest my body.
How has CrossFit helped you recover from shoulder surgery?
I had shoulder surgery in December and have since hit all my pre-surgery lifting PRs - most of them within 3 months of Surgery, and 1 month of being out of the sling. I largely contribute my recovery speed to NoCoast's staff for helping me modify movements in a way that was still challenging but safe for my shoulder. Even on days when I couldn't pick up a barbell, we worked on hip power and explosiveness, which allowed me to make progress in my Olympic lifts without even touching weight. Some of the coaches have joked with me that I could be a huge success story for my surgeon, but I think I'm largely a product of NoCoast and CrossFit, as they helped me find ways to stay strong during rehab so I wouldn't miss a beat once I was cleared.
How has CrossFit improved your overall wellness?
CrossFit has quickly become something I look forward to every day. Not only does the workout rock, but the friendships I've built also extend beyond the gym. I'm very thankful for NoCoast's approach to physical and mental wellness. No matter what kind of day I'm having, good or bad, it always becomes more positive after I've left the gym. It teaches lessons in perseverance, camaraderie, and discipline that can be hard to find in normal adult life. Being fresh out of college, I struggled to find something besides sports that pushed me physically and mentally, but CrossFit became a great new opportunity to continue pursuing my competitive spirit.
Advice to new people:
I think the last 10 AOTMs have said this, but stick with it. Power through the soreness, don't be nervous to go RX if you're capable. Don't cherry pick workouts. The workouts push you to new extremes you may not have thought your body could handle, but you will leave every day feeling successful. Even on your worst day, you know you've accomplished something. The workouts that seem the hardest on paper are usually the most rewarding, so I would encourage anyone and everyone to push through their reservations and try something new/challenging. You never know what workout will suddenly become one of your milestones.