By sitting in a college classroom when my friend did a presentation on CrossFit. They were talking about the long term benefits and consistency of functional training instead of using concentration machines. Hearing the words, “race against the clock,” “all about how hard you work” I couldn’t get over it. I was instantly sold, and followed the guy out of class asking how you got to this place. How I could drive there to start. That ended up in me being in the gym for 3-4 hours every single morning before I spent all day at my job, and I eventually transferred everything in my life to focusing around Crossfit.
How does Crossfit training compare with your training as a track and field athlete in college?
There are a lot of similarities to running middle distance and sprint events in college. We know our numbers, and we know what is expected of us. We know we can’t be 100% everyday, but there are specific days in training that are “testing” and that means you better be ready to perform. One is perfectly “specialized,” and the other is perfectly “unspecialized”
How has the way you train for Crossfit changed over the years?
When I first started training for CrossFit I would only make crazy workouts with heavy loads in them. That’s how I got stronger was by upping the crazy weight in the metcons/cardio workouts. Throughout the years I have completely changed and spent a lot of time separating and focusing on the strength training.
Do you do more than one CrossFit workout per day?
Yes, five days a week I do lots of volume.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working out?
Sometimes country, rap, hip hop, metal, I really do listen to any kind of music, but I have my favorites and when they come on I’m like “that’s my jam!!”
We all have at least one, what is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Oh… probably either how many times I’ve played “Someone else” by Miley Cyrus or how much I sing outloud to any Drake song… all business.
What is the biggest misconception about CrossFit?
That “it hurts you.” As CrossFitters we have occasional joint pains, but so does every sport. I remember the athletic training room in college was always chock full of athletes going through something they would soon get over whether it was in the weight room or an intense moment on the field. what do we not have? Heart disease, diabetes, medical problems that are caused from neglect and a bad diet and no exercise.
What does your diet look like?
Red Meat, lean meat, Vegetables, Fruits, Potatoes, Milk, and lots of eggs!
What are the top 10 foods we would find in our kitchen?
Avacado
Almonds
Steak
Orange
Spinach
Eggs
Sweet potato
Chicken
Broccoli
Chocolate
What are your favorite and least favorite CrossFit exercises?
Favorite: Over Head Squat
Least favorite: Paralette HSPU
If you could give somebody starting in CrossFit some advice what would it be?
Don’t lose a day. Learn something, watch something, talk to coaches, watch people train, and when you learn a new skill, show someone else so that it sticks in your memory and you’ll never lose it.
Tell us about your biggest CrossFit influence?
I used to watch videos of Kristen Clever and Heather Burgeron when I was new at CrossFit, and coaches that described gymnastics movements that involved kipping because I never understood it!
Favorite cheat food?
Cookie dough ice cream or chocolate
Do you take any supplements?
Yes, NutriForce protein and Fish oil.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully a lot of things that I’m currently chasing and things I can’t expect. I am currently focusing on training for the CrossFit Games, and traveling to teach seminars every few weekends. I love always being “in the gym” and am taking all my goals like opening up my own CrossFit gym to the side right now so that I can focus in on training. I want to reach as many people as I can and tell them what fuels me, and where I come from. I want to be able to explain how I lean on and trust God’s plan in every aspect. We are called in the bible to LOVE people, and that’s exactly how I feel about the athletes I coach and the competitors I meet to train and compete with. My future is to spread the love.
