CrossFit 2024

Let’s hear it for our April AOTM…. Dan!!!

Dan is one of our OGs. He started his CrossFit journey way back in August of 2017 and has been crushing WODs ever since! He is an awesome athlete and always works so hard to reach his goals! Dan loves waking up early, getting to the gym and working out with the other crazy 5am athletes. Also did you know Dan is releasing his own social media platform soon? We can’t wait!

Coach Jared says, “Dan has always been a fun person to have in classes. He comes in with a positive attitude, is never scared to try something new, and has been really pushing himself to his limits recently. It has been awesome to see how hard Dan is working both in the gym but also in life to achieve his goals. He’s seriously an inspiration to those of us who have big dreams in life.”

We love having you in our 2024 family Dan and we can’t wait to see all the wonderful gains in store for you! Keep it up!

Here are some fun facts about Dan:

Q: How long have you been doing CrossFit?
A:  Since 2016

Q: Why did you originally hop on the CrossFit Express?
A: I worked at a digital agency up in Connecticut who had a Crossfit gym next door as a client.  All the employees at the agency got unlimited free classes at the gym in exchange for maintaining and updating their website.  If I hadn’t had the opportunity to go for free to become acquainted with CF I often think about how things could have gone differently with my fitness journey.

Q: What motivates you to keep going and working hard?
A: Being future-minded, not just in the short term but in the long run.  There’s a high that comes after the work is put in, but the expectation of that high while the work is being done can be a powerful motivator to keep going at it.  Along with feeling good, being objectively healthy through working hard is just a good insurance policy to have for your body.

Q: What’s your favorite movements in CrossFit?
A: Box jumps and wall balls.  Box jumps I don’t really get tired of, and while wall balls tire me out I feel it all over my body the next day and it’s a great feeling.

Q: What are your long term goals (in fitness or life)?
A: I want to join a band and record music and play live.  I also want to finish my app I’ve been working on for 5 years which will hopefully help people find mutually like-minded people.

Q: What’s your biggest accomplishment since joining 2024?
A: Getting handstand pushups.  Going upside down multiple times per workout is pretty easy now.

Q: Who is someone that inspires you at the box and why?
A: David at the 5:15am class.  His motivation, perseverance and encouraging words push me through the final reps.

Q: What’s one hidden talent you have or interesting fact about you?
A: I can read sheet music.  I’m well-versed in music theory and improvisation, having played guitar, bass and piano for most of my life.  Music was the primary reason I moved to Austin.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  Anything by Woody Allen or Martin Scorsese

Q: Favorite coffee/lunch/dinner spot in ATX?
A: Cosmic Coffee and Odd Duck

Q: What’s one item on your bucket list?
A: Visit Marfa

Q: Favorite Cheat Meal?
A: New Haven Pizza

Q: What are you looking forward to the most in 2022?
A: Releasing my app

Q: What’s something you’d say to someone considering joining CrossFit for the first time?
A: I’d have to hear what their hesitations are and what’s stopping them.  If it’s about the price, I’d tell them to go to a couple free trial classes and see how they feel after.  If it’s about the intensity, I’d tell them they can always scale back and get an amazing workout in.   If it’s about intimidation, I’d say that CF’s regimented workout environment with fellow classmates is more supportive and encouraging than any independent gym setting could ever provide.