Athlete of the Month

Welcome to February, a month of Celebrations! Groundhog day, Valentine’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, President’s Day, Fat Tuesday…the list goes on. And we can’t think of anyone we’d rather celebrate them all with than our February AOTM, Paulino Sanchez. He loves burpees??!! His favorite restaurant has the word “Fat” in the name? He makes fun of his own dogs! This is a man you must meet.

Q: What got you interested in CrossFit?

I hit a plateau in my fitness and I was in desperate need for a change/challenge. CrossFit was the perfect fit for what I needed. It offered me intensity and the new push that my body and mind were craving.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?

I really enjoy gymnastic movements and burpees. Unlike most people, I do not mind burpees at all. The fact that I am 5’7” probably helps given that my center of gravity is close to the ground. My most challenging movement is the snatch. I have a hard time activating my hamstrings and popping my hips. Slowly but surely and thanks to the coaches, I have been learning to use and incorporate my hamstrings and popping my hips into the prescribed workouts.

Q: What do you do for work?

Graphic Designer – I am an Art Director for a design agency. I specialize in retail design and visual merchandising.  Home Depot and Walmart have been my main clients for the past couple of years.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?

Spending time with kids (my two fat pugs named Jackson and Henry).

Q: Favorite music to work out to? Favorite music to relax to? OR Favorite Atlanta Restaurant? OR Favorite Vacation spot?

My favorite restaurant is Le Fat in West Midtown. I am a big fan of Vietnamese food and their clay pot is exquisite. In terms of music, I have an eclectic music taste. I like everything from country to pop music.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?

Just do it and take risks. Do not think about it twice. Most importantly, do not let the sport intimidate you. The gains and results you see down the line are enormous. Hard work pays off. You become stronger both physically and mentally.

New Year! Same questions! Different answers! Start 2016 off on the right foot by making a new gym-friend and introducing yourself to this month’s AOTM, Pip Clarke. Here are some interesting tidbits about Pip to get the conversation started! She’s living proof that once you overcome your fear of “Death by CrossFit” it’s actually a pretty fun sport.

Q: What got you interested in CrossFit?

I started paleo two years ago which ultimately led me to regular gym stuff. I soon became bored of it and wasn’t really noticing any real differences. I wanted to try CrossFit for a while but I was scared of it and definitely thought I would die, so I waited until two friends of mine would go with me. I waited until after my lacrosse practices every day to go to CrossFit and that quickly became my favorite part of the day. I couldn’t imagine a day without it (except rest days) 🙂

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?

Favorite would have to be rowing or any type of squatting, least favorite would be pushups or wallballs.

Q: What do you do for work?

I am a Freshman at Georgia State University.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work
(other than CrossFit)?

I enjoy cooking, being outside and travelling back home to The Netherlands every now and then. I also love painting!

Q: Favorite music to work out to? Favorite music to relax to? OR Favorite Atlanta Restaurant? OR Favorite Vacation spot?

My favorite music to workout and relax to would be house/electronic music.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?

Although CrossFit is tough it’s super fun, testing your limits or just getting a quick workout in is so worth your time. I have met so many cool people through the 2 gyms I have spent time in. I have had my best and worst days in the gym and I still come back for more and I wish everyone would at least try it once. Being able to learn new movements and get stronger is such a valuable experience and Terminus has been such a cool part of my college experience so far.

 

Fall is here and that means it’s time to meet our next AOTM Kayla Rose! 6 burning questions! 6 scintillating answers! 1 request: MORE METAL! You don’t know how long Coach Ben has been waiting to hear those words…

Q: What got you interested in CrossFit?

I was actually long-distance dating a guy who had a really hot, fit friend who said he did CrossFit.  I didn’t want to look like an idiot for not knowing what that was, so I was like “cool”.  I went home later and googled it and saw that there was a gym in my city (Las Cruces, NM).  I went to the intro one-on-one session to check it out and I’ve been in love ever since.

Q:Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?

CrossFit Terminus has actually made me a good runner!  I kind of workouts with running in them now.  Snatches, too.  And I’ve always loved squats.  Least favorite is definitely any form of pull-ups.  I still hate them.

Q: What do you do for a living?

I am an oncology nurse at Emory University Hospital.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?

I am an avid hiker.  I’m doing what they call “highpointing” where I hike the tallest peak in every state.  I just started not too long ago and I’ve tackled 6 states, including Mt. Elbert (14,439 ft) – the 3rd highest peak in the US!

Q: Favorite music to work out to? Favorite music to relax to?  OR Favorite Atlanta Restaurant? OR Favorite Vacation Spot?

I actually like working out to metal which has only happened a couple times at Terminus (ha!).  Girl Talk is great workout music, too.  I have to mention a restaurant called Gusto, which Squat Mafia’s Kristina Grabbe told me about.  It’s owned by Nate Hybl (former OU & NFL quarterback and overall cool guy) and it’s amazing and healthy!!!  I’ve been there about a million times.  I just wish it was closer to the gym!!

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?

Smile and enjoy the challenge!!  Be prepared to fall in love and throw your old fitness routine out the window because you won’t need it.  Also, if you end up liking it as much I think you will, plan on going to CrossFit at least 3 times a week to get the full benefit of the programming and have the chance to practice all of the movements.  If you go any less than that, you risk missing important things like rope climbs or double unders!

Meet our second AOTM Allen Gaoiran! Allen is a fixture of the 6:00 a.m. class and not only manages to bring his “A-Game” every day, but show up with a smile!

We asked Allen 6 questions and he answered the call. If you have not met Allen, now you know how to break the ice next time you see him!

Q: What got you interested in CrossFit?

I needed a change in my exercise routine. I was living in SF at the time and was going to a run-of-the-mill fitness gym. Boring and monotonous is what I would describe my exercise routine. I was in need for something different. One day I noticed people running on the sidewalk with wall balls outside my office window and thought, “huh, thats different” but didn’t think anything of it. That weekend I went to Baltimore for a wedding and was planning on going to the hotel gym for a quick workout. My brother-in-law mentioned that he was going to workout at a Crossfit gym. I followed him and saw a stack of wall-balls in the corner and put two together. I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve been doing crossfit for about 4 years. Each day is a different physical and mental challenge. I like it because it preps me for the day. I also love the sense of community.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout or movement? Least favorite?

My favorite workout / movement is the squat snatch. Its challenging for me but like the dynamic complex movement it requires. My least favorite is running. I feel like I am the slowest on earth (editor’s note: this is totally not true. He regularly runs me into the ground at 6:00 a.m.)

Q: What do you do for a living?

I am a creative director / brand strategist and designer. I’ve designed a range of products from food/beverage to beauty to liquor. I launched Dove for Men, Herbal Essences, Estee Lauder, Ciroc and Johnnie Walker just to name a few. I also designed the branding my brother-in-law’s Crossfit gym in Smyrna a few years ago.

Q: What’s your favorite hobby, pastime or interest outside of work (other than CrossFit)?

Any type of arts, visual, music, performance. I love to draw, paint or any type of handcrafting. Anything that involves creating things with my hands, sign me up. It’s therapeutic for me. Its a chance for me to tune everything out and let my mind flow without any rules.

Q: Favorite music to work out to? Favorite music to relax to?  OR Favorite Atlanta Restaurant?  OR Favorite Vacation spot

Favorite music to workout to is 80’s pop. I like to secretly sing-along. I’ll tune in to classical to relax and refocus.

Q: Any advice for someone considering trying CrossFit for the first time?

You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain (both physical and mental). When I first started the programming, I was convinced that I was not capable lasting through a workout without giving up. For weeks, I was slow and delirious but didn’t give in. It was about showing up everyday, try my best and face my weaknesses. A few months in, I noticed myself getting stronger and more efficient not only in the gym but in other parts of my life. I love to see others around me improve, it inspires me to do better. Ben & Emily and the community at Terminus is the best you can ever ask for. You’ll get the best coaching, you’ll get stronger while meeting an amazing group of people.