We have so much appreciation for our community, and love to highlight one athlete each month that exemplifies hard work and commitment. Meet Mirza! Mirza joined the Terminus crew around nine months ago, and has done a complete 180, becoming a morning person! Dedicating himself to his fitness both in and out of the gym, Mirza is on his way to fitness greatness! Let’s dive into his journey at Terminus a little further, and make sure to give him a high five the next time you see him in the gym!
Q: How long have you been going to Terminus? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since joining?
I’ve been with Terminus for nine months. I’m still shocked I’ve become a morning person. I’m usually a night owl so having the 6am classes changed my sleeping habits, which I honestly don’t mind.
Q: How has your journey at Terminus helped you outside the gym?
Morning workouts have made me more alert throughout the day, which is always a plus. Also having free evenings led me to start strength training after work. Pairing the two has been steadily helping my overall growth. I just need to sprinkle in some yoga ‘cause my muscle recovery isn’t what it was in my twenties.
Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?
The fan in the back corner, set on the highest speed! Whenever I’m about to fall from exhaustion, it’s the wind beneath my wings. But actually, it’s the entire 6am crew. When I first started Terminus and I was finishing dead last in class, having everyone cheer my name was such a surreal feeling. It was awkward for a second, but it quickly pushed me to follow through. (Peer pressure works!) I also have to give a special shoutout to this one French guy who goes to the afternoon classes.… Hehe. After seeing the transformation Crossfit had on Arnaud in just a few years, I remember saying ‘I want that, let’s go!’, and I’ve not stopped pushing myself since. I’d like to think stubbornness and tenacity are the keys to life.
Q: How would you describe what it’s like to be a part of Terminus?
It’s cool to see people from all over, pause their life and give one hour of their day to put themselves through the same rigorous workout you’re doing. I like that mentality of ‘it doesn’t matter what’s happening, for the next hour, this is everything’.
Q: Tell us about your first day of class at Terminus.
I didn’t throw up so I felt I crushed it! I signed up for the free trial class October 4th at 5:15pm and got there late, but Bryson didn’t say anything so it all worked out. I remember having to do bikes, sumo deadlifts and a humorous attempt at a handstand push-up. One of those three was severely scaled.
Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
Senior year at Georgia State I made a stop-motion short for my film production final. My teacher laughed because he didn’t think I’d get it done in time or that it wouldn’t be good enough quality to pass the class. He ended up submitting it to the student film festival on my behalf, which got it showcased at the High Museum and later played at The Plaza Theater for Atlanta Celebrates Photography. The film that almost wasn’t had a fun little journey that year. I also worked in the costumes department on season 5 of ‘The Walking Dead’. The smell of zombie blood is very interesting… and adds about twenty pounds to the clothes.
Q: What are your top 3 memories or proudest moments in CrossFit?
It would have to be completing my first ‘Murph’. I scaled it, but I finished in JUST under an hour. The second would be doing my first Crossfit Open. Definitely scaled that one too, but it was a very fun experience seeing all the different skill levels sharing the same space. I have to work more on my outfits for next year’s themes though. Lastly, the fact I’ve gone from doing barely any pull-ups without a box or some sort of assistance to stringing ten kips in a row was something I didn’t see happening as fast as it did. Oh! And rope-climbing ‘cause it’s just fun.
Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term goals in the gym?