- CrossFit Level 1
- Specialty Seminars: Running and Endurance, Olympic Lifting, Gymnastics and Nutrition
I've been into working out and physical fitness in some form or capacity since I was in high school. I started racing triathlons when I was 13 and completed my first marathon in 1990 at the age of 16. I joined the U.S. Army right after high school where I served as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While stationed at Fort Bragg, I always excelled at physical fitness and started weight lifting on a regular basis when I turned 19, both for aesthetics and to make myself a better soldier. During the mid 1990's I took it a step further and competed in a few bodybuilding contests in Central Florida while I was attending the University of Florida. After this phase, I continued to work out, lift weights, and run on a regular basis to keep up with my physical fitness.
I joined the Army once again shortly after September 11, 2001 and served as a Team Leader with H Company 121st Infantry/Airborne/Long Range Surveillance from 2001-2005. During my second enlistment I discovered the need for more functional fitness and began to incorporate sandbag training, obstacles, and ruck running into my routine. Shortly after that enlistment, an Army buddy started talking to me about CrossFit. After two years of him encouraging me to try it, I finally tried an intro workout at a CrossFit Smyrna in 2008. I loved the group class dynamic with everyone engaging in the same challenging workout together. I trained there for about 8 months before getting my CrossFit Level 1 in December 2008. A few months later I recognized a need for a CrossFit box in the East Cobb area and shortly after that, June 2009, CrossFit East Cobb opened its doors for business.
Over the past 9 years of coaching CrossFit, I've also been able to use the methodology and experience I've gained along the way to complete 5 Pinhoti 100 mile ultra marathons (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017) and 3 full distance IronMan Triathlons, Louisville in 2012 and Lake Placid in 2017 and 2018. I can honestly say that I am in better shape at age 44 than I ever have been in my life, and a big part of that comes from the type of training we do at CFEC.
What I love about CrossFit East Cobb is our own unique spin on CrossFit that we have developed over the years. At CFEC, our main emphasis is on the time tested and proven strength training exercises like the back squat, shoulder press, bench press, and deadlift using free weights (barbells and dumbells) in conjunction with longer conditioning workouts that incorporate a variety of exercises and movements that you rarely see at other fitness facilities.
