June 2018

CrossFit Midtown is very excited to announce our May Member of the Month, Kevin Bond! Kevin has been a member for a little over a year and has been lifting all the weights and crushing the WODs! Read on to learn more about Kevin and his CrossFit journey. Thank you for being such an outstanding member of the CFM community!

Nickname: Mr. Bond, Smiles
Age: 28
Hometown: Somethings need to be kept a secret.

How did you get exposed to CrossFit?
I enjoyed lifting weights and distance running, so several of my friends insisted I check CrossFit out. I was hesitant, but after a couple of false starts, I finished the intro classes (on the second try) and was hooked.

What brought you to CrossFit Midtown?
Location. I spend a lot of time in midtown and it’s great that the gym is always just a couple of minutes away. Convenience makes a huge difference. I would miss way more classes if it was further away.

What was your very first day at CrossFit Midtown like?
My first day at CrossFit Midtown was actually as a drop-in. I was visiting from out-of-town and it was the closest gym to my hotel. I arrived right as class was finishing and just remember seeing how happy (and tired) everyone was. I remember thinking if I ever moved to Atlanta, this is where I would want to work out.

What changes have you seen in your overall health and fitness level since starting CrossFit?
I have experienced constant and continuous improvement. Also, with some nutrition tweaks, I’ve had a consistent, positive change in my body composition, too. CrossFit has also completely changed my relationship with fitness. Before I was only doing things I knew I could already do, which made working out tedious and boring. Now there’s always some new movement or standard that forces me to step outside of my comfort zone in order to grow.

What kind of changes have you you experienced since starting CrossFit that were completely unexpected?
I have enjoyed getting to know the CrossFit Midtown community. Whether it’s trying to keep up with Paul in open gym or discussing the movement mechanics with Carey and Pat or laughing with Holland, the community definitely makes the experience.

Favorite WOD:
Ummmm… maybe Grace? (short and sweet)

Least favorite WOD:
Definitely Fran (also short and sweet but tough) or Nancy

Favorite CrossFit Midtown moment:
I really enjoyed watching Michael crush 18.2(a) and then fall into what can only be described as a WOD coma. I hope someone can post a picture of that here. I hope one day I can go into a WOD coma too!

Hobbies, Talents and or Interests Outside of CrossFit:
I’m trying to get into cooking more. I tend to just cook plain stuff to save time but have sort of been working on making things that meet my nutritional needs and are tasty.

Advice for new CrossFitters:
My favorite thing about CrossFit is how time efficient it is. It’s only for one hour a day and basically all you have to do is show up. Of course, you have to try once you do show up, but I think showing up is 90% of the battle. Once you do, the coaches help take it from there. I think this is especially important for days where programming includes movements you’re not good at. Showing up for your weaknesses can yield a lot of unexpected, positive results if you’re willing to put the time in. I should take this advice with pistols.
Also, the first year of CrossFit is marked with significant improvements but at, some point, the gains may taper. For me this was initially frustrating, but I now look forward to whenever it feels like I’m plateauing. It’s sort of like a puzzle. At these times, I’ve found that the coaches are incredibly helpful in figuring out the next steps.