November 2016

CrossFit Midtown is very excited to announce our November 2016 Member of the Month, Chris Hovis! Read on to learn more about Chris and his CrossFit journey. Thank you for being such an outstanding member of the CFM community!

Name: Chris Hovis
Nickname: Hovis or “HOVA”
Age: 46
Hometown: grew up in Logan, WV and have lived in Roswell, GA for 17 yrs

How did you get exposed to CrossFit? A friend/co-worker (Katie) got into CrossFit, including a Level 1 certification, to get ready for her wedding. She was looking for people to join her in workouts, and I was interested in doing a Tough Mudder. So, I and another friend/co-worker (Kaivalya, aka “K”) decided to join her for workouts at LA Fitness. We downloaded and adapted workouts, primarily from the main site and Sealfit.com, with an emphasis on cardio and bodyweight exercises.

What brought you to CrossFit Midtown? Our workout group slowly dissipated after Katie got married and moved to Memphis, and K eventually decided to go to B-School at UNC. It wasn’t the same working out on my own… So, after a while, I was really interested in trying out the programming and community at a CrossFit box. CFM, which is near my office, had recently opened around that time, so I gave it a try and have been there ever since.

What was your very first day at CrossFit Midtown like? It was a combination of exciting and overwhelming. The community was a good mix of folks and welcoming. The baseline workout wasn’t too intimidating since it’s focused on cardio and bodyweight exercises, which I had been doing. However, it was a quite eye-opening to see the weights being thrown around by some of the folks in the regular class.

What changes have you seen in your overall health and fitness level since starting CrossFit? While I played baseball and basketball in high school and a year in college (D-III), and have participated in a range of sports (including sprint triathlons) for many years, I am as strong (maybe stronger) and fit overall as I have ever been. CrossFit has helped me add lean muscle mass while staying in great cardio shape.

What kind of changes have you you experienced since starting CrossFit that were completely unexpected?
I really enjoy the “community” aspect and have made many new friends at CFM and other boxes around town, as my wife also got into CrossFit and now coaches kids and adults. I try to drop into a local box when I travel, and CrossFit serves as an instant bond with people that I meet around the country and world. Also, pushing myself in workouts with people that range from my age to half my age has kept me feeling “young”.

Favorite WOD: In general, I like most anything that includes rope climbs, wall balls and/or double unders. I also like Hero WODs at a manageable weight (for me). A favorite is RALPH – 4 Rounds For Time: 8 Deadlifts (250/165 lbs), 16 Burpees, 3 Rope Climb (15 ft), 600 Meter Run.

Least favorite WOD: Most anything that includes pistols or overhead squats.

Favorite CrossFit Midtown moment: While there have been many great memories, I will always remember walking into the first CFM party I attended to see “The Round Mound of Rebound” drinking tequila shots from an ice sculpture, and thinking ‘is that Paleo?’ 

Hobbies, Talents and or Interests Outside of CrossFit: Outside of working and spending time with my kids, I enjoy basketball, football, golf and traveling.

Advice for new CrossFitters: “Check your ego at the door”, learn proper form first, stick with it and great results will come. And, have fun!