There could be no better athlete to highlight this month than our good friend Carl. When I first met Carl last year I knew he was going to love CrossFit. I still remember his very first WOD and how he barely finished the workout. If you were to see him today you would have never guessed, because he's typically one of the top two or three athletes who finishes with the best time in the box. What's even more noticable is that he's lost an incredible amount of weight, gotten stronger, and if he is not cracking a joke about something, he always gives 110% in every workout.

Carl once told me that one of the best things about Fort Wayne was coming to CFFW to work out after a long day in the office, and how he would miss working out here when he moves to Michigan in a few months. I don't think I'll ever forget when he told me that, and to be honest, it's moments like that which make all the long hours we put into the box worth ever second. So this post is for Carl. He will be missed and you can bet that before he leaves there will be a WOD with Sotts Presses in them!

Name: Carl Erickson

Age: 27

Occupation: Optometrist

How were you introduced to Crossfit Fort Wayne? I was first introduced to crossfit from a collage friend.  When I moved to Fort Wayne back in July I was constantly looking for a box in the Fort Wayne area.   Then in August I found crossfitfortwayne on the main site.  It's been history ever since.

Favorite wod/lift: Sotts press, push press, deadlift, push-ups

Least favorite wod/lift: burpees, running, box jumps

Tell us about your sports and fitness background: Most of my fitness back ground comes from High School.  I participated in football where I was a defensive lineman on our State Championship Football team, and 3 time High School Wrestling Team Champion, 2x Academic All-State, 2x Individual All State in Wrestling, placing 3rd in state my senior year.  With these sports came a lot of lifting (we participated in bigger stronger faster BFS), running, and plyometric training.  After High School there was a large gap in my physical fitness.   I turned from working out every day in High School to majoring in couch potato in Collage, and Graduate School.  In my last year of graduate school I started doing P90x for roughly 6 months with decent results compared to wher

e I started.  P90x then evolved to crossfit and I have been hooked on crossfit ever since.

What kinds of changes have you experienced – physically and mentally – since starting at Crossfit Fort Wayne? Personally Crossfit Fort Wayne has changed a lot of aspects of my fitness.  I have more endurance, I'm stronger, I'm faster, I've lost weight, i'm eating better, my sleep has improved, and my mental toughness is starting to get to where it was back when I was competing in High School.

Three things you would always find in my fridge: Steak, Eggs, and Veggies.

Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me: I think most people are surprised I am a eye doctor because i'm such a goof ball in the gym.

Share with us any favorite moments at CrossFit Fort Wayne: I think the Paleo challenge was a favorite moment for me because it was the inspiration/turning point for me in losing weight, becoming a better athlete, and having better overall fitness.

Favorite physical activity outside of Crossfit Fort Wayne? I still like to mix it up in the Wrestling room when the opportunity presents itself.

Song that gets me pumped up for a workout: Anything

80's rock.

Proudest accomplishment: Deadlifting 420lbs.

How would you describe CrossFit Fort Wayne is different from other fitness facilitates out there? I think CrossFit Fort Wayne is different because the trainers care about making you a better athlete, and are constantly pushing you to be your best.  I also really enjoy the almost family type atmosphere.

6 month goal: complete a muscle up.

How would you describe CrossFit Fort Wayne as different from other fitness programs out there? Individual attention and training with a large group of supportive friends.

What advice would you give first-time Crossfitters? I think Crossfit got easier for me when i stopped worrying about trying to keep up with everyone and just work on the basic skills.  Once you improve on the basics the strength and endurance will come.

Kurt is a coach's dream athlete. He always gives everything he has and doesn't complain, even if it's overhead squats! He's made a great amount of progress since he started with us thanks to his incredible commitment and drive. And a big congratulations on his very first muscle-up!

Name: Kurt Patterson

Age: I will be 46 on March 12 – fear that wod warm up

Occupation:  Information Solutions Operations Site Manager

How were you introduced to Crossfit Fort Wayne? I first heard about CrossFit from the BeachBody message boards a few years back.  At that time there weren’t any CrossFit boxes in the Ft Wayne area so I pretty much forgot about it.  I met Andrew at the Fort 4 Fitness vendor area while picking up my race packet last September.  I pumped out 60 or so bench presses and entered my name in drawing.  Andrew called me shortly after and a few weeks later I joined.

Favorite wod/lift: Angie  ; )   But seriously, I don’t have a favorite.  I excel the best at anything with a fair amount of aerobic activity like burpees and box jumps combined with power moves like pushups, and pull-ups.  I like the wod’s that last 20 minutes or so as I believe these best simulate sprint triathlon events.

Least favorite wod/lift: Again, I don’t have a least favorite.  I struggle the most with moves like overhead squats, and snatches.  I still have flexibility issues regarding holding weight overhead and squatting with good form.  Oh, and of course, anything remotely related to rope climbing.

Tell us about your sports and fitness background:  I was an average kid growing up in the late 70’s early 80’s.  I played baseball, football, and basketball through middle school and continued baseball and football through high school only in their respective seasons.  There was no such thing as club sports back then.  I also enjoyed heavy lifting during my high school years.  After high school I moved to the fast pitch softball world for a few years and then to slow pitch, playing 100-120 games per year for a while.  In 2003 I found Power 90 by Tony Horton and lost 60+ pounds in 90 days and was awarded the June 2004 BeachBody success story (http://www.beachbody.com/product/success_stories/2004/kurt_p.do).  With my winnings from BeachBody I purchased my 1st brand new driver to go with my new found love of golf.  Ever since 2004 I have been quite active with golf and all of Tony’s products.  I have completed over 10 rounds of P90X and P90X+.  However, in 2007 I realized I needed a purpose to stay physically fit.  Working out just to work out wasn’t motivating me any longer.  I decided to give sprint triathlons a try and became addicted.  I participated in 7 sprint triathlons in 2010.  I also expanded into a few running events last year such as the Fort4Fitness 4 miler (1st place in my age group), the Galloping Gobbler, the Chicago Men’s Health Urbanathlon, and a 36 floor stair climbing event, Bop to the Top, in January.

What kinds of changes have you experienced – physically and mentally – since starting at Crossfit Fort Wayne?  Physically:  I am far more rounded athletically than I was just 4 short months ago.  Prior to CrossFit I could do tons of push-ups, strict pull-ups, curls, shoulder presses, and the like.  I could run, swim, and bike at a fair pace.  But Andrew and Sophia have opened my eyes to an entire new fitness universe that I never knew existed.  I learn something new every single day I go to the box.  I am doing things that I thought were dangerous and I am not getting hurt.  I had never tried Olympic lifting and had never heard of a burpee?  Oh, and the stretching.  Oh my gosh.  I can now do things I have NEVER been able to do.  I once told Sophia to call 911 if I bent over backwards and touch my heels.  Now I do it with ease.  I know I still have a long way to go but the journey has been amazing so far.

Mentally: CrossFit is a mindset.  You have to have the “it” that is talked about so much in athletics.  The “it” that makes you push through when everything inside you is telling you to stop.  I feel like I am closer to finding my “it”.  I still have some items to shore up.  But I am definitely getting closer.  I fear every wod.  But I know I will complete every wod.  I use this mindset in everything I do.

Three things you would always find in my fridge:  Eggs, sliced/shave turkey, berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries)

Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me: Angie and I competed in a ballroom dance competition in July 2009.  We performed the Rumba to The Police - Every Breath you Take.  No pictures or video exists.  They have all been destroyed!

Song that gets me pumped up for a workout: Nothing specific.  I am not allowed to use electronic gear in triathlons and have never trained to music.  In my youth I would to listen to BTO Takin’ Care of Business and Meatloaf Paradise by Dashboard Light (the baseball portion only) prior to baseball games.  Prior to football games at Dwenger we listened to Queen We Will Rock You in the locker before the game. Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Share with us any favorite moments at CrossFit Fort Wayne: Every moment at the box is a favorite moment.  CrossFit Ft Wayne is remarkable family.  Everyone cheers on each other while at the same time competing against one another.  We can be in the middle of a wod and you will hear the person next you cheer for you while they are gasping for air and trying to do more and go faster than you.  It’s really hard to explain.  A few of my most memorable moments are:  one of my 1st wod’s consisting of overhead squats and monster truck tire flips as I was hopelessly trying to keep up with Jeff, discussing Oreo cookies with Sophia : ), getting killed by Anne in the Fran challenge, and accomplishing my 1st kipping pull-up.

Favorite physical activity outside of Crossfit Fort Wayne? I have already talked about golf and sprint triathlons.  So I will go with coaching girls’ basketball.  If you don’t think coaching is physical you need to come to one of my practices.  I run sprints, do burpees, scrimmage, perform drills, and just about everything else it takes to mature my team to the highest possible level of play.  Many times I walk out practice in a full sweat.

Proudest accomplishment(s):  Life is too full to have just 1.  My proudest life accomplishments are enticing a beautiful woman to be my wife, raising 2 amazing daughters and adding a son-in-law to our family.  My proudest athletic accomplishments include winning the Ft Wayne City Little League baseball championship in 1977 with my father as a coach, coaching my oldest daughters middle school basketball team to an 88-0 career record, improving my USGA handicap from 25 to 6 from 2005-2007 (now at 9), and completing the Men’s Health Chicago Urbanathlon this past October.
6 month goal:  1) “Place” (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in my age group in a Sprint triathlon event.  I have finished 4th twice in the past 4 years.  2) Run a 5k at a 7 minute per mile pace.

How would you describe CrossFit Fort Wayne as different from other fitness programs out there? I have belonged to the YMCA, and I still belong to Spiece.  I have extensive experience with in home fitness DVD’s as I own just about every DVD Tony Horton has ever created.  You can become physically fit at one of these facilities or by following a DVD program but you are out there totally on your own.  CFFW is far different than either of these types of fitness ideologies.  CFFW is first and foremost a family.  Everyone knows everyone.  Everyone supports one another.  This is the glue that pulls the box together.  CFFW isn’t just a building with weights, bars, ropes and gymnastics equipment.  CFFW is alive.  It lives and breathes.  It’s a place where you will revel in the finest instruction, encouragement, intensity, and success from Andrew, Sophia, not to mention all of your fellow CrossFitter’s.

What advice would you give first-time Crossfitters? I would say that a 1st timer should be ready to have their fitness world rocked every time they step in the box and begin a wod.    I would tell them to give it all they have, keep pushing though and don’t stop.  Everyone can do this if they give the effort and have the desire.  And if they stick with it for a period of time, learn the moves and bring it every time, they will find themselves in an elite athletic realm in the near future.

Name: Holly

Age: 36

Occupation: Homemaker (Proud mom of two children)

How were you introduced to CFFW?: I began Crossfitting at Crossfit Indy North in Noblesville. Before we moved to Fort Wayne in May, I began checking the main site, looking for CF affiliates in Fort Wayne. Everything fell into place when CFFW created their website, and I found it. I was actually the first person to begin WOD’s at CFFW.

Favorite WOD/lift: Call me crazy, but I love any WOD with burpees in it. I also like anything with a gymnastics element to it. I don’t really have a favorite lift because they are all hard for me...although I like the challenge.

Least favorite WOD/lift: The least favorite WOD is one with a snatch in it. Because I’ve had two kids, I’m also not a fan of double-unders (use your imagination).

Tell us about your sports and fitness background: Until my early twenties, I was a soda drinking, non-exercising girl. In my twenties, I started running 6 days a week and no more soda’s for me. I completely changed my eating habits to Paleo with dairy about 6 years ago. Now I am totally Paleo thanks to the challenge.  I was encouraged to add in strength training, so I did that (and ran) until about a year and a half ago, when I started Crossfit. Although I’ve had great personal trainers prior to Crossfit, nothing compares to the overall fitness level I get with Crossfit.

What kinds of changes have you experienced - physically and mentally - since starting at CFFW?: Physically, I am a lot stronger. I couldn’t do pull-ups without a band before CFFW. On the mental side, I typically come to the 6:00a.m. class, which leaves me feeling like I get my day started off right.

Three things you would always find in my fridge: grapes, water, broccoli

Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me: I am a big St. Louis Cardinal fan.

Song that gets me pumped up for a workout: Any 80's rap/dance music. I also have to admit that I like a little Metallica sometimes.

Share with us any favorite moments at CFFW: Anytime I’m not the only athlete at the 6:00a.m. class. Thanks, Lydia and Connie.

Favorite physical activity outside of CFFW?: going for a run

Proudest accomplishment(s): Getting a pull-up, almost getting a handstand push-up (without an Abmat), getting through natural childbirth with no meds

How would you describe CFFW as different from other fitness programs out there?: It’s so obvious now what a joke machines are in terms of the lack of functionality. Also, it’s no wonder so many people can’t stick with other workout programs because there’s so much less variety than with CF.

What advice would you give first-time Crossfitters: Don’t be afraid to scale weight and modify if you need to. Everyone can CF. Don’t be intimidated by group workouts. We’re all here to support and encourage each other.

Over the past few years I've had the opportunity to coach some outstanding athletes with some amazing physical abilities. Yet what I have learned is that while those things are good it doesn't amount to much if you don't have the power to concentrate and focus on the task at hand. While many athletes mentally "check out" towards the end of workouts, you'll find Rachel pushing harder than anyone I've ever known. No matter what I throw at her, or how many burpees I have her do, she always manages to come out on top.  

As a trainer one of the greatest accomplishments is seeing someone succeed and go beyond what they thought they were capable of doing. This was the case with Andrea. When she walked into CrossFit Fort Wayne she was out of shape, could not squat, and had a hard time getting through any kind of workout. However, with some help she persevered and pushed herself even when she wanted to give up.

What motivates someone to keep going? What drives a person to never say die? I'm sure we all have different reasons, but for Andrea her motivation was and still is to be able to have the physical endurance to coach her daughter's soccer team.  We are all very proud of you Andrea, and you are a true example of what it means to be mentally and physically tough! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Name: Andrea Soper

Occupation: Programmer/Web Developer

 How were you introduced to CrossFit Fort Wayne? Searched on http://crossfit.com/

 How has CrossFit Fort Wayne impacted your life/what changes have you seen in yourself since starting? Before CFFW, due to some still nebulous health issues, I was gaining weight at an alarming rate in spite of a pretty good diet and no significant lifestyle changes.  When I did exercise, I could see myself losing strength, endurance, and flexibility. I’ve lost mobility and don’t recognize myself in the mirror.  CrossFit Fort Wayne has given me hope I can get my life back. I’m down a few pounds, but more importantly, I feel stronger and I have some control over my body again. Okay, I’m sorry it sounds like a cheesy weight loss program testimonial.

 Favorite WOD/lift: Anything that makes me improve. Right now, I’m digging the shoulder stretches and getting closer to a back squat.

 Least favorite WOD/lift: Ironically, the same as my favorite. If it hurts, I need to do more of it.

 I have always wanted... A pony? Seriously, I have everything I could ever want. Life is Good.

 1 word people use to describe me: Obsessive.

 Three things you would ALWAYS find in my fridge: Egg substitute, Lemon Juice, and Leftovers... Lots of leftovers.

 Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me: Probably that I’m a CrossFit Fort Wayne Athlete of the Month! Who knew?

 Favorite physical activity outside of CrossFit? Swimming and Soccer.

 Song that gets me pumped up for a workout: Depends on my mood. “Rhythm of the Heat” by Peter Gabriel, Disturbed “I’m Alive”, or “Hey Mama” from The Black Eyed Peas. Yeah, its a wide variety. What can I say? I married a musician. Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

  Proudest accomplishment: My kids. They’re smart, fun, happy, young people. I’m unbelievably proud to have been able to play a role in who they are today.

6 Month goal: Feel confident enough to drop in on Zombie Fit (http://zombiefit.org/) while I’m in Chicago in March. Get rid of all the fat clothes I’ve had to buy the last few months.

How do you see CrossFit Fort Wayne as different from other programs? Other programs don’t have Andrew and Sophia. I couldn’t do it without you guys! (I know because I tried!)

 Advice for newbies to CrossFit Fort Wayne: Heck, I’m still a newbie myself... Maybe just to eat well and do your best. Leave everything you’ve got at the gym so you’ll have more to give next time.