What can be said about JT that you guys don’t already know? He is 1/2 of our CrossFit Power Couple. He came to us a relatively broken man after his long physio stint, but a lot of hard work, not just during the workouts, but extra stuff before and after has led to JT thriving and getting back to doing what he loves. Love seeing this guy walk in the gym. I should note that he mentions the initial assessment where he feels he scored poorly, well.. sorry JT, but you did :). BUT after more recent movement screens he has made drastic improvements. Anyway, here is what he had to say:
I had done the typical 17-19 year old male ‘workouts’ of curls, bench presses, and dips. Not surprisingly, I made minimal gains in performance and body weight. I was then recommended to try Rippetoe’s Starting Strength program and was introduced to a sampling of the big compound movements – back squats, deadlifts, and presses. I started seeing results – more weight on the bar, more healthy weight on me, and I was faster on my bikes.
.
I switched jobs to do more of what I enjoyed – skiing and biking – in 2010, however it soon became more than a lifestyle and I had no time for my weight training. In the summer of 2011, I had a catastrophic mountain bike crash that herniated two discs in my lower back – I was in physiotherapy three times a week and unable to ride. After two and a half years, I left the job to get my life back on track.
.
I first heard about Crossfit through my sister and her boyfriend (Zoe and Matt) in the fall of 2012. After reading up on the Crossfit affiliates in Winnipeg, and with a strong recommendation from Matt (have you ever tried telling Matt ‘no’?), I signed up for my assessment at Sublime. Coach Brad walked me through the mobility assessments (pretty sure I didn’t score higher than a 1/3 on any of the tests) before I was put up against the ‘Baseline.’ In five minutes, I was flat on the ground trying to catch my breath – it was a wake up call and exactly what I was looking for.
.
Sublime’s coaches were excellent at modifying my programming and kept a close eye on my form while I worked to strengthen my back and core. Coach Kyle worked closely with me to minimize my risk of re-injury while still allowing me to push my limits. My mobility/flexibility has improved greatly (yoga classes and mobility work), my diet has improved (thanks to Brendan’s nutrition seminars), I am lifting more weight than ever before, and Crossfit has made a dramatic impact on my cycling – after my first summer season, my training rides were 30% faster.
.
The community at Sublime is amazing – everyone becomes fast friends and knows you by name (cue Cheers theme song…), and cheers on your PR attempts, or pushes you through a really dark place during a WOD. It’s this motivation that sets Sublime apart from the standard gym, and keeps me coming back.