CrossFit Belltown

Member Spotlight: Mark Mandella

Name:  Mark Mandella

Date of Birth:  5/14/1976

Occupation:  Firefighter- Seattle Fire Department

CrossFitting Since:  January 2010

First CrossFit Experience:  My first CrossFit experience was intro class #1 with Nadia.  We went over the hows and the whys of the foundational movements and then I did a scaled WOD.  And that's all it took...I was immediately hooked and committed...and pretty damn impressed with the whole operation...both with CrossFit in general, and CFBT specifically.     

Favorite CrossFit WOD:  I love couplet or triplet WOD's with deadlifts.  I also like Isabel, Helen, Grace...and...Pukie Brewster.

Favorite Lift:  I really like deadlifts and snatches.  This is kind of funny because one lift is about as slow and simple as it gets and the other is about as fast and technical as it gets.

Least Favorite WOD:  Air Force.  By far.  I had about two months under my belt and I think this was one of the first barbell WOD's I tried as prescribed.  Air Force just absolutely crushed me, both mentally and physically, and I'll never forget how I felt when I found out I was only five minutes in.  Jay and Eric helped me out big time that day.  Despite the beating I took, I actually can't wait for this one to come up again!   

Favorite CrossFit Moment:  I thought it was pretty cool when I got Jeff to quit eating oatmeal for a week after a little WOD challenge.  Attending the Level 1 Cert was also a great experience.  But participating at regionals this year as a member of the CFBT affiliate team takes the cake.  What an amazing time!  The performances put forth by my fellow team members, Nadia, and some of the other competitors were absolutely incredible to witness and extremely inspirational!  

Why do you CrossFit:  I could write a book on this one!  In the spirit of this format, though, I'll keep it brief.  There's an article out there called "Is CrossFit Hardcore?" by Chris Cooper of Catalyst Athletic and CrossFit.  Chris's final sentences in the article state so perfectly why I CrossFit.  Here they are...  "There's joy in sweat.  There's family in common discomfort.  There's a chemical addiction that comes from challenging yourself this way.  There's pleasure in learning new stuff every single time you're in the gym.  That's what CrossFit is: sweat+community+knowledge.  Call it what you like."  I couldn't have said it better.  Amazing program!  Amazing people!    

Cheat Meal of choice:  Pasta with good bread to dunk in the extra sauce, followed by a profiterole or two (an Italian cream puff pastry topped with chocolate sauce and ice cream) ...or butter chicken with basmati rice and naan, followed by either chocolate cream pie, Boston cream pie, or ice cream cake with Oreo crumb crust.

CrossFit Secret:  I talk to myself constantly during a WOD.  The thing I tell myself the most is, "Don't leave anything on the table.  If you do, you're gonna regret it when it's all over."  I also try and remind myself that I don't need as long of a break as I think I do, and to control my breathing.  When I'm done, I'll watch other people do the WOD and watch how they perform the movements.  I learn a lot from this.  I'll note the positives and the negatives, which is a good reinforcement of the points of performance for me.  Then I'll try and apply anything I noticed to improve the way I do the movement.

What do you do on your days off:  softball, ice hockey, M's games, reading (firefighting, politics, philosophy, CrossFit Journal), lounging in the sun, movies, catching up on sleep... 

Can’t leave home without:  As per the request of American Express...my AmEx card.

Dream vacation spot:  I love sun, heat and water, so besides Miami and Vegas...the French Riviera, Greece, Tahiti, Fiji, anywhere in the Caribbean...and...the Farallon Islands off San Francisco so I can go on a Great White Shark dive.

  
 

Member Spotlight: Dan Jordanovic

  

Name:  Dan Jordanovic

Date of Birth:  July 6 1969

Occupation:  Private Investor / Trader

CrossFitting Since:  July '09

First CrossFit Expereince:  Nadia's intro CrossFit class at Rain Fitness

Favorite CrossFit WOD:  "Favorite" WOD?  Seriously?  Is this a trick question?

Favorite Lift:  Myself off the floor

Least Favorite WOD:  They all cause me pain in their own respective ways so all WOD's quite frankly.

Favorite CrossFit Moment:  Probably when I completed my first WOD as Rx'd.  That was cool but it absolutely wasted me.  The only thought that kept running through my head afterwards was f@#k this nonsense!  Yet I still keep coming back.

Why do you CrossFit:  When I turned 40 I was looking for a change in my workout regimen realizing that as my strength and stamina changed, or more to the point decreased with age, how I went about things had to change as well.  At the time I was basically going through the motions of the same old lifting exercises thinking something was better than nothing.  It became quite tedious and unfulfilling.  I very much like the combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises that is inherent in CrossFit.  I consider it to be a much more beneficial and complete workout.  I've taken my body (and mind) well beyond my comfort zone, much further in fact than I thought I was even capable which makes me feel pretty good.   

Cheat Meal of choice:  Hands-down pizza!  Preferably Chicago style, myself being a lifelong Chicagoan until recently.  Delfinos in U Village offers Chicago style pizza.  They even imported a special oven from one of the Chicago pizzerias for authenticity.  

CrossFit Secret:  Let's say it's one of those longer WOD's so the next scheduled class starts almost immediately after the prior one finishes.  I typically stretch after my workout so the next class begins their WOD while I'm still stretching.  I might stay and stretch a little longer than "usual" to watch them go through the same hell which I just completed.  It's not that I enjoy watching other people's pain and suffering, it just makes me feel better in a therapeutic kind of way.  A mental massage if you will. 

What do you do on your days off:  I alternate days of CrossFit and running during the week.  On weekends I take it easy.  Maybe a leisurely bike ride or walk but nothing too strenuous.  I need to give my body some time to recuperate.  Socially, hanging out with friends, dinners, drinks and always on the lookout for  good live music.  

Can’t leave home without:  A big roll of cash and a hot babe under each arm.  

(I was just informed my reply is in dire need of immediate revision.)  

Oh I know!  My beautiful, intelligent, kind-hearted, patient, understanding, etc., etc. wife who just so happens to be standing over my shoulder as I type this response.

(Disclaimer:  My wife standing over me had absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the aforementioned reply.)

Dream vacation spot:  Anywhere there is amazing skiing with stunning mountain views and a quaint village with great atmosphere to pass the evenings away. 

Member Spotlight: Stephen Hitt

  

Name: Stephen Hitt           

 

Date of Birth: July 19^th, 1981

 

Occupation: Relationship Manager, D&B Corporation

 

CrossFitting Since: Casually since Thanksgiving Weekend 2008, Dedicated WODmeister since Dec 2009

 

First CrossFit Expereince: Cindy on Thanksgiving Morning 2008. Kicked my ass, fell in love.

 

Favorite CrossFit WOD: Grace

 

Favorite Lift: Power Clean

 

Least Favorite WOD: Anything Gymnastics…hate Cindy           

 

Favorite CrossFit Moment: I have two … when CFBT opened and when I got my First Muscle Up

 

Why do you CrossFit: For me, CrossFit is about an intensity level that I apply to every aspect of my life, at work, in the gym, with sales performance, etc… the “Crossfit Mentality” of not only wanting to win, but wanting to dominate by getting stronger each day is why I do CrossFit…I guess the simplist way to put it is…I don’t do Crossfit, I live Crossfit.

 

Cheat Meal of choice: Pizza…Big Fat Juicy Pizza and some beer!

 

CrossFit Secret:  It is weird, I am so afraid of walking away from a WOD feeling like I didn’t spill it…Like I could have given more, nothing sucks worse for me than looking in hindsight and feeling like I missed an opportunity. So when I am on the 75^th burpie in a row and my legs are burning and I am fire breathing and I want to take a break, I ask myself, I am I going to regret this effort or am I going get better for this effort. Then my body just does the work. I think in Crossfit the key is to mentally keep going when your body is telling you to stop.

 

What do you do on your days off? I eat, I sleep, I stretch, I recover, Walk the Dogs, and have a cheat meal.

 

Can’t leave home without: Tape and Caulk…Jk, I don’t really have anything that I have to have except Kate ;-)

 

Dream vacation spot:  Summit of Mt Everest!

Member Spotlight: Meg Herscher

 

 

 
 

Name: Meg Herscher           

 

Date of Birth:  March 17, 1980

 

Occupation: Lean Consultant (kaizen implementation), The Boeing Company

 

CrossFitting Since: March 2009

 

First CrossFit Expereince: Filthy Fifty!  So bad I apparently blocked it out because just this week I swore to Nadia that I’d never done it!  (Blog notes don’t lie, though…) I signed up for CrossFit after that trial session and have been dedicated ever since.

 

Favorite CrossFit WOD:  So far my favorite has been Murph.  I told myself that if I truly vomited I could stop.  But I didn’t vomit.  So, I didn’t stop.

 

Favorite Lift: Clean and Jerk

 

Least Favorite WOD: Does “Run 5K” count?  Also, Helen sucks a lot.

 

Favorite CrossFit Moments:  Getting the kipping pull-up, cleaning 115#, and winning the war against the burpee were awesome. 

 

Forgetting my gym clothes and working out in my business clothes (“Stick it to The Man!”).

 

But my favorite moment is when I first started, was struggling to finish to my last set of wall balls in the WOD, and Jay came over and did them right alongside me as encouragement.  I’ll never forget that.

 

Why do you CrossFit:  Well, see above.  Also, the unique combination of individual competition and team mentality.  It gets you fit quickly, both physically and mentally.  It’s intense and fun.  It spills over into the rest of your life: you want live well so you can perform well in CrossFit, and you want to perform well in CrossFit so you can live well.  And you meet awesome, like-minded people who share the same obsession.

 

Cheat Meal of choice:  Wine and chocolate.

 

CrossFit Secret: When we were able to work out together, Michele was my benchmark so I always aimed to surpass her.  Now, when we’re lifting heavy, I have to admit it’s Nadia!  Or, depending on the dudes in attendance, I might be secretly competing with them.  I am always chasing after someone!

 

Also, I always find my failure point when lifting heavy.  Every time.

 

I also find F-Bombs help.  A lot.

 

What do you do on your days off:  I usually do something active (snowboard, yoga, dance, rock climb), and I love music so I try to catch local live shows every week or so.

 

Can’t leave home without:  My house keys.  Everything else is unnecessary.  At least for awhile.  But, eventually I do like to get back inside my house.

 

Dream vacation spot:  Currently scheming to visit Ireland on account of my birthday and the big 3-0 approaching.

Member Spotlight: Ric Brewer

Name: Ric Brewer

 

Date of Birth: 3/17/64 (St. Paddy’s Day!)

 

Occupation: Communications Manager, Woodland Park Zoo

 

CrossFitting Since: Feb. 2008 

 

First CrossFit Expereince: Don’t remember the first WOD but I do remember thinking, “What did I get myself into…”

 

Favorite CrossFit WOD: Whichever one I’ve just completed; also anything with sit-ups

 

Favorite Lift: I’m beginning to get a strange desire for thrusters.

 

Least Favorite WOD: Whichever I have to do when Nadia starts counting down from “10”.

 

Favorite CrossFit Moment: The first time I completed Fight Gone Bad

 

Why do you CrossFit: It may seem exaggerated, but CF has saved my life! I was 40 pounds overweight, on twice daily medication for acid reflux, horrible neck pain and depressed. Now I’m 40 pounds lighter, off all medication, neck pain is completely gone and I have a better outlook on life and dealing with stress. And I’ve met some amazing people!

 

Cheat Meal of choice: Pizza, pizza, pizza

 

CrossFit Secret: I usually tell myself, 'get pissed and do it' or 'beat Stephen!'

 

What do you do on your days off: Chop wood, carpentry and lawnmowing (sad, I know)

 

Can’t leave home without: My iPhone!

 

Dream vacation spot: Tahiti