1. How did you find CrossFit?
I first heard about CrossFit from a friend, Jim McAloon, who was doing it and then heard rave reviews of the workouts and benefits of CrossFit from Jen Segger and Nicola Gildersleeve two of Canada’s elite females in the Ultra community.
2. What is your favourite CrossFit exercise or wod?
Wall Ball is my favourite exercise and so far “Four Bitches” has been my favourite WOD. You didn’t ask but I’ll offer up Burpees as my least favorite although I’m working to change that… repeat after me “I Love Burpees!” Oh… and maybe Double Unders, I really suck at those.
3. How long have you been CrossFitting for?
I did my first base line workout on May 21st so just over a month now.
4. What do you do for a living?
Some days I’m really not too sure : ) I work full time for a local supply company, ACME Supplies, and do all their computer maintenance and system administration stuff and am the office pest. I also work part time for Mountain Equipment Co-Op.
5. What are your hobbies?
I’ve got lots, when I’m not running, working or CrossFitting I really enjoy playing volleyball, just kicking back with friends, camping, biking, hiking and hanging with my daughter.
6. What are your goals?
I’ve got lots of these too : ) My primary goal is to be a good father and role-model for my daughter. In terms of athletic goals – I’d like to be able to do a good full out cartwheel, do pull ups and push ups without any mods, run the Marathon des Sable, the Coastal Challenge Route of Fire, the Comrades Marathon, the Western States Endurance Run, the TCC Bolivia Inca Run and run Vancouver Island from Cape Scott to Mile Zero.
7. Why do you CrossFit?
I am CrossFitting to get fit (I had thought I knew what ‘fit’ was before coming to CrossFit but I was sorely mistaken), I am CrossFitting to absorb inspiration from and hopefully provide inspiration to all the members of CrossFit Zone, and I’m CrossFitting to enjoy the immense camaraderie and good-natured competitiveness at the Zone – it is an incredible community!
8. Any advice for future CrossFitter’s?
My first piece of advice would be to clear your calendar, make some time to come down to CrossFit Zone and give CrossFit a try. Once you’re there do not let yourself feel intimidated by the workout. The Coaches at CrossFit Zone have the workouts scaled for all levels of athletic ability and all the members are very supportive – there are no egos and they don’t care whether you’re cranking out weighted pullups or if you’re doing jumping pullups they just want you to get the most you can out of the workout you’re doing.
Please check out Donald’s personal blog. Here is a video of Donald’s next major achievement:
Thanks, Donald! I also wanted to spotlight the fact that when Donald came out to CrossFit he was struggling to do pullups with the green rubber band (most assisted resistance) and on last Wednesday he tried to use a blue rubber band and he was successful. But then on Friday he jumped up to the bar and fired off 2.5 kipping pullups. Congrats Donald!
Today’s Workout:
Buy In– 3x [skip 100, 15 double crunch, 6 clapping pushups]
WOD – “Nicole”
Elite/Zone 3: AMRAP in 20 minutes: 400m run, max rep pullups
Zone 2: AMRAP in 20 minutes: 400m jog/run, max assisted pullups
Zone 1: AMRAP in 15 minutes: 200m walk/jog, 10 assisted pullups
Cash Out– Overhead Squat 4×10 repetitions, increasing weight each set
