Member of the Month - Jon!

The first member highlight of 2024, goes to Jon!

Jon has been a member with us since Jan 2022, so what perfect timing, Happy two year Anniversary! He is a regular in our 4pm classes and he has been consistent with showing up ever since he joined. With being a family guy and busy with work and being a Dad, he has always shown to make time to get in his fitness. And, from what you’ll read later, it seems Goal Setting has kept him motivated and keeps him raising the bar for himself in the gym.

These past couple years we’ve seen how strong he is, and only getting stronger! He can also crush any machine workout. I’ve really enjoyed him learning and putting in the time to get better at his gymnastics. He stayed at it and got his first Bar Muscle-up this past year! As well as increased his HSPU capacity and work on the Pull-up bar!

He is always good at asking questions on how he can make the workout the best for him, whether that be scaling up or down movements to help put in practice to reach his overall end goal. We love the drive he has to keep getting better, and we are so happy to have him a part of our Vic City family!

Read more below to get to know him.

What is your background in Fitness/sport?

Sport has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, from playing the typical Victoria youth sports of soccer and baseball as a kid to a foray into competitive badminton as a teenager. My interest specifically in fitness started in high school and led me to pursue a degree in kinesiology from Uvic.

When did you start CrossFit and At Vic City?

I found crossfit as my midlife crisis in 2019 and then after a brief COVID induced hiatus, I joined Vic City in early 2022.

How many CrossFit Opens have you done?

I have competed in four opens.

(some photos from last year's Open, taken by Oscar!)

Favourite memories in the gym?

No specific memories, but the thing that sticks with me the most is the wonderful people I have met.  Also, I am constantly amazed at how you can do so much more than you think possible when there are people around you suffering through a WOD with you all while still supporting each other. Some people even manage to cheer while still in the middle of the WOD themselves, and I'm always torn between appreciating it and being super jealous that they can still breathe well enough to talk at that moment.

What is your favourite movement?

I'd have to say shoulder to overhead

Least favourite?

It's a dead heat between wall walks and burpees...

Favourite WOD or type?

Any with rest in them!

What do you enjoy the most about CrossFit?

The ability to combine sport and fitness into a single activity.  Also, with so many skills and lifts to advance there is always something you can be working to improve or accomplish.  It never gets boring to me.

Most recent achievement that you are proud of?

Inside the box it was definitely getting that first bar muscle up and handstand pushup, both of which are fairly recent. I never did anything remotely gymnastic as a kid, so learning those skills as an "old dog" makes it feel a little extra rewarding

What goals are you working towards right now?

I like to set a big stretch goal, which is potentially a little unrealistic, and then smaller, more short term goals to build to it. 

My stretch goal was originally to get to the quarters in the open, but thanks to a (selfishly?) favourable rule change that just became a short term goal!

I also really believe in benchmarking to promote improvement, so I have developed a simple google sheet where I track max lifts and max reps both as a source of motivation and to hold myself accountable.

What is your go to treat / meal?

I saw a shirt once that said something like "Sure I want abs, but I LOVE ice cream" and it became one of my official life mottos, so don't expect any deep thoughts on nutrition from me here. If we're talking about treats I've been known to crush the occasional tub of kozy shack tapioca pudding. As far as meals go, I'll take a good sushi dinner any chance I get.

Also someone ask him how he makes Wall Balls look this effortless?

Thank you Jon for being such a standout member in our community. You are always welcoming new members, cheering on your fellow classmates, and also being a good example with being consistent and putting in the work. You really show patience and perseverance in learning new skills, and everyone can learn from you! Thank you for sharing about your goals and how you keep yourself accountable by keeping track of them. It is a great tool and a way to measure success, as well as something to be proud to look back on and all you’ve accomplished thus far.  

We are very excited to see you take on this year’s Open, and for the upcoming season. We will help and cheer you on along the way!

Thank you again for being awesome and always a pleasure to have in class! Be sure to give Jon a high five next time you see him :)

Coach Tia