This month, we’re celebrating Matt as PUSH511's CrossFit Member of the Month! Matt may come across as quiet and easygoing, but don’t let that fool you... he’s a powerhouse in the gym. Whether it’s tackling tough workouts with speed and strength or pushing himself to new levels, he consistently raises the bar for those around him. His work ethic, humility, and positive attitude make him not just a standout athlete, but also a valued member of our PUSH511 community. Here's why the PUSH511 coaching team nominated Matt as Member of the Month:
Matt’s an awesome athlete! He comes in quiet and reserved, but he’s a strong and a speedy guy when it comes to the most challenging of workouts. Always up to push himself- he’ll give anyone who wants to keep up with him have to push themselves even further."
Matt is almost annoyingly fit, but he's such a nice guy that I don't hold it against him. Seriously though, he's someone who puts in the work, and it shows. He's always humble and coachable, and just a great all-around person. I'm just waiting for the moment his kids can outrun him!
Now, let's get to know our October Member of the Month!
When did you start CrossFit? I started CrossFit about ten years ago at another gym in Baltimore. I went as a guest of Harper on Memorial Day, and my first-ever CrossFit workout was Murph. I had no idea what a kipping pull-up was, and I did it unpartitioned…oops. Later that day, I sat down in a reclining lawn chair at my in-laws' house. I couldn’t stand up for hours afterward.
It’s still my favorite workout.
What's your fitness background? I participated in every sport imaginable growing up: soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, swimming, tennis, skiing, etc. I played soccer and ran track in high school, and played club soccer once I got to college.
What’s your favorite CrossFit movement? Handstand push-ups.
What’s your least favorite movement? Jumping rope. I remember one year back in elementary school—before classes began—all the students gathered in the gym. Everybody was to jump rope for ten minutes before going to their classroom. I remember seeing a pile of basketballs in the corner and thinking, “Why can’t we do THAT?”
I also used to really like climbing freestanding ropes when I was younger. Now that I’ve been on Earth for a few decades and see that “rope climbs” are written into a workout, I’m like, “Nah, I’m good.”
What do you do for work? I work in fundraising at Loyola University Maryland, where I went to college. You know those annoying donation letters you get in the mail? I do that.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family. I was born in Harrisburg, PA, and moved to the New Jersey shore area when I was little and grew up there. I came to Baltimore for college and haven’t left. I figured that maybe I’d be here for a few years, but now I’ve lived in Baltimore City longer than anywhere else.
Harper and I have been members at PUSH for about two years. We have two kids, Mo (age 6) and Miles (age 3.5), who you’ve probably seen around the gym hanging from the rings or conning coaches out of the candy behind the front desk.
Tell us something we don't know about you! I go to a lot of Phish concerts. ::Harper rolls her eyes::
How has CrossFit affected your life outside of the gym? I’ve crossed over into the 40+ division, and I physically feel as good as I did when I was 18.
After COVID and our second was born, I was feeling the effects of not having worked out intentionally for quite some time. I had “retired” from adult soccer, and working out at home was pretty “blah.” I started at PUSH during one of the “Bring a Friend” weeks and joined full-time a few months later. I eased back into a gym routine, and after about a year, I felt like I could start challenging myself with workouts again. I’ve really felt great ever since.
My posture is better. My endurance is better than I recall. My joints don’t hurt when playing with Legos on the floor.
Give me a beach wagon full of toys, chairs, and kids, and I’ll pull that thing all day.
What do you enjoy most about PUSH? What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with working out? Everybody is on their own pace and timeline. Know what your goals are and take a long view.
When I started CrossFit many years ago, I was too concerned with the competitive aspect of it. I overcompensated in some areas in an effort to keep up to the detriment of technique. I got strong, but I could have done it better.
When I got back into CrossFit a couple of years ago, I told myself I wasn’t going to overdo it. My goal was just to feel physically in tune again. I focused on the movements rather than the clock, and with time my ability began to improve.
That’s one of the things I love about PUSH. You can be in a class with ten different people, and each one of us could be doing ten different modifications of the posted workout. We all have different goals and everyone encourages that. It’s a gym that really does live its values of “Help First, Positivity, and Health.” Everyone is down-to-earth and approachable. That’s pretty cool.
What's your favorite song to work out to? 6/28/00 Bathtub Gin. When it peaks, my rowing meters pace is semi-elite for a few fleeting seconds.
What's your favorite restaurant? No favorite, but I enjoy going to the restaurants in our neighborhood, especially now that we have kids. I grew up in an area where the local Italian red-sauce joints in strip malls were as good as the fancy ones, so I’ve always taken to cozy neighborhood places.
I also like going to places where the best thing to do is order all the appetizers or mezze on the menu and share them as the meal. Places like Lebanese Taverna, The Helmand, etc. Keep the bread/naan coming!
What does your frequently used emoji tab look like? I don’t use emojis, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Words to live by or favorite quote? “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains.”
What's your favorite travel spot? Bethany Beach. I’d love to have a house there one day.
If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? Getting to the airport early. Why rush when you can ease into it?
What's your hidden talent? I can take three random ingredients from the pantry and come up with a serviceable dinner that at least half of my family will eat.
What are your top five favorite movies?
- Godfather Part 1
- Godfather Part 2
- The Big Lebowski
- Bull Durham
- Sideways
