Jake is PUSH511's March Member of the Month!

Jake joined PUSH511 in the fall of 2022 and has fully embraced CrossFit and his early morning group classes. He brings a positive energy to class and a natural curiosity to the sport, which has helped him make incredible progress in his time with us. This is why the PUSH team loves having him in our community:

Jake brings the energy in the early mornings. Always comes in with a smile ready to work. Super coachable and is always willing to get better. He’s been consistently showing up since he’s joined our Fit Family and it definitely shows. Great athlete to have in class and is a joy to see his progress improve since I’ve coached him in Foundations.

Jake came to PUSH with a golfing background and he dove into CrossFit like golf. Knowing technique and proper form is most important to advance in the sport. He loves a good challenge and will practice after a class to improve, such as his bar muscle-up. Jake has been a consistent member of the PUSH Committed Club since it was launched in October 2023. He always has a smile on his face and he helps to balance the 6 am crew. Looking forward to seeing how Jake does in this year's CrossFit Open based on the new movement tools in his toolbox.

Jake is always a fun person to have in class. He is super supportive of other members and always manages to find time after class is over to practice new skills. It’s been a really cool experience to coach Jake during Foundations and see how many skills he has learned over the last year or so. He also makes a great addition to the 6 am men meat head crew.

Jake is a morning staple and he always walks in with a smile on his face! He has come so far in his time with us and always challenges himself with harder movements and heavier weights when it’s appropriate. He stays after class, just a few minutes, to work on skills and has figured out bar muscle-ups already! He is proof that showing up and doing just a little bit extra can really pay off!

Now, let's get to know PUSH's March Member of the Month!

When did you start CrossFit? About a year and a half ago, PUSH is the first CrossFit gym I have ever come to.

What's your fitness background? Nothing in particular other than some casual running and going to the gym.

What's your favorite CrossFit movement? Anything with a sandbag, pull-ups, or power cleans.

What's your least favorite movement? I have a love-hate relationship with thrusters, they’re really fun and really suck at the same time.

What do you do for work? I am a Systems Engineer (the most generic-sounding job title ever) at Northrop Grumman.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family. I’ve been married to an amazing woman named Heather for almost 2 years who has somehow put up with me for almost 9 years now. We don’t have any kids but have a year-and-a-half-old German Shepherd named Hogan who is a super sweet but crazy dog who we love very much and is totally spoiled rotten.

Tell us something we don't know about you! I was a professional golfer for about a year after college.

How has CrossFit affected your life outside of the gym? CrossFit has definitely had an impact on my life outside of the gym. There’s something about doing a really hard workout to start your day, especially one that you didn’t think you would be able to finish and did, that makes the rest of the day seem easier. Crossfit has also been a tangible example of what consistently chipping away at something can do. When I first started CrossFit there were so many things that seemed impossible (like how could anyone possibly do 90 pull-ups in 10 minutes), that a year later seemed much more attainable (or at least on the edge of possible!). That concept has carried over well in other facets of my life when there have been things I’m trying to do that seem way outside of what I know how to or feel comfortable doing that might feel impossible at the time.

What do you enjoy most about PUSH511? Everything is great at PUSH but for me, it’s by far the community. The coaches are all really awesome and clearly love doing what they do, and everyone is so nice and encouraging. It’s been really fun to see the same people every morning and get to know everyone at the 6 am class. It’s also great to be around people who are so much better at all things CrossFit than I am, so that there’s always something pushing you to get better, and to show you what’s possible with a lot of time and effort.

What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with working out? Don’t quit! And find a group of people to be around who are better at what you’re trying to do than you are.

What's your favorite song to work out to? Floyd The Barber (Live at the Paramount version) by Nirvana or Free by Twin Atlantic.

What's your favorite restaurant? My wife and I love Ellie’s! Great food, drinks, and people!

Who's your hero (real or fictional)? My dad.

Words to live by or favorite quote? Do it well or don’t do it at all.

What's your favorite travel spot? Edinburgh, Scotland. My wife is from around there and it’s one of my favorite cities I’ve ever been to.

If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? Pool (the one on a table, not the water)

What's your hidden talent? I can cook a great pot of chili.

What are your top five favorite movies? That’s a tough one! Hard to say but I’d go in no particular order:

• The Dark Knight
• IT
• Crazy, Stupid, Love
• Oppenheimer
• Idiocracy (I’m a sucker for a really bad movie)