We are pleased to announce our newest member of the month, Brad Blake! If you’ve ever been to the 6AM class, he’s the guy warming up while eating a banana. He’s always got a smile on his face, chatting with other members, and giving his best at every movement or WOD that comes his way. He is very active in the community and is always willing to lend a helping hand when it’s needed, or offer a joke during a tough WOD. We’re very lucky to have him in our community and are proud to have him as our February member of the month! Way to go, Brad!
When did you start coming to CrossFit Southie? What was your first WOD/experience?
My friend Katie started going to CrossFit Southie in August of 2011. After a lot of prodding, I gave it a try a couple of months later in October, 2011. I remember walking into orange with her and our friend Kristie on a Tuesday night to do an intro session with some guy named Maze. The garage door was open, the music was blasting, and every bit of what I saw scared the crap out of me. People were really nice, though, and Maze brought us through the core movements and explained the intro workout, which assuaged my concerns. When he described the olโ 7 minutes of box jumps, burpees and barbell thrusters, I remember thinking, โ7 minutes? Really? I got this.โ Ha. Riiiiiiightโฆ Who knew 7 minutes could last that long?
I just found an email I sent to a friend two days later: โi went to crossfit southie the other night for an intro session. first – SUPER hot guys there. second – i thought i was going to die. i loved it.โ That about sums it up.
When did you realize that CrossFit was right for you?
I liked it right away, which is a little surprising given that I never would have pictured myself doing anything like CrossFit years ago. As a teenager, I was a 6โ5โ, 140 pound closeted gay kid who shied away from anything competitive or athletic. While other boys were out tossing around a football or riding their bikes through the woods, my friend and I were barricading his bedroom door to choreograph the latest Paula Abdul song without interruption.
Over the years, though, Iโve increasingly found happiness in different types of exercise. For some time, I focused on cycling, running, and triathlons. I loved the camaraderie of training with others and grew to enjoy the competition aspect of it.
My challenge has always been putting on and keeping on weight. When I started to get more serious about cycling and tris, I would eat and eat, but I weighed about 20 pounds less than I do now (and if youโve seen me, you know Iโm not exactly jacked). I was getting faster, but I was out of balance. I also โwent to the gymโ for years to lift and would sometimes enjoy doing that with friends, but never really got into a great routine and often found it really boring and isolating.
CrossFit, and specifically my experiences at CrossFit Southie, hit on all the right things for me. Iโm keeping myself at what I think is a good weight for my body, but I still get the cardio rush I used to get from running and cycling. Iโve become stronger at a lot of things, but still have plenty of challenges to tackle. It always changes to keep it interesting, but enough things stay the same to make it feel stable and where I can track progress.
And most importantly, I get the camaraderie that I love. Iโve met some fantastic people and have made some great friendships. I think thereโs something very natural there โ like a primal/tribal instinct from our ancestors โ based in doing physical activity together with common goals and constraints. Our ancestors were hunting down food together. Weโre chipping away at burpees and box jumps together (preferably to โCall Me Maybeโ). Texting the night before with Barry and Katie to get each other to show up at 6, fear that Iโll let Chuck down if he doesnโt see me and my banana at least a couple of times a week, wanting to make sure Tom and Melissa still invite me over to drink their Tequilaโthose relationships, and so many othersโare what keep me coming back even on the most challenging days.
A big โthank youโ to Goose and Amy for setting the stage for that kind of environment and hiring a team of people who ensure that it stays that way and spreads.
What are you short-term and long-term CrossFit goals?
Iโm turning 40 this summer. I know that doesnโt make me the oldest guy out there, but Iโm definitely at the more senior end of the curve. For me, Crossfit long-term is about balanceโnot just the standing on my hands kind of balance, but balance between strength, cardio and flexibility that will help me be able to feel good and do the things I like to do for another 40+ years.
Itโs also about balance in life. I walk into CrossFit Southie in all kinds of moods depending on the day or whatโs going on in my life โ happy, tired, energized, frustrated, feeling on top of the world or feeling downtrodden and depressed. I always walk out feeling better.
Short-term? Handstand pushups, more than a couple of pistols at a time, and doing snatches without slamming the bar into my crotch. I donโt think I could call muscle-ups โshort termโ but, maybe somedayโฆ
What is your biggest accomplishment?
Besides being named Member of the Month? My biggest in-gym accomplishment was probably getting unassisted kipping pull-ups. A lot of people helped and encouraged along the way, but Brian Schurko was the man who finally got me to do them. He may have regretted it, because for weeks after, as I was able to string more together, I would yell, โBrian, Brianโฆlook! Look at me! Look how many I can do now!โ
Aside from that, my biggest CrossFit-related accomplishments have actually happened outside of CrossFit. Itโs things like being able to jump off a row boat to swim around, knowing I can easily pull myself back in (pretty much an assisted muscle up), or doing Tough Mudders and being able to cross the monkey bars, get over the walls, catapult myself up a slippery half-pipe onto a platform without help, and keep a good running pace in between obstacles up and down a mountain for 10+ miles.
What is your favorite / least favorite WOD/movement?
Give me a chipper any day with some rowing, running, wallballs, double-under, sit-ups, some pullups and toes-to-bars.
However, ask me to put a lot of weight over my head or lots of squats (front, overhead or otherwise), and Iโm not quite as happy. Iโve never cursed being so tall as much as I do when at the bottom of an overhead squat.
What do you do for a profession outside of CrossFit?
Iโm a VP at an advertising agency, focusing on social media and digital strategy. So, basically Iโm the guy who tries to make the ads in your Facebook feed less annoying.
What are your hobbies outside of CrossFit?
Lately, my husband Allen and I have spent most of our free time binge-watching Breaking Bad. Other than that, we like to get out and hike, go to live theater, and hang out with friends making dinner or playing games. On my own, I sporadically act in plays and am currently taking piano lessons. We also travel quite a bit โ sometimes internationally and sometimes locally, often visiting the Cape where I grew up or the Bangor or Portland Maine area where his family lives.
Do you eat Paleo or Zone? What is your favorite paleo/non-paleo meal?
I donโt eat Paleo, but Iโm thinking of giving it a try. It probably wouldnโt be that far of a stretch for me. But, no cheese? HmmmโฆMaybe Iโll do Zone instead. I think cheese is allowed there. That sounds much more reasonable.
Fun fact?
Some people already know this, but I married my friends Katie (often at the 6am) and her husband Paul last Februaryโnot like in the polygamy sense, but as a one-day designated Justice of the Peace. It was one of the most special things Iโve ever had the honor of doing. I figured sharing it here would also give me a good reason to submit a fancy picture for this post to offset some of the gems from my Member of the Month photo shootโฆ
Midline
Hollow Rock challenge week 5 – 50
Strength
Power Snatch
2-2-2-2-2
WOD
AMRAP:12
5 Power Snatches (115,80)
7 Overhead Squats
9 Box Jumps (27,24)
Level 2 (95,65)
Level 1 (75,35)
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