Member Appreciation Monday

Name: Roy Marquez

Age: 45

Q. How long have you been doing CrossFit?

A. I started April 2015, so 4 years and 3 months. 

 

Q. What were you doing for exercise before CrossFit?

A. I had a membership at 24HR fitness, but didn’t go consistently. I started road biking in 2013, and really enjoyed it. I even ran a few Spartan races, those were a blast considering I don’t ‘enjoy running. 

 

Q.How did you begin training at CrossFit Sweat Shop?

A. Very randomly. My 24HR fitness membership had just expired, and I was training for a Spartan race. I had not been able to make it up the rope climbs… and had someone tell me that I could learn how to do it in a few months by doing CrossFit.  I did a Google search, found 3 gyms in the area and emailed all of them on a Saturday afternoon.  I heard back from JB Sunday telling me that an on-ramp was starting Monday afternoon.  I showed up, and that’s all she wrote.  Funny enough, I don’t’ recall hearing back from the others.

 

Q. What has been the most significant benefit or change since you’ve been a member of the Sweat Shop?

A. Actually getting fit for the first time in my life. I never played any sports growing up, and didn’t get active until later in my life. I’m the most fit now in my mid forties than I’ve ever been in my life.  It’s given me physical strength that’s made me mentally stronger and confident too.

 

Q. What is your favorite exercise or workout?

A. DUH, deadlifts…as if anyone didn’t know that already.

 

Q. What is your least favorite exercise or workout?

A. It’s a toss up between running and thrusters, but if I had to pick only one, it would be thrusters.

 

Q. What is your favorite cheat meal/snack?

A. Nachos with everything: carnitas, sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos, and even better if they use nacho cheese sauce instead of real cheese.

 

Q. What do you enjoy most about training at CrossFit Sweat Shop?

A. Since I joined I’ve had a few injuries/mishaps that kept me out of they gym. All those those times though, I just wanted to get back to working out with my buddies. My 6am crew is the best.  The coaches are allright too I suppose 😉  Seriously as cliché as it sounds, the community here at SweatShop has kept me coming back for over four years… never in my life have I worked out so consistently before.

 

Q. Now that you’ve been doing CrossFit, what’s one thing you could never see yourself doing again?  (workout, nutrition, lifestyle, etc.)

A. I guess it would be not being active. I have a 10 year old son, so it’s kind hard to not be active anyways, but I want to make sure he sees me working hard and staying active so he doesn’t think playing video games is all there is to life.

 

Q. What is your proudest exercise related achievement?

A. Finally getting that first rope climb. It didn’t happen for me in a few months as I was told, it was more like a few years, but when it did, oh boy was I pumped. I yelled with excitement and hit the rafter so hard I hurt my hand.

 

Q. What advice would you give someone who is hesitant to try CrossFit?

A. Forget the myth about needing to be fit to do CrossFit. I most definitely was not, but thanks to the great coaches at the SweatShop, I’ve been able to modify workouts to fit my level of fitness throughout my time here.

 

Q. What is your most sought after exercise goal?

A. I have two really. I want to deadlift 500+ lbs and secondly, I want to regain my shoulder mobility to be able to snatch. Working on both for real now, let’s see how long it takes me to get there.  I lied, there is a third… getting my first strict pull-up.  Getting closer every day on that last one.

 

Q. What do you enjoy doing outside of CrossFit?

A. If we’re talking exercise, then road biking, but I don’t get out enough. Non-exercise related, I LOVE to cook, anything really, but lately it’s been smoking meats in my Traeger. I’m not too shabby either, hopefully the coaches can attest from all the samples I bring them.

 

Q. What is something you have recently purchased for less than $100 (or acquired for free) that you thoroughly enjoy and would recommend to others?

A. A Dia de los Deadlifts shirt form Iamprojectx… matching shirt for me and my boy Vic actually. You know if there’s deadlifts in a workout, we’re both sporting the shirt to kick some butt that day.

 

Q. Any advice you would give your 25 year old self?

A. Get your ass in gear. Maybe you will not hurt yourself trying to get fit in your forties if you did more about it now.

2 replies
  1. Art
    Art says:

    Roy is a gamer! I remember him warming up and breaking his ankle on the warm up run then doing the open! Who does that!

    Reply
  2. Big Mike
    Big Mike says:

    As one of the 6:00am crew, I have the distinct pleasure of working out with Roy most mornings. He is one of the most positive members of the gym and is always pushing himself hard during each WOD. His never say die attitude inspires all of us to do our best.

    Reply

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