Brian Drewry is our April Athlete of the Month! He is one of our most consistent athletes and has made so many improvements since joining not even a year ago. Most recently Brian competed in the CrossFit Open and finished 30th in the Region (masters scaled)!! He is always encouraging and supporting his fellow athletes and we just love having him at CrossFit Conway!
How long have you been Crossfitting?
To be honest, I really don't know an exact date. I started at CrossFit Conway in June 2015. Prior to that, I did CrossFit independently for approximately 2 yrs.
What made you start CF?
I had several reasons for starting CrossFit. Mainly, the traditional way of working out was no longer working for me. It didn't match up with real life. My shoulders hurt. I was
bored. I overheard a conversation at the gym I was using at the time. Someone said, "I do CrossFit." I started researching CrossFit, and the philosophy resonated a deep chord with me. And, once I started, I knew quickly that CrossFit was what I had been looking for. I had found a missing link.
What changes have you seen since starting CF?
The biggest change that I've seen is my strength and stamina. I've gotten so much stronger since last June, and I'm able to use that strength over longer periods of time. Also, by listening to the coaches, my technique has improved in all lifts.
What is your favorite/least favorite movement?
Favorite movements are the Olympic lifts. If I had to choose 1 or 2 lifts to judge athletic ability, then I would choose the Olympic lifts. They combine all aspects of athletic movement - speed, timing, balance, agility, strength, spatial awareness, etc.
Least favorite movements burpees and thrusters. They take the life right out of me - ha!
What is your favorite part of CF Conway?
Without hesitation - it is the people. After working independently for a couple years, it was so cool to be around a group of like-minded people who shared the same passion for CrossFit. I've found it to be a group of people who are encouraging and push me farther than I could achieve on my own.
What are your long term goals?
Within the gym, I'd like to be able to do 5 unbroken ring muscle ups, get to 50 unbroken double unders, keeping improving my maxes on all lifts, go sub-5:00 for my CrossFit Baseline...There are so many things I want to get better at.
Outside the gym, I've been considering a sprint triathlon and competing in a mountain bike race. Longer term, if I can get into the horse "business" again, I'd like to compete in cross-country endurance races starting at 25 miles and build up to 100 miles.
What advice do you have for people wanting to start CF?
The first piece of advice is commit to being in the gym 3 to 4 times a week. The adage, "You get out of it what you put into it," rings true. Second, scaling a workout is your friend. Third, don't be afraid to challenge yourself or of failing. It's how you learn the skills necessary to push your fitness to the next level.