August Athlete of the Month

 Congratulations Chris Cline!!!

HOMETOWN:

Short answer: Parts Unknown.
Medium answer: I don't really have one. Lived in several different locales (VA, GA, CT) growing up. I therefore have an immediate distaste and slow-burning mistrust of anyone who was born and lived in the same metropolitan area their entire youth. What are they not running from?

CURRENT LOCATION:

Everyone's Hometown, America's First Fair Trade Town, and home of 2 separate Wawa's with a third supposedly on the way: Media, PA

AGE:

43.

Yeah, I know. You're really sweet for saying that.

OCCUPATION:

Web Developer at International SOS, a provider of medical and security assistance for travellers. If you're considering a vacation somewhere remote and/or dangerous, talk to me about our services. I can get you 20% off.

COLLEGE:

Graduated with a BS in Computer Science from Drexel. Right before they got good.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A CROSSFITTER?

Started in October 2010 after seeing several pictures of myself (https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/209854_686599706820_1578442_o.jpg. and realizing that not even an awesome mustache could distract from the rippling tides of my ever-expanding jowl line.

I got off to a great start with 6-7 months of regular attendance, Paleo-fying my diet, and losing a bunch of body fat. Then I went on vacation and lost the thread after I got back. That would be a pattern I'd repeat several times. Go for a little while, then get thrown off-track by something (minor injuries, hectic work schedule, my auto-erotic asphyxiation club, etc.).

The plan was to get back at it last August. But then I broke three ribs in a totally valiant and not really dumb manner, so the plan was put off until December. I re-joined via the 12 Days of Christmas special. Didn't realize it was going to be a kind of "on-ramp" class, but I ended up being very glad it was. It allowed me to get my Crossfit feet (Crossfeet?) underneath me and remember how to try to attempt to do some of the moves. And being one of the few "experienced" Crossfitters in the class, it was a little boost to the ego.

Fresh off that, I joined for a full year unlimited and am enjoying my longest period of dedicated exercise pretty much ever.

All of that is a long way of saying "intermittently for about 5 years".

DID YOU EVER PLAY SPORTS?

Some intramural stuff (basketball, softball, volleyball) in college, but nothing super organized until much later in life.

But then going through a (badly-needed and much-desired) divorce at the still-somewhat-ripe age of 29, I discovered Ultimate Frisbee. This changed my life in ways too numerous and profound to capture in a blurb like this. Via Ultimate, I've found lifelong friends, several varieties of romance, and moments of transcendence (some of them while clothed!) across several continents.

Oh, and I also play volleyball.

GOT SOME COOL (OR UNCOOL) HOBBIES YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

Right now, Crossfit is my primary hobby. Ultimate is right behind that. Sarcasm and swapping sweaty hugs with Michal are tied for third.

Though we've been less productive in recent years, some friends and I have created a whole bunch of short films. Most were done for contests, some of which are what's called "Film Challenges". You have a weekend to make a short (4-8 minutes) film from scratch. On Friday night, you are given your required elements (Genre, Prop, Character, Line of Dialogue). You then have until Sunday night to mail in your finished film. EVERYTHING has to happen in that weekend. Nothing can be done beforehand.

It tests your ability to function and not ruin friendships on little sleep and bad food. But we are a good mix of talents and have won several awards and surprisingly large cash prizes.

Here is a playlist with a few of our best films. Some of them are a little NSFW (esp. 48 and Coke Floats), so watch at your own professional peril.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9jELI_trw0v5RUfjM3XA2Ax3ZhTewoW

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT AT CROSSFIT?

If all continues to go well, it'll be later this year when I hit my goal of 200 WODs in 2015.

But since that hasn't technically happened yet, I'd have to go with keeping my straw hat (https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11811412_10207445802004243_4708131925104241916_n.jpg?oh=9ca308efd6a9d96998d93eff341ea52e&oe=56391F79) on for 7 minutes of burpees at the King & Queen this year. I didn't even think that could happen in a parallel universe where the impossible was real and the unreal possible.

In terms of non-haberdashery, non-future achievements, though, I'll say finishing 12th at King & Queen. It helped that the events were skewed towards my strengths (legs, rowing) and away from my weakness (arms). But I finished ahead of some people that I think are in much better shape than me, which I'm quite proud of.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU STILL NEED TO WORK ON?

Just everything. Even the stuff I'm pretty good at, I'm not pretty great at them.

Overall, though, I can definitely stand to improve my intensity and taking bigger "bites" of a movements in a WOD. I'm good at chipping away at WODs in small sets, even when they aren't technically "chippers". I'm capable of doing fewer, bigger sets. Unless we're talking pushups.

GOALS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR?

As some of you know, I set a goal for myself to do 200 WODs this year. I'm a little ahead of pace, but need to build my cushion back up to its pre-Europe heights. When I hit 200 , preferably not on New Year's Eve, I'm going to reward myself with a tattoo. I think I know what it will be, but not sure where I'll have it applied. No, not there. Or there. But maybe around the corner there.

With my new ability to do kipping pull-ups (mostly one at a time, but still), I would like to Rx Wolverine this coming October.

And I still want to get on the board for 100 DUs, but I need to get back to pushing myself on this. I've been slacking.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WOD?

Generally speaking, I like partner WODs because they incorporate two of my favorite things: small sets and rest.

I know Dave Nichols always says that programmed rest is a sign of a worse-than-expected WOD. But partner WODs incorporate subtextual rest. It's not laid out in the WOD description, but if you can read between the lines, it's there.

More specifically, I probably dig Annie the most. It includes two of my favorite movements in DUs and Sit-ups. And I still have room for improvement, so I look forward to doing it again.

And if I'm being sentimental, I would go with Kelly. It was the first WOD I ever Rxed.

HOW ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE FOOD/SNACKS?

So many things. I'm a fat man inside a skinny fat body.

Octopus
Escargot
Bourbon Bacon Monkey Bread w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies
Drake's Apple Pies
Reese's Cups
Beer
Girl Drinks
Vanilla Coke from Waffle House
Hash browns scattered all the way (no Country) from Waffle House
BBQ, preferably sold at a gas station in the South
Anything served on fire, be it liquid or solid

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST WORKOUT OUTSIDE OF CF YOU HAVE EVER DONE?

That's easy. Back in 2011, I did a GoRuck Challenge (http://www.goruck.com/) along with ex-KOPer Mike Petrizzo. It ended up being a 25-mile, 14 hour team march with 30 lbs. of bricks in your backpack. We got into the Schuylkill, pulled out a fat log and dragged that mother all the way across the city to FDR Park by the stadiums. Last time I checked, it was still there. I'll drive by and curse at it outside my window occasionally. By far the hardest thing I've ever done, and the sense of relief, exhaustion, and pride as we reached the top of the Art Museum steps (https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/l/t1.0-9/301963_10150449164509595_2014979488_n.jpg?oh=08b5a8f36590f00627d4e84498711056&oe=563F7AA2) was one I'll never forget.

WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE WOD?

Generally speaking, anything that requires arm strength. Pushups, especially.

I did Murph for the first time in forever this year and that flat-out f***ed my s*** up. I did not drink that day, but I went to work the next day and felt hungover. And that was with no weight vest and mostly knee pushups. I even had to tell people who had finished, in what I hope was a nice way, to stop cheering me on because I had too much left to do. I wasn't yet at the point where I could push through to the end. I had to just stay focused and keep grinding.

As proud as I was to finish it, that was 20 miles of bad road.

FAVORITE LIFT/MOVEMENT?

Apparently, I'm pretty good at rowing.

I love doing the first set of double unders.

WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE LIFT/MOVEMENT?

Pushups because I can't do them for very long.

I don't feel great about my form for any of the lifts, but snatches are an especially elusive creature. They involve the coordination a lot of different moving parts, including my brain. Most of those parts don't get along.

Sets two through infinity of double unders.

There are a few other warm-up movements I loathe. I won't, however, mention them here for fear of them being resurrected and shoved in my face if I get too mouthy.

WHAT SKILL ARE YOU PLANNING WORKING ON IN THE NEW YEAR 2015 THE MOST ?

Finding more clothes to work out in that you jerkwads find entertaining. I can't get complacent or repeat myself too much.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF WORKOUT "GEAR"?

The wrist wraps that Diane donated to me out of the goodness of that thing between and beneath her boobs. Not only did they try help prevent some tendinitis I had a few years ago from reoccurring, but they also felt like I'm putting on some armor before I go to war.

The Velcro died on one of them, so I ordered replacements. But the unasked-for generosity she showed me was touching and a perfect example of what the KOP community is all about.

WHAT YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT SINCE STARTING CF?

Nothing specific, but this is by far the most consistently I've ever worked out. The beauty of the consistent WODding I've done these past 7 months is seeing consistent positive improvements. I'm hitting new PRs and using heavier weights across pretty much all movements. Even though I scale the weights for all lifts, it's nice to know I can Rx most WODs that involve the 20# med ball or the 55# kettle bell.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COACH?

I'm not going to cop out like every other AOTM and say "I can't pick just one coach. They're all great. Everyone gets ice cream served in a trophy while riding on the back of a pony!"

Nah, that ain't me. I ride with #Keithie. And not just because he's my coach 85% of the time. He's more than just a convenience. He gets most of my jokes and even makes some of his own. Here's a tip on how to tell when he's telling a joke: Afterwards he laughs into the silence and yells, "THAT'S FUNNY!".

But seriously seriously, #Keithie is a great coach. Just the right combination of patient teaching and intense encouragement. I understand his cues and it helps me focus on my form whereas previously I was just focusing on not dying. I'm learning to know that if he's watching you and doesn't say anything, that's usually means your form is good. Or so apocalyptically bad that he can do nothing more than give a slight "attaboy" nod and die a little on the inside.

Also, his butt is totally on point.

PR'S TO MENTION? GOALS REACHED? NUTRITION HIGHLIGHTS?..

PRs (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17pVSEPRqMl0iESWVL7Bk4whWbJAWXm1qpBewplTqA-o/edit#gid=1) of note: 175 lb. C&J & 9:23 Annie (in the same night - https://shiteatinggrin.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/double-shot-of-pr-love).

A smaller goal I have is to fist-bump everyone after every class. It's a small gesture and I don't always get everyone. Some classes are too big and some people sneak out. But I'm impressed every day by everyone just showing up and giving what they give. They all deserve to be congratulated, regardless of what goes up on the white board. You leave there a little stronger, a little faster, little better than when you walked in. Put enough of those "littles" together and you're going to have something near enough to progress as to be nearly indistinguishable from it.

I'm flattered to be the Athlete of the Month for August. This was actually a private goal of mine, so I can cross it off. I could not have done that without all the coaches and fellow idiots who pay for this torture. Thanks, everyone!