Friday, September 21, 2012

Posted by: gina

CFLB Athlete Profile: Steven Ley

• Hometown: Denver
• Age: 34
• Occupation: Bartender
• When did you first start CrossFitting? 09/19/2011
• When did you first start training at CFLB? 09/19/2011
• Favorite WOD: Fight Gone Bad
• Least Favorite WOD: Anything with pull ups

Tell us about you sports & fitness background: I didn't have any interest in fitness until a few years ago. I realized I was swiftly approaching thirty and that it wasn't going to get easier with age. So a friend and I did a 10k run and discovered I enjoyed running. Later I discovered triathlon and enjoyed that even more. The three different disciplines keep me working pretty hard and prevents burn out.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? A friend of mine has a brother who trains at CrossFit South County. They invited me to participate in Barbells For Boobs. While my coordination sucked I still had a great time and thought it might help me drop some fat in preparation for my ironman training. I really enjoy being pushed to my physical limits and I remember my first WOD doing just that. When I left dripping sweat I knew I had found a program that I liked.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF? I have noticed the inches I've lost and have been able to keep off. Overall strength and stamina improvements. I hadn't done any long distance runs for a bit but when I started back up I was faster and I felt more stable on my feet.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The people I've met. Before CFLB, the gym was a very solitary experience. It has been great to see the same people in class and to cheer and challenge each other. I'm still a pretty quiet guy but it has helped to draw me out.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFLB moments: I really enjoyed the obstacle course we did at the beginning of the year. The paleo program is awesome! All the trainers are great! I spend a lot of my time with Melissa and Carlos in the 9am class. You guys are very knowledgable and help prevent my micromanaging of movements. Plus, you make it fun!

Any advice for people just getting started? Enjoy yourself. If I get too serious it can hold me back. I'm not very coordinated and it seems the harder I focus on each individual part of a movement the more it falls apart. If I just relax things seem to come together.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I'm a mean cook. I like to hike and climb. Mountain biking. Triathlon. Camping and fly fishing. It it's outdoors I bet I'll like it.