Saturday, August 25, 2012

Posted by: gina

CFLB Athlete Profile: Carl Blum

 

• Hometown:Temple City, CA
• Age:37
• Occupation:Audio/Video Engineer
• When did you first start CrossFitting? 03/25/2012
• When did you first start training at CFLB? 03/25/2012
• Favorite WOD:AMRAP of Wallballs, 500m row, situps, double-unders/box jumps
• Least Favorite WOD: Toes to bar, handstand pushups, & rope climbs - only because I can't do them yet:)

 

Tell us about you sports & fitness background: I have played organized indoor & outdoor volleyball for the past 20 years. I have always had a gym membership, yet have had many periods where I just never went.

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 on my volleyball team, Lance Adams, told me about it and what a great workout he would get from it. First WOD was something like 500m row, 15 pullsup, 15 situps, & 15 squats. ...I was dying when it was over.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF? (before / after): My endurance & strength has much improved. I don't get as tired when playing sports now. Best of all, I'm finaly seeing more muscle definition, something I never really would notice after months of going to the gym.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? I actually look forward to working out now, unlike the gym which I would always try and find excuses not to go. By seeing the changes CrossFit gives me I find myself wanting to eat better, and exercise much more.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFLB moments: I am always very impressed how all the instructors know everyone by name. It definitely give us members much more of a sense of belonging. I also like playing tag... havent done that in many many years.

Any advice for people just getting started? Just dive in and do it. It's only take one hour, which flies by, and you get to go home with the satisfaction you've got in a great workout. Other non-Crossfit friend are always very curious about the workouts we do, and are usually very impressed to hear the things we can do.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? Sports-wise I play on two indoor volleyball teams in Long Beach and play beach volleyball with buddies on the weekends. For fun, I dirtbike and surf... although not as much as I would like to. My hobby and and even better, my career, is designing high end multi-million dollar audio video systems for business, military contractors, government, & education. I started by installing large residensial AV systems when I was in college and was so into it I paid for myself to get THX cerftied at Skywalker Ranch. That was 15-years ago and my love of the industry is still very much alive.