At CrossFit Cape Ann, we have some of the best CrossFit Coaches in the business. We wanted to put a spotlight on one of our coaches, Coach Mark! Everyone that knows Mark loves how he walks through the door with an positive attitude and is always ready to work hard and have fun in the gym. He has been an athlete at CrossFit Cape Ann for almost ten years, and we were all pumped when he got his L1 Trainer to become a coach and inspire others with his hard work and coaching. Read on for more on Mark and how CrossFit has inspired him. (And anyone else have a perfect school attendance record from the 7th grade on? Wow!)
What is your fitness background? What were you doing before CrossFit?
I've been playing sports my whole life, in high school I played football (2x superbowl champ) , baseball, basketball (until everyone else grew and I didn’t), and ran indoor track. In college I played rugby, flag football and softball.
What were your thoughts after your first CrossFit workout?
·I was amazed how supportive the members were!
How did you get into CrossFit?
Shoutout Tim and Jamie MacDonald! Tim introduced me to CrossFit 9 years ago!
What were your goals when joining CrossFit?
My main goals were to be able to do 1 strict pull up, 5 double unders unbroken, strict muscle up, and back squat over 225#.
Have you achieved any of those goals?
Yes, the double unders and muscle ups took A LOT longer than expected, but I was able to accomplish all those goals. Now I can try and keep up with Dr. Mike when we do pull ups, Whitney Connolley when we do double unders, and Big Len when we back squat.
What's Your favorite WOD?
Tough one, I would say it’s between Annie, “The Real Deal”, and 12 Days of Christmas.
What's your least Favorite WOD?
Karen… yes, the Karen workout is a Karen…. IYKYK.
Favorite Lift?
Front Squats.
Least Favorite Lift?
Overhead Squats
What music do you prefer to WOD out to?
Anything upbeat!
Do you have any special memories/ achievements during your time here?
Way too many… Completed the Spartan Trifecta, multiple Tough Mudders,
Mount Washington Road Race, learned to golf, surf, and of course play tennis! One of the special memories was listed in Billy Baker's book… yes guys night at Tim’s house!
What advice do you have for people just getting started?
Consistency is everything and don’t give up on your goals!
Something the other members might not know about you?
My favorite food is pulled pork nachos. Since 7th grade, I have only missed one day of school. I was the captain of the football and track team in high school. I have 3 crazy dogs and a 4-month-old baby.
We are so grateful that Coach Mark has taken the lessons he's learned from others in his CrossFit career about consistency and not giving up on your goals and is now passing them along to the athletes in his classes.
You can find Coach Mark coaching our early morning classes on Wednesdays and as an athlete in as many classes as he can get in for the week!