Chris Bird

Favorite WOD:  I think I prefer the long benchmark workouts that feature bodyweight exercises. I really enjoyed Angie (100 pullups, 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, and 100 air squats), and I’m a big fan of Murph. 

Least Favorite WOD: Fran (21-15-9 thrusters and pull-ups). I struggle with thrusters and with any sprint-style workouts. 

Tell us about your sports & fitness background: As a kid, I played basketball and baseball, neither very well. In high school, I played tennis, also not very well. Then in college and law school, I sporadically jogged and lifted weights, usually following some workout that I pulled from Men’s Health magazine. I continued on that path for the next 15 years or so, but along the way I also got pretty serious about cycling.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? I first tried CrossFit back in 2014 when I was in my mid-thirties. Once I graduated from the gym’s introductory program, my first workout was Fran (21-15-9 thrusters and pull-ups). But because I couldn’t kip, I did strict pull-ups. That led to tendonitis in both rotator cuffs and four months of physical therapy. To be clear, I don’t blame CrossFit for that. Even today, I tend to come out of the gate too hot. I’m the CrossFit version of that Will Ferral character on SNL, Jacob Silj, who can’t modulate his voice. 

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I’m definitely stronger, and I have a bigger engine. And certain things outside the gym are just easier, like pulling the spare tire off the back of my truck, or carrying a fully loaded cooler on my own.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? It’s hard to say for sure, but I think I’ve been able to more easily handle some big life events, like quitting my job and starting my own firm.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: This will sound corny, but I really like the moment I step through the door at CFKSQ and instantly see many familiar, friendly faces. Also, recently, some workouts have shown me how far I’ve come over the last couple of years. For example, a couple of months ago, a workout involved a lot of sit ups, and for the first time I was able to crank through those sit ups without slowing down.

Any advice for people just getting started? Show up every day. Don’t look ahead at workouts and avoid the urge to cherry pick classes. But know when to scale back the intensity. And start incorporating accessory work before and/or after class. 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I’m a DIY-er. My wife and I recently bought a 70-year-old house, so I’m learning how to do some light renovation. Currently, I’m refinishing the hardwood floors, and next I hope to renovate the bathrooms. I’m also a car guy, and I especially love classic SUVs. I enjoy driving and working on my 1995 Land Rover Defender, but I daydream of restoring a 1960s Land Rover Series II (a predecessor to the Defender).