Corey Barber
Hometown: Kennett Square
Age: 44
Occupation: Stay at home mom
When did you first start training at CFKSQ? Ive been Crossfitting for three years. I started CFKSQ 15 months ago.
Favorite WOD: The Hero WOD “DT” – 5 rounds for time: 12 deadlifts, 9 Hang power cleans, 6 push jerks. I also love any WOD with Thrusters or any kind of Chipper WOD
Least Favorite WOD: Anything with Running or box jumps.
Tell us about your sports & fitness background: I have always loved fitness and exercise. I majored in Exercise Physiology in college, became a personal trainer working in the field of morbid obesity, taught fitness classes for several years, then spent 15 years working on the rehab side of exercise physiology before recently leaving to spend more time with my family.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? I had several friends doing crossfit and they suggested I try it. I don’t remember by first WOD but I just remember loving it after day one.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? The biggest change I have noticed is the amount of strength and coordination I have gained. Though I exercised a lot prior to crossfit, I never did much barbell work and wasn’t even able to jump rope. I recently made major eating changes and have been seeing great improvements from that as well.
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The self confidence I have built from crossfit is the most unexpected thing I gained from it. I look back at my pre-crossfit self and I don’t even know who that person is anymore. My son has several disabilities and Ive been able to carry that confidence into dealing with the challenges that come with that as well. The crossfit community and the close friends I have met there are exactly what I have always needed in my life. I can’t imagine my life without it or them.
Share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: I don’t have one favorite moment, but I love every time I get to see someone hit a lifting PR.
Any advice for people just getting started? Crossfit is for everyone. No matter what athletic ability you have or what physical restrictions you have, there is always something you can do. It’s normal to be nervous or intimidated in the beginning. My first week at crossfit I was so nervous I had trouble even getting out of my car to walk inside. The more you show up the quicker that nervousness goes away.
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I love Gardening, I love the shore and spending time with family and friends.
Scott Gates
Hometown: Chadds Ford, PA
Age: 56
Occupation: Chief Investment Officer for Friess Associates/Brandywine Funds/Greenwich HF
When did you first start training at CFKSQ? July 2016 (I think)
Favorite WOD: Like for many, Hero WOD Murph has extra motivation and purpose
Least Favorite WOD: Gas Can, I think it’s called… awful. I threw up behind Everett’s truck the first time.
Tell us about your sports & fitness background: Like many back in the day, I played 3 sports in high school. My baseball and soccer dream at Wake Forest was stopped short due to injury so I switched to rugby and later club rugby. No more rugby… golf, water and winter sports now.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? Honestly, I wish I had a cool story where I met Rich Froning on a plane and we shared OHS p.r. stories over a Scotch and he convinced me to try it out… but I don’t. I didn’t know anyone doing it nor did I know much about it so it was more luck (or fate) than anything else. I drove past CFKSQ one morning saw all the jeeps and stopped in the next day. That arbitrary detour became a path. I don’t remember my first WOD.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I was pretty specific in what I wanted to achieve when I sat down in that initial interview. We have an office in Jackson WY and every time I went out there, I basically got my arse kicked by my younger colleagues in everything: skiing, biking, hiking, lumberjacking…I was tired of it. Yes, foolish, older pride was a motivator. CF has certainly helped me close that performance gap, but far more important to me has been all the ancillary positive benefits both mentally and physically that I have seen. I do believe 30 yrs from now, I’ll be able to truthfully say, “CF saved my life.”
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? My short and long term goals have changed dramatically since beginning this which was/is still a surprise to me. For me and quite unexpected, I have not been in better physical shape, despite a questionable gene pool, since college. And mentally, with the discipline of getting up at 5am-something has made me more focused throughout my day. I think I am a much more effective leader at work.
Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments:
Many but a few:
-2016 CF Open, I had no business doing this only 3mos in, but Coach Cat talked me into it. Fun but humbling but that’s part of the process.
-you can’t beat SOGO and the much anticipated marriage proposal expected each year now.
-Finally “wearing down” my sister, my wife, my sister in-law and two people at work to join CF….and most importantly, stick with it.
Any advice for people just getting started?
Have a reason(s) why you are there.
Go when you don’t want to.
There are good reasons CF people don’t stop talking about CF.
Everyone at the CFKSQ wants you to succeed. Embrace the positive biofeedback loop.
Proper technique is most important
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I’m Crossfit 24/7..Oorah!…no, but I do have some useless talents: Im a borderline hoarder of books, an avid Liverpool FC fan and I am somewhat of a chicken wing connoisseur. I also have a fear of traveling out of town and coming back to another adopted animal in our house.