Brian O'Neill
Name: Brian O’Neill
Age: 42
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
How long have you been CrossFitting? Just short of a year (10 months)
What is your favorite WOD/Exercise? Power cleans, as I think (…but the coaches are the experts, not me) they are the perfect balance between a full body strength movement that is moderately technical and mentally challenging as well. I’m a fan of the “Cindy” workout as well as it kind of plays to my strengths. And, as a former runner, seeing running on the board is never a bad thing. Finally, the beach WODs are a blast.
What is your least favorite WOD/Exercise? I’d have to say squat snatches and any workout which requires (& basically expects) you to significantly break up sets (like “Murph”). One of the things I love about CrossFit Cayman, however, is that, for both squat snatches and “Murph”, I’ve gotten much better since I started (…6 months ago I couldn’t squat snatch a bar with zero weight on it… and I had lots of trouble figuring out when to stop/start on “Murph”).
What is your previous workout/athletic background? American Football thru college, other sports (basketball, track, baseball) thru high school, so I was more or less a gym rat from ages 13-22. I suppose I burnt out or something, as I then became a runner for 20 years. Ran 12 or 13 full marathons, but last fall realized that I hadn’t run a race in 4-5 years (jumped into the Cayman half and was disappointed with my time), and needed a change. CrossFit Cayman delivered.
What was your first experience at CrossFit Cayman like? Mr. Nate Gemmiti and a dozen or so others had told me that CrossFit is different than any other Boot Camp, that it is a program designed to make you a more fit athlete. But, I suppose I’m the kind of guy that needs to taste the food before calling it delicious. And delicious it was. The coaches and fellow members were as welcoming as they were motivating, as mindful of injury prevention as they were technically instructive. The first workout itself had both, “yeah, I can definitely do this” and “boy do I have lots to learn” moments.
What results have you seen since CrossFitting? Friends and fam have certainly told me that I look more fit, which of course feels good and is nice, but even more gratifying are the dozen or so other subtle things: my daily posture feels better, my energy level is definitely less sporadic, my balance and flexibility are improved, I’m stronger (…not as strong as high school, but getting there…), I am now kinda stalking Nutrition News (which I haven’t really done in 15-20 years… back in the “fat-free” craze days…).
What do you do to get yourself through a tough workout (mental thoughts, tips and tricks, etc.)? There are a whole host of quick self-coaching lines that I say to myself in my head during a workout, depending on the situation. Sometimes it’s, “get the technique right and let your body do the work”, or “one rep at a time”, or, “maintain!”, or, “ain’t nothin’ but somethin’ to crush”, or, “beat yo-self then treat yo-self!”, or sometimes at the beginning of a workout, just, “Showtime!”, or “time to put in work, son!”.
What's your favorite aspect about working out at CrossFit Cayman? It sounds cliché, but the Cayman CrossFit experience is kinda life changing. Self-improvement is a beautiful thing. And when you get old in life, like me, and you have a spouse and kid that you love that occupy your mind 24/7, it’s easy to let fitness slide. Best aspect about CrossFit Cayman is experiencing self-improvement with such a fun and nurturing group of fellow members and coaches. It’s also such an added benefit that the group is so diverse, all ages, all levels, CrossFit Cayman is for anyone and everyone that wants to be more fit.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about joining CrossFit Cayman? Think of how proud you felt the last time you accomplished something meaningful. Think about how much fun you used to have when you played organized sports. Think of how nice it felt the last time you got a physical and the doctor gave you a completely clean bill of health. Think of how cool it is to look in the mirror and honestly say that you are definitely younger than you were a year ago. CrossFit Cayman will give you all of that. And the coaches, in short, rock. You know how your high school basketball coach would spend a few minutes, when he was eating dinner with his family, talking about how he can make you better? That’s sort of what it feels like Matt, Amanda, Tarasa, and Nathan do. So… what are you waiting for…?