Gavin Cruickshank: July Athlete of the Month
Congratulations Gavin, you are our July, NoCoast Athlete of the Month!
Gavin is a great example of what NoCoast is all about! He started his CrossFit journey 1 year ago and in that time has been one of our most consistent evening athletes. He has increased his strength, work capacity, and most importantly, his ability to crush the outdoors!
One of our core beliefs at NoCoast is “Work to Play,” we even put it on a t-shirt! This simply means that we believe the work you put in at the gym should translate to the sports and hobbies you love to do outside of the gym. Gavin is pretty modest when talking about his hobbies outside of the gym, but he truly takes advantage of all Colorado has to offer; skiing in the winter and mountain biking, hiking, and trail running in the summer, Gavin knows how to express his fitness outside of the gym!
Age/Weight: 30/190lbs
How long have you been CrossFitting? About 1.5 years
Athletic/Sports history/highlights: I've played Soccer since I was 4 and throughout high school as well as Football in high school. I played intramural soccer in college and have ran a few half marathons too.
What hobbies are you into outside of the gym? Skiing, Mountain Biking and hiking/trail running seem to take up most of my time out here. I also enjoy the occasional visit to a brewery!
How has CrossFit helped you outside the gym? In addition to making some really great friends, It's allowed me to ski harder lines, bike longer and run faster while enjoying these amazing mountains!
How did you get into CrossFit? I got tired of the big box gym type workouts and crowds there. I had a friend who started Crossfit about 6 months before I did and told me how great it was so I gave it a shot and never looked back.
What is your favorite WOD/CrossFit movement? Double-Unders and any WOD with rope climbs.
What is your least favorite WOD/CrossFit movement? Without a doubt, Nancy. I struggle with heavy snatches too.
What is your most memorable CrossFit moment? Getting my first chest to bar pull-up and hitting a Snatch PR during the 17.3 Open workout.
How does nutrition play a role in your fitness and recovery? Most of my meals during the week revolve around fueling the workout for the day. I've been trying a ketogenic type diet for the last 4 months or so and have had great results while still enjoying basically everything I eat. I'm definitely not the most strict dieter but having a good base has helped me significantly in my energy levels and recovery. I can tell when I fall hard off the bandwagon. A poor diet (or even one meal) usually leads to a poor performance.
How has CrossFit improved your overall wellness? I've always been fairly active but I feel CrossFit has significantly improved my mobility, strength and overall endurance. I sleep better, eat better and I have never felt healthier!
Advice to new people: Stick with it. Don't get discouraged. Listen to your coach and ask for help. And don't forget to have some fun!