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August Athlete of the Month: Michael Page

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Michael Page a.k.a. Michael

Words to live by? 
In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” –Psalms 56:4
“Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.” –Shawshank Redemption
“When life gives you shit, make a shit sandwich.” –My Dad

What is your fitness background?
Way back in my high school days I ran track and cross-country. After that I was a “seasonal” weightlifter/runner. I’d workout for 4 months then lose interest. Before I started CrossFit, I took fitness to another level by joining a skee-ball drinking league. And that’s when I realized I needed a better workout program.

How long have you been CrossFitting?
I actually had to look this up. Started “On Ramp” in Jan. 2011. So 1.5-ish years.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
Battling the WOD. Besides waking up, it’s my first challenge of the day. I love looking at the board/website to find out what I’m up against. WOD and I have it out every class. The SOB knocks me on the ground almost every time, but I manage to get a victory every once in a while. There hasn’t been a 6:30am class yet that I didn’t feel an adrenaline rush right before WOD and I go toe-to-toe.

What are your training goals?
Gain muscle and endurance. Be more consistent with my diet. Maybe one day join the half-ton club.

Favorite sport or activity?
Football. Whether it’s national, college, flag, paper – It’s the most exciting sport to play or watch.

Recent adventure you’re planning?
I feel like I need to be a Goonie or Peter Pan to answer this question. At the moment I don’t have anything adventurous going on…wait…wedding anniversary! BAM! Just remembered I have my one-year wedding anniversary in October. And it’s going to be a great adventure. I hope my wife likes searching for missing treasure, because it’s on.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I’m a burger connoisseur. So far, I’ve tried 52 different burgers in Austin. After college I realized I was wolfing down 3-4 a week. But I’ve come to grips with my addiction since then. Now, I only eat one a week. So I’m always on the hunt for a tasty burger.

Longhorns or Aggies?
I’m not a fan of this question so I rewrote it.
Red Raider, Longhorn or Aggies? Oh, definitely Red Raider.

As the original “Michael” of CFA, you’ve got some status. If you had to pick a nickname, what would it be and why?
I’m pretty bad at math early in the morning. For some reason that area in my brain is not awake. I’m always looking for the calculator in class. Hmm, how bout…Mad Math Mike or Math Page?

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
Don’t be afraid to apply what you learn in class to the rest of your life. Besides class, we’re tested every day. Whether it’s our careers, school, finances, relationships, whatever– life is always going to try to knock you to your knees and keep you there. But just like in class, we don’t know what we’re truly capable of accomplishing until we give it a try. Until we fight a little harder. Hang on a little longer. Only then, do we see what’s possible.

in Announcements / Athlete of the Month 9 comments

Welcome, New Members!

May was another great month at CrossFit Austin and we’re happy to welcome even more new members! In case you haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, we wanted to take a moment to introduce the newest members in the Circle of Awesomeness…

German Saldivar Ryan Paylor Greg Baker Patti Gonzales
Christian Howard Brandon Blanch Amy Talaber Dave Zodikoff
Melissa Krueger Araceli Hart DJ DeJernette Holly Waters
Emily White Juke Warrington Izzy Maldonado Amy Whitmore
Marc Sherman Crystal Varela Luke Cloud Eryin Fye
Alex Tanton Whitney Scott Vanessa Ochoa Omar Ochoa
John Thompson Lisa York Lavon York Nancy Salazar
Jorge Centeno Kevin Grogan Jennifer Rinehart


*If you are a new member and haven’t had your picture taken, please talk to Caitlyn! Welcome, new members! We’re so happy to have you here!

in Announcements 312 comments

June Athlete of the Month: Ivan Moreno

State your Name and/or Nickname please: Ivan

Occupation? Client Specialist at Austin Energy

Words to live by?

Wherever you are going enjoy the journey as much as the destination. It’s great to plan ahead but you have to live in the moment.

 What is your fitness background?

Mainly mountain biking and weight lifting. I played baseball in high school.

How long have you been CrossFitting?

About 2 and half years

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?

The sense of community. Its a rare thing to come across and its what helps me commit to waking up and getting to class at 5:30 AM.

What are your training goals?

Compete at a CrossFit event and get a CrossFit certification.

Favorite sport or activity?

Besides CrossFit, mountain biking.

Recent adventure you’re planning?

Taking my wife on our honeymoon later this year, I don’t really care where I just know we need a beach! After planning a wedding, we finally get to just relax and enjoy each other’s company before things like babies and other obligations start to pop up. So I’m just excited for our new adventure together as husband and wife.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I’m addicted to Bravo’s Housewives reality shows. It’s so bad, but I can’t stop watching.

Longhorns or Aggies?

I didn’t go to either school, sorry guys, I’m more of a Red Raider fan, Shoot’em up!

You are recently a new husband as of about a week, any advice for those grooms to be on their big day?

Take a breath, slow down, pause and look around (especially at your bride/groom). Don’t let it flash by. Your friends and family are there to celebrate you! It was the best advise Zayra and I got, and it was the most fun we’ve had.

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words?

I want to give thanks to the CFA family, everyone’s story is inspiring and it’s an honor to be recognized among you. CF is definitely a lifestyle and it has improved the quality of my life. My wife was the one who initially pushed me to try CF out, and I’m glad I did.

in Announcements / Athlete of the Month 269 comments

NEW! Jog’N’Joe Morning Running Group

Austin Athletics and CrossFit Austin are excited to announce the creation of a new running group – starting May 15th!

The Jog’N’Joe Running Group will meet at 6:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the back parking lot of The Coffee Bean on Slaughter Lane (by Circle C Park). Sessions are free to all (for members and non-members) and free coffee is served after every run!

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays
6:00am
Where: The Coffee Bean on Slaughter Lane
@ the back parking lot
What: A great way to start your day!
(Running and free coffee!)


in Announcements 10 comments

Welcome, New Members!

April brought showers of new members this year! In case you haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, we wanted to take a moment to introduce the newest members in the Circle of Awesomeness…

Allison Brooks Loren Graham Fernando Gonzalez Tim Juravich Kandaace Kirk
Marc Aldrich Blanca Madriz Lauren Sides Amber McMillian Abbi Stephens
Rosa Madriz Adrian Garduno Danielle Hallam Sean Beal Betsy Kane
Missy Wu Holland Winfield Edward “Ice E” Sanchez Natalia Vasquez Ryan Egan
Stephanie Rios “Money” Diwan Caitlin Rogozinski JP Goncalves Kara Bean
Brian Carson Sarah Stagg John Fowler Anessa Soto Shannon Lewis

Welcome, new members! We’re so happy to have you here!

*If you are a new member and haven’t had your picture taken, please talk to Caitlyn! 

in Announcements 269 comments

“Don’t Call It a Comeback”

Finishing the 4th workout at the 2011 CrossFit Games Regional crushed me. Emotionally and physically I was drained. I had poured over 3 years of training into one brutally hot weekend, only to come 1 rep shy of making it to day 3 (top 14). I lay on the ground devastated and filled with emotion as the crowds departed. The road to last year’s regional was tough: I tore my left meniscus at an Olympic lifting competition in October, had surgery in November, and began my march to recovery in December. The process was a roller coaster of emotion that was only remedied by my Mom’s infinite wisdom. “Be glad you still have two functioning legs,” she said “it could be a lot worse.”

As that is now over a year ago, I vaguely remember the struggle of making it back. Sadly though, I can vividly remember that day of defeat, and can still feel the tears of sadness, sweat, and struggle dripping down my face. After finally recovering from that Regionals weekend (average 110-degree heat, black bars, black kettlebells, hand searing), I was ready to get back into training. I knew where I stood in the region, what my weaknesses were, and how I could make it to the top.

The summer ended and my training was ramping up. I was becoming stronger, more flexible, and felt incredible. Then it happened, on a routine warmup squat, my uninjured knee clicked and popped. The heat intensified and I was laying there again, motionless, crushed and defeated. I knew what it was, but I decided to walk it off and call it a day. I talked to my sister, Becky, as I drove off and she asked me “do you think it’s ok?” As the inside of me welled up with emotion, I jokingly told her that I would always be ok, and that a little knee swelling would not stop my march to the Games.

With the help of the fine folks at Airrosti, I started getting some good motion into my knee. Progress was being made, and I had begun a rehab program hoping that the pain was not another meniscus tear. Squats became possible, hip bridges and thrusts kept my butt firing, and I was intent on making it back. Then my doctor gave me some bad news, and SOME of my hope was quickly taken. He told me I would need an MRI as he believed I had torn my meniscus. All the drive and hope I had left was pulled out from beneath me as I lay there again, on an operating table, to end what I believed to be my last chance at making it to the Reebok CrossFit Games. Every pull-up, push-up, squat and row meant nothing because my knee was going to need meniscus removal rehab again. I had given up and I told my lovely girlfriend and family that the 2012 year would be a “bench” year for me. I was going to sit it out. I won’t sit here and say it was easy. I spent much time alone crying, all while outwardly expressing hope and joy. I felt sorry for myself, and I didn’t understand why God had chosen to injure me twice in the same year. Why did each knee have to have a torn meniscus, why did I have to work so hard to climb out of another hole. I still don’t know why, but I no longer question.

My Games season as an individual was over September 13, 2011. Fast forward to today and you’ll see that my Games season as a teammate began on September 13, 2011. This year isn’t about me, it’s not a comeback. I don’t want to talk about the hours I’ve spent in the gym since my surgery, scared to get into a squat for fear that I may reinjure myself. I don’t want to talk about how difficult it has been seeing my friends continue to excel. I don’t want to be asked if my knee is 100%. I don’t want to talk about these things for they do not matter. I want to talk about my team and their excellence. I’ve come to believe that God placed me where I am, forced me to struggle back from surgery, so I could glorify His name. I’m able to take my 3 years of competitive experience and help others around me. I’m no longer training on an island where any small breeze can send me tumbling. I’m now sitting on new foundation with 7 other teammates; great people who will pick each other up if we falter.

I can still remember my devastation from last year’s Regional competition. I can still feel the heat being cooled by tears of sadness dripping down my face. There is still a cage of emotion when I look at that photo that captured everything. That chapter is over though, and now I will march towards the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games Regional with team #paintitpink. I will lift them up and perform to the best of my ability. Don’t ask about my knees because they are fine; my smile tells you they are fine. This isn’t a comeback – it’s a new beginning, and it won’t end with devastation.

Coach Miguel

in Coaches' Articles 2,068 comments

Welcome, New Interns!

CFA is excited to announce the addition of two new interns to our ranks…!

Starting in May, Erica Cuellar and Eric Reis will be the newest members of our internship program!
Congratulations, Eric and Erica! We’re so happy to have y’all on board! 

in Announcements 13 comments
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