Coachable | Hardworking | Positive
These are the attributes we look for in the Athletes of The Hill.
“When an athlete comes to you and says they just want to feel better and be challenged you hope they respond in the way Burton has. Burton gives it his all in every workout and is constantly improving with the direction from his coaches. Between his commitment to family, fitness and career the man also has time to sneak in a few marathons. What?!”
-Josh
Let’s get to know more about Burton…
What is your favorite color? Blue
What would your spirit animal be? And if you could have one superpower, what would it be? Spirit Animal: Bear. Superpower: Good luck.
Row, Bike or Run? & Why? Row. I’ve been running most of my adult life, but you guys have got me loving the rower. It’s a nice alternative to hitting the pavement.
What is your favorite CrossFit Movement? Wall balls
Favorite Restaurant in KC? Or favorite Cheat Meal? Joe’s Z-man with a couple ribs on the side
When did you start working out at The Hill? April 2017
What were some of the emotional or physical challenges you were having before you started at CrossFit Memorial Hill? About six years ago, I was working to build a new business while raising two kiddos as a single dad. At the time, I decided to “cut” certain things from my life to focus on those that were most important to me. This unfortunately included giving up entirely on exercise, and I paid a price. I reached a point where I began to worry that if I didn’t take better care of myself, I might not have as much time as I hoped with my kids which was ironic given I had given up exercise to spend more time with them. Fortunately, I found the motivation to get back at it (with the help of a couple of friends) and ended up working with a personal trainer who helped me get off the couch. That said, personal training was not a sustainable answer for me given the cost. I wanted that same type of direction and intensity with my workouts but also wanted increased frequency. It was about that time that I was invited to check out the Hill.
What did the frustration feel like as you tried to solve those challenges before you started at The Hill?The challenge of doing it “alone” — working out on your own — was daunting. The Hill’s community solved that problem. It’s an amazing group of coaches and people and, in addition to the camaraderie, one of the many benefits of that community is that it builds in a sense of accountability.
How have you seen those challenges improve since joining The Hill? What does life looks like now? I no longer struggle with the idea of “fitting in” exercise — I try to be in the gym five days a week and run on my own for a sixth. That said, my diet …. well, that’s another story. If I could just get a handle on what I eat …. I’d be ripped 
How is The Hill different than other gyms you’ve been to? I’ve never seen a gym where the coaches took such a personal interest in each individual member’s health, fitness and progress. I am also continually impressed and humbled by their ability to show up every day with a positive and encouraging attitude. Every day. When I think about that as it relates to my own day job … showing up every day with a positive, helpful attitude … I’m truly inspired by the Hill’s team.
What keeps you coming back? And where do you find your motivation when the workout looks difficult? The variety of workouts, the community and the coaches keep me coming back. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I am motivated on many days by the competition I’m in with my diet — if I don’t work out …. my diet will win!
How do you make working out fit into your busy schedule? Fortunately, the Hill makes classes available throughout the entire day — that’s frankly how I make it happen. While others might think my schedule is completely random — one day I’ll be in the 6 a.m. class, the next in the noon, and the following I might be in the 6 p.m. class — that’s how I fit it in. I pick classes day-by-day depending on my work and schedule with my family.
What would you say to someone thinking about starting CrossFit? I would tell them the story about how I had a knee injury (caused by running a half marathon) which caused me panic because I needed to recover within two months so that I could ski with my kids. I was tempted to take a break from working out altogether, which I knew would be risky …. given that may lead to falling off the wagon. That said, I talked it out with the coaches and they encouraged me that I could keep working out and recover at the same time, which was a mind blower for me. In my mind, I had a bias that a bad knee and crossfit could not possibly go together. That said, I trusted them and kept at it. Coach Bri, Josh, Leyton and Jay spent the next two months helping me in regular classes where they constantly checked my condition, built in scaled options for workouts, gave me individual coaching for recovery and stretching, etc. All along the way, they gave encouragement that I could recover without giving up on exercise. In the end, my knee was completely repaired ahead of my ski trip and I owe it to the crossfit team.
What are some of your goals in or out of the gym? Personal Records or achievements that your proud of? In the gym, I want to get to the point of being able to do a muscle up, and I’m proud of the progress that I’ve made with the double under. Outside of the gym, I want to be a good dad, and I’m proud of my family.
What would your dream workout be? (list your favorite movements) Power cleans, wall balls, burpees box-jump overs and maybe throw in double unders.
Anything else you would like to share with our #fitfam? Gratitude
