- Originally from NW Kansas, been in KC for 7 years.
- Pharmacist with Saint Luke’s Health System
- KU Grad
- Hobbies: I love to cook/anything food related. Learning French. Just started studying for Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy.
- Age: 34
Athletic History:
Some running and swimming in my much younger years, so not much! Run of the mill globo gyms bore the hell out of me so I’ve never lasted more than 3-4 sessions.
CrossFit:
I started at CrossFit Memorial Hill in April 2013 and I didn’t have the slightest idea what to expect. I pretty much fell in love with CrossFit on day one even though I was pretty sure the empty bar might kill me. I thought saying snatch in public was slightly uncomfortable, and I had the coordination of a three year old. What kept me coming back was finally having great coaches telling me what to do and how to do it instead of just me guessing what some crazy contraption was for. Also, having a group of great, supportive people working hard right beside you is an amazing motivator. Now I’m slightly obsessed with new PRs. They may not be the fastest or the heaviest, but they’re mine and they make me pretty happy when they happen.
Advice for new CrossFitters:
The best piece of advice I have would be for newcomers. If you’re anything like I was, your first couple of weeks can feel a little embarrassing. You may feel awkward and clumsy, you might not be able to move much weight, there might not be a band big enough to get your chin over that bar. Don’t worry, no one’s judging! As a matter of fact, all of us are rooting for you. Keep the weights light and work on that coordination. Mastering the moves is the most important thing early on. Weight can come later. Without good form injury and frustration are more likely than success. One other thing, record your workouts. The weights, reps, scaling, etc. I may be roughly quoting the annoying guy from P90X, but it’s true: if you don’t know where you’ve been how can you know where you’re going?
Coach’s thoughts:
Travis epitomizes CrossFit Memorial Hill’s motto: Community, Commitment, Results. His dedication to learning new movements and commitment to regular attendance even through a hectic, unpredictable work schedule is evident in the incredible results of which all of his coaches have unanimously made note. In the last 15 months we’ve seen Travis grow stronger and more confident in the gym and we’re excited to see where his goals take him!
Want to nominate the next Featured Athlete? Send your nomination to matt@crossfitmemorialhill.com