What do you do when you’re not at CFA?
Work and family. I love visiting National Parks with my family and being active in kids sports.
What do you do for a living?
Commercial Banker. I love numbers and working with Companies and the people that own and run them.
How has your fitness changed since joining?
I was lost prior to CrossFit. There was no fitness prior to CrossFit. I had lost it over 15 years.
When did you realize that CrossFit was right for you?
A few months in. I really look forward to going now, love how I feel when done and consider many of the people there friends. I plan to do it for as long as I can.
What movement do you despise over everything and why?
Lunges. They become very painful after a while. I remember being sore for five days once that first year.
What has been your all-time favorite moment at CFA? So many fun moments!
I really like the after workout. When you are super tired along with everyone else and a simple fist bump from Josh/Kate and others.
What motivates you during a tough workout?
The people around me do along with myself trying to be better. I hate working out on my own. I can run on my own but never workout.
What’s something about you that most people at the gym don’t know?
I used to play poker competitively (Omaha). I studied the game for a few years, game theory, used solvers and all that stuff.
If you had to describe your CrossFit experience in one word, what would it be?
Humbling and yet empowering (two words, sorry)
If you could write your own workout for a day, what would it be?
I love the variety of CrossFit and that I don’t have to write a workout. Anything that exhausts my muscles and gets my heart rate up for 15+ minutes is good with me.
What would you recommend to someone who is just starting out with CrossFit?
Just keep doing it. Try not to worry about what others think. Just get better day by day. Build the habit.
If you could have one skill or characteristic of another member at CFA what and from whom would it be?
I want to thank Kelly Scholten for personally inviting me to try it out while at our son’s soccer game. Without that personal invite, I don’t think I would ever have joined (knew of CrossFit but intimidated if honest). Never underestimate the power of a personal connection.
Quick Questions:
- Favorite Cheat meal: Cereal
- Favorite Workout song: Pneuma by Tool
- Favorite Place You Have Traveled: Krakow, Poland. GVSU semester abroad. Economics.
- Favorite TV Show: Love movies, don’t really watch TV. Last of the Mohicans or Shawshank Redemption.
- Favorite CrossFit Games Athlete: Josh and Kate
Coaches’ Comment
We are incredibly proud of Derek and all his hard work over the last year and a half. After 15 years of not exercising, he decided to jump into CrossFit—and I think he surprised himself. He loves the camaraderie that comes with group workouts and shared suffering. Since starting CF, he has gotten faster, improved his endurance, and lost weight. Recently, he started focusing on his nutrition and has since dropped over 13 pounds—a weight he said he hasn’t seen in a long time. We’re excited to see Derek continue his fitness journey and keep crushing it!