John King
April’s Athlete of the Month
“You showed up, you put in work. Little steps are still steps forward.”
The Journey.
We sat down with John to learn more about him and his CrossFit journey.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m 34 and a US Navy Veteran of 12 years and married to my darling wife Veronica. I originally grew up in Connecticut, but had family who lives in Tennessee that I would spend time with each year. After joining the military I moved around a lot: Illinois, Virginia, Japan, California, and finally here to TN.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CROSSFIT FIRST CREEK?
I joined originally in 2023 when my family moved here. I took a small break in 2024 only to return that October.
WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT? HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?
I started CrossFit back in 2018. I was active duty Military and while I had a good idea of workouts and plans for fitness, I never had anything driving me forward. When I joined my first CrossFit gym, it was nice to see all the other people working on their own goals while still motivating each other to keep going and drive forward.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINING CFFC?
It’s not always about the workout on the board. It’s a whole package. The warm ups, the accessory work. If something is more sore or doesn’t feel right during a movement, there’s likely something else you can do to make it work better. Stretches, isolated lifts, stabilizer work etc., etc.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?
I am not really a person who is proud of things. I am usually already planning the next step while working on the current one. But if I really had to choose, I did RX all three Open workouts this year and that’s pretty cool.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT, OR WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?
Uhh, that’s tough. I like barbell movements, even though some days I am just NOT feeling them. My least favorite has to be thrusters only because I am terrible at them.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CFFC OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?
The people, for sure. Everyone is always cheering each other on, and while I don’t normally enjoy being packed in a room with a ton of people, I’ll put up with it for you guys.
WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?
I’m sore all the time! No, in all honesty, I feel like I move better and everything doesn’t feel like such a chore to get off my butt and walk around or just be on my feet all day.
WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
Oh that’s tough. I don’t really have finite goals, just keep showing up. Grow and advance, I like hitting PR’s in lifts or being able to do a movement fluidly, but I am not actively working on something. Toss me ideas!
WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?
I am usually playing games, watching movies or TV, or playing softball.
WHAT IS THE ONE TIP YOU’D GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?
Scaling can be your friend, Don’t feel bad about coming in last for time or scaling to lighter weights. You showed up, you put in work . That’s what matters. Little steps are still steps forward.
WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?
Oh, this is definitely my location that needs the most work. I don’t track anything. I eat what I want and when, except I try to not eat anything after like 8/9pm only because it makes me sleep like crap. I will say I am more consistent about my portions. I don’t measure out or weigh things, but I just take a smaller portion.