Athlete of the Month

Mahmoud Jahanshahi

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I am Mahmoud, but many of you might know me as MJ, which are my initials. I am 36 (though I guess I should start saying 37 since it’s 2025 already, but let’s stick with 36 for now!). I was born and raised in Babol, northern Iran, near the Caspian Sea and moved to Knoxville in 2021 to pursue a PhD in Computer Science at UT.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CROSSFIT FIRST CREEK?

It has been a year, in fact, my first session was March 4th 2024!

WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT?

I wanted to live a more active lifestyle to maintain both my physical and mental health. I chose CrossFit because I realized it had a strong sense of community, something I really needed. I was never good at going to a gym consistently just for the workout.

WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT?

All the amazing CFFC coaches and athletes!

HOW HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?

At first, my goal was just to be healthy, but at some point, it became just as much about seeing my friends and working out together.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINGING CFFC?

That we can get addicted to anything, even grueling workouts.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?

Completing the half Murph was a big milestone for me. Sure, I scaled it down in every possible way, and what I did was nowhere near the actual Murph, but I still felt really proud to finish it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT OF WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?

I love anything with barbells, especially Olympic weightlifting movements. And as for my least favorite… no contest, burpees are the worst!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CFFC OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?

When I was looking for a gym, one sentence on CFFC’s website caught my eye: “We’re not just a gym. We’re a family.” A year later, I can confidently say that every word of that was true, and I loved it!

WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?

Before CrossFit, I was starting to feel random musculoskeletal pains all over (part of the aging process, I guess). After a few months of training, they completely disappeared. Not to mention, I just feel better about myself overall.

WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

.My goal is simple: to keep showing up and doing it as long as I’m physically able to. So, hopefully, I’m nowhere near reaching my goal yet!

WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?

Besides spending hours behind a computer coding (which is my daily job), I love music. I started learning piano a few years ago, and now practicing is an important part of my daily routine

.WHAT IS ONE FUN THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW YET? 

I practiced Taekwondo when I was a teenager and even earned a black belt… not that it helps me get off the couch any faster these days.

WHAT IS ONE TIP YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?

Don’t feel bad about scaling movements at all. In fact, actively scale everything to your level, push yourself gradually, and just keep showing up.

WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?

It has changed dramatically. I went from eating unhealthy food almost every meal to maintaining a vegetable-rich, low-fat, high-protein diet. That said, I still haven’t figured out how to curb my enthusiasm for sugar. My gym fuel is whey protein powder blended with different fruits each time. Most of the time, it turns out great, but sometimes, I take one sip and wonder, why on earth did I think this would be a good mix? I guess you never know u ntil you try.

FREE WRITE

I want to give a huge shoutout to all the amazing coaches at CFFC, Rebecca, Matt, Sarah, Devin, Morgan, Kendra, Kevin, Alex, Josh, and all the others I didn’t have the chance to learn from. Your support and dedication have made this journey so much more rewarding and unforgettable!

I’m really sad that CFFC is closing, it truly feels like the end of an era for me. This place has been more than just a gym, it’s been a community, a second home, and a huge part of my life this past year. But while this chapter is ending, I hope to see all my fellow CrossFitters again at the next gym. For me, that will most likely be Rocky Top, so if you’re heading there too, I’ll see you on the floor!

Kristin Ingram

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Hmm. Well I was a runner back in school, but after school my healthy lifestyle took a long pause. I’m an artist and an extravert that works from home freelancing as an Art Director, Product and Brand Designer, who is always looking for a way to get out and be social. I grew up here in Knoxville, and I’m obsessed with my two dogs and my husband Aaron Ingram.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CROSSFIT FIRST CREEK?

I believe close to 8 months.

WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT? HOW HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?

I love weight lifting to stay healthy, but I never loved the gym because there was never anyone to hold me accountable, I didn’t always know how to use the machines, and most people there were intimidating for a person my size and build. I tried barre, Pilates, cycling, etc. Though I loved the community and the routine of having scheduled classes and instructors, I didn’t like the workouts. I felt like I was getting very little to no workout when I went (well besides cycle, which I just didn’t care for). All that to say, CrossFit was the perfect blend, the best of all worlds. I get to do weights, there are incredible coaches teaching me how to properly lift weights, classes with a planned workout, a consistent community that is friendly and helps me stay accountable. And the best part is I haven’t felt this fit or healthy in over 10 years.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINGING CFFC?

How to properly lift weights, and that I am stronger than I think I am.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?

Oooh every day I hit a new PR.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT OF WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?

My favorite is probably the back squats. I also love me some ab work so I’m also gonna say probably the most unpopular thing, but I love GHDs. And for least favorite, my short legs and I have a hate-hate relationship with the bike.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CFFC OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?

The coaching and community. 

WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?

I’ve found a new love for staying healthy. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed working out like this. And I’m not a morning person, but CrossFit has convinced me to at least try. I’m still waiting for the day my body naturally wakes up before 8:30-9 am, but until then I have CrossFit.

WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

Haha, my goal was to try to stick with it for a month… 3 days a week ✅

WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?

Construction projects around the house.

WHAT IS ONE FUN THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW YET? 

I love making pottery, painting, and I don’t drink coffee, but I love tea.

WHAT IS ONE TIP YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?

Stick with it for a week or two before deciding it’s not for you.

WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?

I guess another fun fact, I went vegetarian/vegan when I started CrossFit. So my health took a huge shift. For fuel, Devin told me about DripDrop and now I always have it in the house. It’s been a game changer.

FREE WRITE

CrossFit First Creek has been life changing for me. Truly so grateful and feel so blessed to have started my CrossFit journey here. A huge thank you to all the coaches!!

Aaron Ingram

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Born and raised in Knoxville, I went to MTSU for Audio Production but ended up pursuing a career in photography instead.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CROSSFIT FIRST CREEK?

We’ve been with CFFC since May 2024.

WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT? HOW HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?

My wife and I joined CrossFit because it was the one form of exercise that intimidated us the most. I’ve stayed because of the community that pushes me to keep working hard and the results that I’m already seeing.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINGING CFFC?

I’ve learned that Cross Fit is you against yourself. There are good days and bad days, but you have to keep showing up and put in the work.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?

My proudest moment was hitting a PR on my deadlift. Focusing on my form and breathing has made such a difference!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT OF WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?

People think I’m crazy, but I love the assault bike! My least favorite would be handstand push ups. Gross.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CFFC OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?

I love that there’s always something to work on and improve in. I talk to people that’ve been doing CrossFit for 10+ years, and it motivates me to keep working.

WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?

When I started, I always told myself that I needed to scale the workouts, but I’ve been growing in my confidence to try RX, even if it means fewer reps or slower times. Outside of the gym, I’ve found more routine when I started my day with exercise. I don’t feel as scattered.

WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

I haven’t been doing CrossFit a full year, so I have plenty of goals: Better form on my cleans and snatches, kipping pull ups, muscle ups. It’s a long list, but one day at a time.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?

Outside of the gym, I love shopping for Vinyl records and doing anything related to photography.

WHAT IS ONE FUN THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW YET? 

I used to be a photographer for Apple, and I got to photograph Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon.

WHAT IS ONE TIP YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?

Be as humble as you can be — find the strongest person in the gym and ask them for technique and tips.

WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?

My diet is improving, we’re cooking a lot more now. I still need my Senior Taco, though.

FREE WRITE

I’ve taken classes from every coach, I believe. Each coach has a way of explaining things that have helped me in a different way. Devin will explain the science/technique behind a workout, while Jamie will give me analogies that help me understand the movement.