Congratulations to Josh Osborne, our February 2021 member of the month here at Viking Athletics! Josh is a relatively new member here at Viking Athletics, and he’s been working hard both in class, and doing the homework we assign him to improve his mobility. And, it’s paying off! Josh is also an avid Patriots fan (good man!). Enjoy the rest of his interview below.
- What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?
Mostly spending time with my wife and playing with my daughter. And tailgating at Patriots games, even in the cold.
- Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?
In college at Syracuse I was the team manager for the Men’s Basketball team, (known to others just not at Viking).
- How long have you been with us at Viking Athletics?
Just about 6 months.
- Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout?
When I was getting winded during the “warmup” phase, I knew this was going to be different and challenging unlike anything else I’d ever done. It was a big “uh oh” moment. The coaches were great in making sure I had scaling options, for movements and reps, to make sure I was easing into it without burning out. From there I was able to do more and more. It was intimidating seeing everyone else use more weight, faster reps, or both, but the other members are so supportive and that really helped at the beginning.
- What moment/achievement are you most proud of at Viking Athletics?
Probably doing pull-ups with bands for the first time. 6 months ago I tried and had no chance, and never thought I’d get close based on how bad my first try was. There are plenty of other movements where one set would wipe me out that I can incorporate into metcons now, and others I’ve become much stronger at. They definitely still tire me out, but I’m able to do more than I thought I’d be able to when I started.
- Design your perfect workout?
4 rounds of:
400m Run
10 Push-ups
10 KB Swings
20 Abmat Sit-ups
- What is your least favorite movement?
Burpees, because they knock me out even though I know they are doing me good. The other would be Snatch/Overhead Squats, because my mobility was so limited it is hard to get in that position. But I’m working on it.
- Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less.
Work, Crossfit, running, family, football.
- Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?
Functional movements in day to day life, like shoveling snow, are much easier now. And I’ve spent way more attention on my back and flexibility than I ever did before. I used to think flexibility was only something specialized athletes needed to focus on, but I’ve learned it ties into performance, fitness, and overall health in ways I never realized.
- What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?
For anyone thinking of joining, the workouts look challenging, but they coaches are great at working with various fitness levels to make them challenging but doable. The controlled variety will not let your body get used to anything and become complacent. To anyone who recently joined, I would say if a movement is especially challenging, ask the coaches to assess your mobility. They can give homework stretches that can make a big difference.