Congratulations for Rob Perriello for being our July member of the month here at Viking Athletics! Rob is a former PE teacher and now a realtor. He’s a regular member of our 4pm class and is extremely proud of achieving a strict muscle up. .

 

1)  What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?

Outside of CrossFit I like to spend time with my family, read, watch sports (fantasy football of course), and try to experience new things as much as possible.

2)  Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?

I grew up in Waterbury and was a Physical Education teacher for 10 years there before I started selling Real Estate.

3) How long have you been with us at Viking Athletics?

I’ve been with you here a little over 2 years now.

4) Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout?

My first workout here was something with a heavy kettlebell and running.  It was a hot day and I was just getting back into crossfit consistently again.  I remember thinking that I had taken to much time off as I struggled through the WOD.

5) What moment/achievement are you most proud of at Viking Athletics?

Achievement I am most proud of here is getting my first strict muscle up.  It took a lot of great tips from coaches and other members and took me a long time to get one.

6) Design your perfect workout?

My perfect workout would be anything that combines pull ups and deadlifts for reps.

7)  What is your least favorite movement?

Squatting!  But I’m always trying to get better:)

8) Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less

Get uncomfortable, learn, grow, Repeat.

9) Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?

I actually attribute a lot of my positive lifestyle changes to CrossFit.  I started CrossFit about 8 years ago.  I wasn’t good at any part of it.  Everything had to be learned.  I made baby steps and over time with consistency I improved.   CrossFit has always promoted tracking our numbers too which is huge because we can actually see our growth.  On top of that, the WOD’s are brutal.  Especially in the beginning.  Sticking through the workout to the end, even when you feel like you can’t finish, works wonders for your mindset.  Its not how fast you are but your ability to FINISH that is important.  It is that skill (the ability to finish what you started) that can be taken and applied to any aspect of life that is so valuable.  CrossFit has helped me have the confidence to take on new challenges even though they may seem big and scary at first.

10) What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?

Focus on your effort and not the results.  If you spend your time and energy working on the little things that your coaches tell you, and you do that day in and day out.  The results will come.  Compete with yourself and your own numbers and you will see growth if you stick with it!