Congratulations to Ken Anderson , January Athlete of The Month! Let’s get to know Ken a little better with some questions below.
When and how did you get started with us?
My wife Margie and I took Foundations in September of 2015. I had always been active and was a former AAU swimmer in high school and a swimmer in college. After college I competed in triathlons for a few summers and then started running road races and joined a group called the Back Bay Roadrunners that did an eight mile loop on the Charles River on Tuesday nights and then went to the Elliot Lounge for beers. I ended up running the Boston Marathon from 1990 to 2001, but then suffered some back problems had back surgery. After that, life got really busy as a hockey parent and I tried to go to the gym when I could, but it just wasn’t the same. Like everyone else, it became a routine, and a boring and not-so-productive one at that. I eventually quit the gym and did the P90X and Insanity video series in our basement at home (that I call the “fitness center” to annoy my kids). Those are great workouts that I still do on occasion, but I missed the social aspect of working out or being on a team. Viola …… CrossFit Synergistics. It’s been two and a half years and I’m completely addicted.
What is your biggest accomplishment since joining CFS?
Without a doubt it was doing the Murph WOD RX for the first time. I remember in Foundations when CC told us about the Murph workout with a mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats and a mile run — I thought it was humanly impossible. My first year I struggled figuring out the whole kipping pull-up thing, so I did my first Murph WOD using a blue band for the first eighty pull-ups and a green band for the last twenty. On my second Murph I did not need a band and it felt awesome to do it RX. It’s such a fun day at CFS.
What is your favorite CrossFit movement?
I like the snatch, but I’m not good at it. It is the only move for me where the bar feels weightless.
What is your advice to new folks?
My advice for new folks is the same advice that everyone else gives to new people: Don’t worry about what the other people are doing, just do what works for you. Like everyone else, I was intimidated when I showed up for my first WOD, but honestly CFS is the true “judgment free zone.” No one laughed at me when I was doing pull-ups with a green band and no one will think anything less of you of you if you use a band for pull-ups or do push-ups from your knees. None of us (except maybe Alex) will be competing in the CrossFit games. Just do what gets you sweaty and sore and be safe about it. Also, make sure that you come to the weekend WODs. The weekend WODS have a ton of people and a ton of energy. It’s also a chance to meet people who come at other times of the day. I go to the 7:30 p.m. class and the weekends are the time to catch up with the fun people from the morning crew like Deb and Ken Earley or the noon crew. Don’t let the size of the class scare you off. They are the best WODs.
What is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?
Being named the CFS Athlete of the Month. Duh. And also finding a great wife and having two awesome kids.
What are your top two favorite movies of all time?
As a hockey Dad I have to say Miracle and Mystery Alaska, although I also love Captain Jack Sparrow in all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
Egypt, as part of a post-college and pre-law school impromptu year off when a friend and I did a three month backpack trip in the fall of 1986, starting in London and ending up in Israel and Egypt.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Thanksgiving. I don’t have to cook and it’s all about friends and family. And football.
Who is your man crush and why?
Tough question. I’d have to say that I’m torn between Michael Phelps, Patrice Bergeron, Tom Brady and Ken Earley. (Just checking to see who reads these things. Hahaha Ken Earley!) If I had to pick one I’d pick the GOAT Tom Brady. The consummate professional and just a very classy person.
What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
Charlie’s Angels. I was a Jaclyn Smith fan in junior high for reasons I can’t explain, although I later had the red bathing suit Farrah Fawcett poster in my dorm room in college.
What is something most people would not know about you?
Most people don’t know that I was the Captain of the CFS Spartan Team last spring (just kidding), and if you weren’t one of the twenty-five Spartans hat I recruited last year, watch out because we want to get a team with forty people this year. It’s a total blast so please sign up when the time comes.
Ken thanks for sharing!
Hey very nice blog!
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment.
There’s no doubt that that you should write more about this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t speak about such issues.
To the next! Kind regards!!
Way to go Ken!! A very well-deserved accolade to add to your Wall of Fame!! This has to give graduating from law school a run for its money…proud of you! And why couldn’t Ken Early be a man crush?!
Deb — have you ever noticed the skull and bones license plate holder he has on his car? It’s just not my style, and I’m even a fan of Captain Jack Sparrow.
I guess I had not noticed…I now see your point.
Congratulations Ken!
Let’s pixk a date for that spartan race Captain Sparrow!
Congratulations Ken
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