Each Quater, we will highlight a CrossFit 858 athlete. We choose this athlete based on a mixture of several criteria:
- Overall results obtained at CrossFit 858
- Positive attitude and demeanor
- Athlete community engagement
Our CrossFit 858 Athlete of the Quarter is….
Alex Diaz!
Alex is a great representative of our community. He is usually the first to welcome new members and always puts in full effort to help himself develop as an athlete.
Here are some questions and a video featuring Alex:
What is your background?
I grew up in a small town in northern Ca called Cloverdale. Played basketball, tennis and cross country in hs. Moved down to San Diego to attend sdsu and graduated with a B.S. In kinesiology. I enjoy traveling, long walks on the beach with my dog, and eating chicken and rice.
What brought you to CrossFit 858?
–Honestly cf 858 is a mile from my work. I was looking for something different to help me get back in shape. I knew very little about crossfit when I signed up. What kept me coming to cf 858 was the community. Cf has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Without the community and support from everyone, I don’t know if I would have been mentally strong to continue with it.
How long have you been with us and what results have you seen?
I’ve been with crossfit 858 for year and half. Started late April 2015. I have lost over 50lbs so far with 858 training. I’m stronger then I have ever been, and honestly the best shape of my life. I think the mental change that I have gone through has been the best results I have seen with 858. I was extremely insecure about myself, I had little to no confidence, not just in the gym but in my everyday life. I let myself gain 100# since hs with the stress of everyday life. I did not like who I had become and where I was heading. Cf 858 gave me my confidence back. It has shown me that I can do anything I set my mind to no matter how difficult the situation is. I won’t lie, I still have many of the same insecurities I had before 858 but i am confident in myself to quite those negative thoughts when they do cross my mind. I am the happiest I have been in a very long time and I couldn’t thank 858 enough.
What was your best experience so far?
Definitely the Open. It was my first open. It taught me that I have come a long way in the 8 months that I had been crossfitting, but it also taught me that I have a long way to go. Friday night lights brought me closer to many of the members at 858. There is something special about putting yourself through extreme pain mentally and physically with other people. It builds a bond that no one can break.
What was the hardest adjustment to your lifestyle?
Making fitness and getting healthy my priority. I gave up a lot of free time, time away from friends and family to get healthy. But I knew I had to. I have family that struggle with diabetes and I knew if I didn’t make the change in my life style, I would be heading in that path. Everyday I walk into the gym I’m grateful that I made that change.
What is your ultimate goal?
– after this years open, one of my goals is to be able to do the whole open RX. As an individual’s that was 80# over weight, doing a muscle up and hspu seem impossible. I knew that if I ever wanted to be able to do those movements, I would have to work extremely hard and push myself harder then I ever had to before. I still can’t do them but with my progress so far, I know that it’s only a matter of time. My goal would be to do 2017 open RX but def won’t be disappointed if I have to wait one more year. This is a marathon not a sprint.
-another goal would be to win a team comp with team eggplant, with Chris and Bryan. We set on a journey this year competing in our first team comp, and have trained extremely hard together. I couldn’t ask for better training partners to push me every day at the gym.
What suggestions do you have for new CrossFitters?
Believe in yourself. Put your trust in the coaches and the community to get you where you want to go. Work harder then you ever worked before. Cf is not about the games, lifting heavy and getting a fast Fran time. Cf is about creating the best you, physically and mentally. It’s about getting healthy and having fun doing it. It’s about being part of a community that is nothing like anything you ever been a part of.