Each of our lives have been elevated in some capacity by Billy and Lainey Rodgers. Whether for you it has been feedback received on your lifting form and technique leading to your next PR, or dedicated time and care toward education on your fitness and health through nutrition. We are better today because of the coachable moments, listening ears and words of encouragement shared by Billy and Lainey. The development, the growth, the love and the friendship gained in this season are what has helped shape who we are as athletes and individuals. Thank you, Billy and Lainey.

We will see them off in a short two weeks, so let’s embrace them while we can. There are some fun facts that over the course of the last three years, you may have missed about this incredible family. Enjoy a little insider on Billy, Lainey, Quinn and Billy IV.

As one chapter is closed and the page is turned to begin the next, we wish two of our CrossFit Mudtown leaders the best.

 

In what city/state did you spend most of your childhood?

Billy: Adrian, MI; Dumfries, Virginia; Pittsburgh, PA; Parkersburg, WV; Winchester, Ky; Plymouth, MN; Fargo, ND; Bemidji, MN; Des Moines, IA; Seattle, WA; Indianapolis, IN …..

Lainey: Born and raised in the same house in Berwick, IA (small town outside of Des Moines).

 

How did you hear about CrossFit and when did you start?

Billy: Spring of 2006. When I worked for the Timberwolves, the guy in the cube next to me introduced me to his brother who was doing CrossFit in North Carolina. We talked on the phone for about an hour and then he directed me to crossfit.com. From there I talked a few buddies into working out with me, and we did it in a Lifetime Fitness. We did Cindy at least twice a week with assisted pull-ups.

Lainey: Spring of 2008 was my first taste. Billy had been doing this new exercise craze at CrossFit Iowa which was right next door to our office. He finally talked me into joining him one day. I did a few more classes, but stopped after I moved to Indiana later that year. I started back up again for good after I moved the following year (Fall of 2009) to Seattle to be with Billy. That’s when I tell people I actually started CrossFit.

 

What was your first CrossFit workout?

Billy: I guess Cindy

Lainey: Cindy. And I think I only did 5 rounds in 20 minutes and had to scale all of it.

 

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout?

Billy: Squat Clean

Lainey: Clean and wallballs are my favorite movements. My favorite workout is a chipper of any variety. My favorite hero wod is Murph believe it or not. It’s the first hero wod I completed and have done it once a year for the past 7-8 years.

 

What was your profession before you started CrossFit Mudtown?

Billy: Event Management. Bruno Event Team & Framework Events… The CrossFit Games, USA Weightlifting, Heavyweight Title Fights, PGA Tour, SEC & NCAA Championships…all kinds of fun stuff.

Lainey: Sport/event management positions with Bruno Event Team (that’s where Billy and I met), 5k charity event, USA Football among other odd jobs.

 

What triggered the idea to open a CrossFit Gym?

We had moved around a bunch and had the opportunity to see a bunch of really great CrossFit Gyms (Eastside Strength & Conditioning), and also some bad ones. We also had the chance to help build a gym (CrossFit Carmel). Once we moved to Birmingham we tried quite a few gyms and none of them really fit the bill. Once Danny & Jacki committed to moving down we knew the 4 of us could make a pretty great team. We were in Cahaba Heights which happened to be a great location, and even though we almost opened up in West Homewood, we found the perfect spot in Cahaba Heights and ran with it. We all have some entrepreneurial spirit, and these seemed to line up well to take the leap.

 

What motivates you inside the gym?

Billy: You have to walk the walk as a gym owner/coach. In my opinion you can’t advise people to live one way and then do the opposite. If I’m telling someone to squat lower, my squats better be below parallel. If I tell someone to eat cleanier, I better be eating pretty clean. I’m sure I don’t hit each all of my recommendations exactly, but that is what motivates me.

Lainey: From a coach/owner perspective it’s imperative to set a good example. My focus is on quality of movement and making everyone feel welcome in the community. I try very hard to be exceptional in those areas. As an athlete I’m motivated from the knowledge of how I’ll feel after the work is done. It’s hard. All of it. Getting to the gym takes planning. The movements are challenging. The intensity is painful. But how I feel after a workout is pure awesome and worth the ‘hard’.

 

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Lainey: Outside the gym I’m proud of my marriage. It’s a constant work in progress, but such a meaningful way to spend my life; with someone I truly love and care the most for. That’s what it’s all about, growing and figuring it out together. And I’m proud of my kids, they show me everyday what unconditional love really means. I’m not worthy of their love and acceptance some days, but they still give it to me. Inside the gym I’m proud of my growth as a coach. When CFM first opened I had the least amount of coaching experience out of the four Rodgers’. Achieving my personal level of fitness has been exciting and I continue to get better even after almost 9 years of CrossFit, but to take it to another level and teach CrossFit to others has been very rewarding.

 

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Billy: There are graveyards full of irreplaceable people. (Actually, advice my dad got and he shared with me.) One of my favorite Quotes: “There is no need for me continuing unless I’m able to improve” – Knute Rockney

Lainey: “The only thing constant in life is change.” I’ve become somewhat addicted to change actually. In my mid-twenties a couple big changes happened simultaneously which spurred the most amazing growth of my life (and hasn’t stopped!). Because of that, I associate change with opportunity, adventure and self-betterment. I’m grateful for the people in my life then who helped me with those changes and supported me when life was in an upheaval.

 

What is your favorite way to spend an off day?

Billy: Morning with the kids & some dance music, day drinking, nap, day drinking, big dinner

Lainey: With pre-school age children there is no such thing, but in the rare instance this does happen I enjoy being outside or exploring new parts of our city or attending a fun event.

 

What is your favorite meal?

Billy: Thanksgiving, must include my mom’s meat stuffing.

Lainey: Breakfast. And pork belly.

 

Top 3 words that would describe how you like to spend your time?

Billy: People, Learning, Sharing

Lainey: Travel, food, family/friends

 

What is one goal that you are currently working on outside of the gym?

Billy: Read 1 book per month in 2018 (4 ½ down)

Lainey: Figuring out what my next adventure will be regarding my career. A new city and new opportunities await!

 

One fun/interesting fact not many people know about you.

Billy: I was a bagger at my local grocery store growing up. I won a tournament and was designated the Best Bagger at Lund’s Wayzata. I have the trophy proudly displayed in our living room.

Lainey: In college I worked for Redbull and drove the car with be big can on top handing out free cans. Best college job ever.

 

How old are your kids?

Quinn: 5 ½

Billy: 3 ¾

 

What is a fun fact about Quinn and Billy IV?

Quinn: She was born with very, very dark hair, almost black. It turned blonde a few months later.

Billy: Billy is the 4th William Rodgers in the family.

 

Fun Facts:

Billy: In 2009 I was part of a workout video on CrossFit.com doing the following workout.

21 back squats at 136 kilos (300#) , 15 power cleans at 100 kilos (220#), max rep pull-ups. https://www.crossfit.com/workout/2009/10/25#/comments Click on the Eastside Triple Workout

Lainey: I can balance a bowling ball on my head and have a pretty accurate horse impression.

It’s a beautiful thing to watch a person blossom. To see their head peak out of the ‘comfort zone’ shell and really make a concerted effort to try. This describes Erin perfectly. Over the past few months she’s seen great improvement in her strength and determination to keep on progressing. She has a lot to celebrate recently with almost one year into her CrossFit journey and recently winning first prize in our annual nutrition challenge. We’re super proud of Erin and the positivity she brings to our gym. Cheers to you Erin!

 

Member since: May 2017

What do you do for a living? Attorney working in Compliance for BBVA Compass

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? My brother had been telling me for 2+ years that I would love it and to try it but I thought it was a cult-ish and dangerous because I have a bad back. The spin studio I was going to closed and later that week I ran into Julie McMakin and she invited me to try out a class so I gave it a try. I quickly learned CrossFit Mudtown is run the right way and it’s not dangerous. I’m now a full-on Kool-aid drinking member of the “cult” and my brother gets to (and does) say “I told you so”! My first workout was Cindy.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? 3-4 days per week and usually at the 4:30 class.

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Rowing and most weightlifting

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Burpees and overhead squats

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? Seeing improvement but mainly the other members. I initially fought the community aspect of Crossfit…I didn’t think I needed it, I was just here to workout. But after a couple months I realized how important and beneficial the community is to me. I want to go to class now and attend the social events. Everyone at CFM is so nice and positive and encouraging. I wish I hadn’t resisted it earlier!!

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment? So far I haven’t really embarrassed myself but I’m sure it’s coming! The funniest moment I can think of is me giving Danny a death stare when he “lied” about letting me quit a 21-15-9 at the end of 15. But I’m glad he pushed me to complete the workout!

Favorite thing about Birmingham? That it’s getting better and better.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? I’m pretty proud of winning the Nutrition Challenge because it involved bettering myself inside and outside of the gym. I’m also glad that I can finally back squat more than I can strict press – hahaha

What is your favorite meal? Anything Mexican with shredded chicken

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? I’m involved with a local non-profit organization, Triumph Services. Plus traveling as much as my wallet will allow!

What is one goal that you are currently working on? Building my endurance, specifically running. And continuing to improve my overall health.

Do you have a hidden talent? Not really, I can make some funny noises with my throat.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I rowed in college at Georgia Tech (thus my love of the erg). And I traveled throughout Europe for 2 months mostly by myself during the summer of my second year of law school.

 

Erin wanted to try CrossFit. Brandon was a hard ‘no’ on the idea. But here we are, a year and a half later since they jumped in head first and they haven’t looked back. Two of our 6:30pm class regulars, Brandon and Erin haven’t stopped improving since day one. The reluctance to try something new has turned into a strong passion for CrossFit that has brought them closer together and inspired them to just.be.better. Throughout their journey at our gym there have been so many accomplishments. Pull-ups, competing in competitions and even over-hauling their nutrition. Erin dove into the realm of veganism (is that word?) and found it really suited her. She even cured herself of migraines from sticking to a no meat/dairy diet! We’re super proud to have these two in our gym community and look forward to supporting their continued progress. Read on to get to know them better!

 

 

Members since: August 2016

What do you do for a living?
Erin: Nurse Practitioner
Brandon: Director of Financial Operations

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout?
Erin: I was actually Jacki and Danny’s nurse when Jacki was pregnant with Nash. I had the honor and privilege of taking care of them for several weeks. They told me about owning a gym and being very involved in CrossFit. I had always wanted to try CrossFit but was intimidated. A few of my co-workers visited several months later and said it was a blast. I convinced Brandon to attend a Saturday community class. Brandon didn’t want to go at all, but once we tried it we fell in love with CrossFit and the community and have been here ever since.
Brandon: Erin made me attend a Saturday community class. I had no desire to go. I was convinced CrossFit was good for one thing, getting injured. We went to a Saturday class and Lainey coached. That class kicked both of our butts! Once the class was over Lainey told us that she knew it was soon but OnRamp would begin the following Monday and a few spots remained open. I told Lainey to sign us up and gave her my credit card. Best decision I ever made.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend?
Erin: 4-5 days 6:30pm
Brandon: 4-5 days 6:30pm

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout?
Erin: I love box jumps and burpees…I know I know bizarre right? Favorite workout…That’s tough, I love chippers, Fight Gone Bad and Cindy.
Brandon: Snatches. Favorite workout: I too love chippers


Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout?
Erin: Thrusters and Wall Balls! Wall balls are essentially mini thrusters that make you want to die. Least favorite workout???? Umm anything with a heavy barbell. I’m still working on not being a weakling lol.
Brandon: I hate THRUSTERS!!!! Least favorite workout is one involving THRUSTERS or med-ball Cleans.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown?
Erin: The community and friendships for sure. Getting in shape is an added bonus!
Brandon: Definitely the community.

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment?
Erin: Every time I have to snatch or drop under the bar; whoever coaches usually gets a pretty good laugh!
Brandon: When I first started CrossFit I struggled to overhead squat a PVC pipe.


Favorite thing about Birmingham?
Erin: I’m from the greater Birmingham area so I just love that its always been home.
Brandon: Good food!

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)?
Erin: Outside the gym: Finishing NP school and passing my Boards. Inside the gym, anytime I can Rx a workout.
Brandon: Outside the gym: Success within my career. Inside the gym: Being able to RX some workouts

What is your favorite meal?
Erin: Vegan Pesto Pasta with roasted brussel sprouts
Brandon: Seafood

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
Erin: I’m kind of a nerd so I love learning. I love researching and learning about nutrition. I really love shopping plus I’m super good at it. I love spending time with friends, family and hanging out with our 3 dogs.
Brandon: Cycling, Camping, and Home Renovation/Flip Projects.

What is one goal that you are currently working on?
Erin: I really want to work on being more positive and embracing my weaknesses and turning them into strengths.
Brandon: being the best version of me, not comparing myself to others and getting better at barbell movements.

Do you have a hidden talent?
Erin: I am a vegan in the South. I like to think that takes talent.
Brandon: No.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you.
Erin: I use to be super accident prone. I can’t tell you how many times I have been on crutches. The struggle is real.
Brandon: I was homeschooled through 7th grade and lived at Tannehill State Park.

A big part of our gym culture is to be all inclusive and welcome anyone who walks through our doors. Whether it’s their very first CrossFit class or they’re visiting from out of town, everyone deserves to feel comfortable during their workout with us. Ashley embodies that attitude. Always with a warm and friendly smile she makes hard workouts a little more bearable. And she’s always one of the first to introduce herself to a new face and make them feel at home. Don’t let her pint-size fool you though. She’s strong and can bust out Fran in under 5 minutes. We’re grateful to have Ashley and her family as part of the Mudtown community. Enjoy this interview!

Member since: We joined Crossfit Mudtown Memorial Day 2016. Our first workout was Murph.

What do you do for a living? My previous career was as a School Counselor, specifically elementary and middle school. I’m doing my favorite job now… staying at home with my two boys.

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? We were living in North Carolina when Hank started Crossfit first (we actually lived at the 400m turnaround point). I was going to the local gym for spin classes but I got jealous because Hank was making friends and I wasn’t.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? We try to go 3-5 days a week to the 4:30pm or 5:30pm class

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Air squats:) and any body weight workout

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Snatches

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? The friendships and the childcare keep me coming back.

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment? My most embarrassing gym moment has been I’ve tripped twice over my shoelaces on the 400 meter run…. but as of last week it was when my child threw-up in the middle of the nutritional seminar.

Favorite thing about Birmingham? We’ve moved a lot and I’ve always said that I would love to raise my kids here. Birmingham is so family oriented and has great schools.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? I’m proud Hank and I have survived 9 moves in 10 years and the family that we’ve made. Inside the gym I’m proud that I finally got another bar muscle up (waited up there for 12 minutes for Hank to get one).

What is your favorite meal? Red Wine:)

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? I love to travel and spending time with family.

What is one goal that you are currently working on? Improving my double-unders.

Do you have a hidden talent? I don’t have any hidden talents- I’m really boring.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I was on a sinking cruise ship in Santorini Greece. We made it off safe, but lost all luggage and personal belongings. Makes for a great story over my favorite meal (see above).

Clay (and his wife Jenn) have been supporters of CrossFit Mudtown since the beginning of our journey; before we even opened our doors a little over 2.5 years ago. A previous gym brought them into our lives as friends and now we get the privilege of coaching and training with them. It’s been wonderful watching Clay grow in and out of the gym. When he first started at CFM he struggled immensely with double-unders (don’t we all though), but he practiced and practiced and now, he’s arguably one of the best jump ropers at them in our gym. His consistency with training and working hard continues to pay off. With only 4 more classes to go until ‘400 Classes Stronger’ – we’re proud to honor Clay for member spotlight this month. Thanks for commitment to us and yourself Clay – keep progressing!

Member since: CFM opened. When was that? 2.5+yrs ago?

What do you do for a living? I am a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s ED

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? I had a work friend that did iron tribe and kept trying to get me to come for a year or more. I went to a “bring a friend day”. We did a partner workout of wall balls, push ups and run 200m with WB overhead.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? 3-5 days a week depending on my work schedule and childcare.

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Pull ups and back squats, I think.

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? MED BALL CLEANS most ridiculous movement ever!!

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? I enjoy staying active and I want to be able to be able to stay active when my kids get older.

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment? That’s a tough one. I’ve never been real accident prone, but evidently I am in CF. I hit my head with a barbell one night on one of the first few lifts and it was bleeding throughout the workout.

Favorite thing about Birmingham? Food is good and my family is here. I’ve come close to leaving several times and just haven’t been able to.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? Inside the gym -hitting my goal of 3×5 BS 300#. Outside gym – Finishing college. It only took me 10+yrs then another 4yrs for my masters several years later and finding a woman that would put up with me.

What is your favorite meal? Pizza and/or beer.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? Being outdoors, hiking, hunting, playing with my family.

What is one goal that you are currently working on? Need to be better about this but I am super close to my 400th class and wanted to do this before the end of the year.

Do you have a hidden talent? No hidden talents. Just an average guy.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I once went backpacking in Alaska for 28 days and our food was brought to us by bush plane and I didn’t bathe. Alaska rivers are COLD! I need more of that in my life.

November is a time to focus on gratitude. Though we should make it a priority every day, we start to think about it more with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching. We sure are grateful for these two. George and his lovely bride Donna are a gem to this gym community. We all look up to George and Donna. They have so many attributes we all can aspire to; capable because they don’t let age get in the way of trying something new and uncomfortable; amiable because they are warm and kind to everyone they meet; supportive, of each other and their fellow gym mates. We could go on, but we know you need to get on with your day. George is coming up on his two year anniversary with CrossFit Mudtown and Donna is just over a year in. We are so proud of their progress and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

Member since:
Donna: August 2016
George: January 2016

What do you do for a living?
D: I teach Environmental Science at Spain Park High School
G: I manage a small pest control company for Wayne’s Environmental Services.

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout?
D: George tried for months to talk me into coming, and I finally gave in. My first workout was “Fight Gone Bad”. I almost didn’t come back.
G: My 50th birthday was in December of 2015. I told Donna that I wanted to get back in shape and become healthy. I had seen the “crazy” crossfitters running down the road and was intrigued. I was looking for a gym close to my house. My first workout (run 200m, 15-12-9 sq-pu-su, 200 meters). It took me 7mins and 44 seconds. Halfway through the workout I thought I had made a big mistake (joining CrossFit). I hurt so bad-I couldn’t talk afterward- honestly. (By the way- my first onramp class was on January 11th 2016 at 7pm. I’m a big Bama fan. The kickoff of the National Championship game Bama vs Clemson was at 7:15pm. It was a test – thank goodness for DVR’s. I had to ignore my phone as I watched the game delayed.)

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend?
D: 3 days a week to the 6:30pm class
G: 3 days per week. Usually 6:30pm.

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout?
D: I like back squats and dead lifts. Doesn’t everybody like those? 🙂
G: I really don’t have a favorite movement- although there are some movements that I dislike less than others. I seem to semi-enjoy deadlifts.

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout?
D: I hate double-unders because I can’t do them at all and can’t imagine a day when I’ll be able to do them.
G: Anything over my head. Overhead squats, snatch, jerk, wall balls etc.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown?
D: I love seeing the people and working out with my buddies. I love all of my coaches! You guys are the GREATEST!!! I also have numerous chronic back issues, but I feel better than I have felt in decades really.
G:After the first month of crossfit-I lost weight, my clothes started fitting better, I slept better and I physically felt better. I began looking forward to working out and also looked forward to that feeling of accomplishment I was getting after the workout. The gym family at Mudtown is outstanding. We love the fellowship and comradery we get and have made many great new friends.

Favorite thing about Birmingham?
D: Birmingham is big enough without being TOO big of a city. I love living in Cahaba Heights!
G: Mild winters, southern hospitality

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment?
G: Maybe a month into CrossFit I was doing a workout of 3 rounds for time. After completing the first round(and just about dying) I thought I was done. So I yelled out loudly- “TIME!!!” Danny looked at me and said “Ahh- you have two more rounds to go.” After the workout was over- somebody said ” Who was the joker that yelled “TIME” really quick? I looked around at the crowd and said- ha, not sure who that was.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)?
D: Like most parents, we are most proud of our son Cole who is 18 and will be attending Auburn next fall. If I let him leave.
G: My beautiful wife and son- God has blessed me tremendously!

What is your favorite meal?
D: Unfortunately, chicken fettuccine alfredo. Very healthy stuff!!
G: Meatloaf and mashed potatoes w gravy and sweet tea (sorry Billy)

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
D: I love the outdoors.
G: Golf and cooking.

What is one goal that you are currently working on?
D: Pull ups. I think I will feel cool when I can do at least one pull up!!

Do you have a hidden talent?
D: Not really. I sing. I’ve sung in choirs my whole life. Not very hidden though. Oh I do make the absolute best heath bar cookies!! Not Paleo or Vegan though.
G: I can recognize celebrities voices on television commercials.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you.
D: George and I were next door neighbors after college. That’s how we met. One of my roommates at the time was totally in love with George, but obviously that didn’t work out – for her! We on the other hand have been married 24 years! 🙂 Worked out well for me.

If it’s 6:00am at CrossFit Mudtown, you can bet Lindsey will be there. For the past year and half that’s been her go-to class time. Rarely taking more than two days off! Staying consistent and patient in the process, Lindsey has gained so much strength and overall fitness. She’s a quiet (but confident) leader in the gym and we’re lucky to have her in the community.

Member since: April 2106

What do you do for a living? Stay at home Mom and lovin’ it

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? My brother used to go on and on about CrossFit and I thought “Oh that’s not for me, I could never do that.” A couple years later, my husband decided to give it a try, and being the super competitive person that I am I said “oh no, not without me!” My first workout was CrossFit Total. It was a great workout to have as a starting point to my journey, now I can look back at that and see how far I’ve come.

How many days/week do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? I attend the 6am class 5 days a week, unless mom duties or extreme soreness keep me home 🙂

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Overhead squat


Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Thruster of course


What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? I never thought I could do CrossFit due to some heart issues I’ve dealt with for most of my life and although I do struggle sometimes, I’m amazed at what I’m capable of these days. I thank God literally everyday on my way to the gym for the privilege of getting to workout. That is what keeps me coming back, and of course the awesome 6am crew that pushes and encourages me! And shout out to my accountability and workout partner Julie McMakin who doesn’t let me skip a day!

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment? It was back squat Monday. Mid squat I realized the weight was too heavy and I couldn’t stand back up. Instead of bailing out, I froze and the barbell rolled all the way down my back and onto the floor. Luckily, no one was injured.

Favorite thing about Birmingham? I love all the outdoor activities. My family and I enjoy camping, playing disc golf, mountain biking, swimming, etc. There’s always something to do.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? In the gym: pull ups and I just recently got chest-to-bar pull ups! Outside the gym: Being a wife and mom. God has a way of changing our plans to His plans and making life better than we could imagine.

What is your favorite meal? Chicken Shawarma from Eli’s Jerusalem Grill

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? Going to the beach, working on house projects with Forrest, and playing board games with anyone who will play!

What is one goal that you are currently working on? Still working on getting 5 strict pull-ups. I’m up to 2 so far.

Do you have a hidden talent? I can wiggle my ears

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. While in the Coast Guard I was a crane operator, which I actually thoroughly enjoyed.

Foreword by Coach Billy…

Casey could compete for the championship belt in many categories at the gym and in life.  Funniest, hardest working, most dedicated, most loyal, skinniest adult male, best snatcher, best softball player-coach, the list goes on and on.

In all seriousness Casey is the type of person you want in your corner and on your team.  He is going to win or work hard until he does.  He sets lofty goals and pursues them with an aggressive passion that not many people possess.  Simply put, Casey fulfills the mantra, “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to.” He’s a great friend to many at the gym and we are lucky to have him in our community.

Back for a little humor… the below interview from Casey is funny, but this interview is epic.

 

Member since: August 2015

What do you do for a living? I sell things—mostly legal. It’s a good way to meet new people and build relationships.

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? I heard about CrossFit when I was in college, but I did not give it a chance until 2 years ago. A friend of mine was looking for someone to start it with, and I told him I’d give him 2 months, and then he was on his own. I haven’t stopped. My first workout involved 200-meter runs, squats and sit-ups, I think.


How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? I usually get in 4-5 days each week. I mostly attend the evening classes, but I’m a wildcard. I could show up at any time.

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Grace


Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Workouts with lots of deadlifts.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? I want to curl as much as Brian Warwick. His biceps are super. Have you seen them? I can’t miss any days. He’s doing curls right now, I know it.

Most embarrassing/funniest gym moment? Here’s the thing. It’s always been my dream to dunk a basketball on a regulation-sized goal. I’ve thought about buying those jump shoes in the Eastbay catalogue; they seem totes legit. I like to test my progress by jumping and trying to touch things. There’s a crossbeam at Mudtown that’s probably around 9.5 feet high. I try to jump and touch it when no one’s around or looking, but I’ve been caught several times. Tyler Destefano in particular has seen me do this a lot. He’s very encouraging. He’s all like, “Not even close,” or he just giggles at me like a child. He’s the best.

Favorite thing about Birmingham? The proximity to so many other cool cities like Atlanta, Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville.

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? 100 double-unders unbroken. Worked a long time on those.

What is your favorite meal? Steak with baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? You know, I’m pretty typical: I like lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, time travel, botany, a cool glass of Zima on a neon-lit balcony overlooking Daytona Beach during spring break, and practicing karate and wrestling moves with my friends. But, for reals, I just like to laugh and make people laugh. That’s all.


What is one goal that you are currently working on? I want to snatch 185 lbs.

Do you have a hidden talent? I can recite Mike Gundy’s 2007 “I’m a man” Oklahoma State post-game press conference. But the moment has to be right, so don’t ask me to do it during the 6:30 class.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I enrolled at the University of Texas-Austin for graduate school, and I picked out an apartment before driving through Alabama and changing my mind. Lucky you.

 

Member since: September 2016

What do you do for a living? Right now I work at Seasons 52 but perpetual student is a more accurate description.

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? I had friends introduce me to CrossFit years ago and to be honest I cannot remember what it was. But it probably had to do with box jumps which took me months to be able to learn the coordination of.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? 3 days a week/ and it just depends on my work schedule. I’ve visited almost every class time except 6 am. I don’t do mornings.

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Chippers in general. I also really love rowing and cleans.

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Snatches and overhead squat. Mostly because I’m terrible at them.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? I always tell people I’m not an athlete. But what I love about CrossFit is that with every workout I get better, faster, and stronger. I also will never accomplish it. So I keep coming and finding challenges to work at. I appreciate Mudtown because the attention to form and solid coaching and community makes me proud to be apart of.

Favorite thing about Birmingham? I love the hidden talent Birmingham holds. I have met so many aspiring musicians and artists. It’s like an underground treasure

What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? My first pull-up during the Open.

What is your favorite meal? Tacos of every variety

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? I travel a lot. If I’m not in a different country at least once a year something is horribly wrong.

What is one goal that you are currently working on? Trying to get accepted to grad school. I’m convinced it’s more work than the actual schooling.

Do you have a hidden talent? Not at all lol

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I cannot whistle for the life of me.

Chris shows us day in and day out what consistency looks like. Rain or shine Chris is at the gym 5+ days/week. Six months ago we hosted a healthy eating challenge and Chris went on to loose 30 pounds while simultaneously making strength gains. He has the willpower to push past the comfort zone in workouts which helps drive him toward his fitness goals. You might define him as the strong, silent type, but he has a big heart and cares about his friends and family deeply. We’re grateful to have Chris at our gym. What would we do without his signature longhorn sweat marks on the gym floor (see picture below)!

Member since: February 2016 

What do you do for a living? I am a police officer with the city of Fultondale. I’ve been in law enforcement for almost 3 years, having started in the City of Fairfield for 2 of the 3 years.

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first workout? I was searching for something other than your typical gym and came across CrossFit. My first workout I can’t remember for certain, but I do know it was some kind of Chipper consisting of 5-6 movements at 30 reps of each movement. I remember there being a lot of squats and power cleans and push press.

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally attend? I have been consistent with going 5 days and try to work in 6 days on my new work schedule. I am usually an early afternoon guy the first part of the week and a morning guy the last part of the week. However I have cherry picked some workouts depending on the coach due to the warm up (joking of course).

Favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Movement I have grown to love is the snatch due to it’s technical nature and being one of my weaker lifts. I can really see how I have been able to improve throughout the year. I don’t really have a favorite workout, however you throw in heavy weights with the workout and I will enjoy it. It helps put me be level with some of the others in the gym that are really good at metcon workouts.

Least favorite CrossFit movement/workout? Movement is most definitely burpees. I hate them, but know they are a necessity so I will do them when needed. And workout, throw any metcon involving burpees and box jumps and I know I am in for a long session.


What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit Mudtown? Mudtown is hands down the best CrossFit box I have been a part of. All the coaches and all the members have created an amazing non-intimidating atmosphere to be able to enjoy going day in and day out. All the coaches have been amazingly accommodating and do a great job of taking time to listen and talk with me about my goals and how I can accomplish them. I keep coming back for the pain, lol. Honestly I have set lofty goals for myself over the next 2 years and I know only through dedication and hard work and steady attendance can I obtain those goals. And once again the coaches have been amazing helping me on my journey.


Favorite thing about Birmingham? I would say that I have an amazing support group of family and friends outside of the gym. They are all here local and to me that has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.


What accomplishment are you most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? Outside: I would say my collegiate career. I was able to play football and throw the javelin for my college team (albeit at a smaller level). Despite my size and position I was able to be a sixth man of the bench for two years and start for two years in football at the college level. And one of the things I am most proud of would be winning a Conference Championship in javelin as a junior in college.


What is your favorite meal? Chicken Wings hands down. My dad is great at frying them up for me and my friends on occasion for big games and events that we try to get together for.


What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit? Shooting. Getting paid to go to the range is pretty nice. Golfing however I haven’t had the time I would like to hit the links. Watching sports, Go UK Wildcats! And playing basketball and softball.


What is one goal that you are currently working on? I have set a 2 year goal to be competitive for the 2018 games, and hope to at least compete for a spot in regionals, however I would settle for helping Mudtown send a team to regionals.

Do you have a hidden talent? I honestly can’t think of a hidden talent off the top of my head.

Tell us a fun/interesting fact not many people know about you. I was born and raised in Kentucky hence the Wildcats obsession, and moved here when I was 10. Most people have trouble answering what position I played in football in college (Offensive Line). At 5-10 225 I don’t blame them, but my playing weight was between 265-270. I may have been small but I was the meanest one on the field, and I am extremely competitive so I would do everything in my power to make sure I would beat the person across from me. A lot of that has carried over to the gym (I know I will smirk and put 5 pounds more than what say… Clint may have done on a upper body lift earlier in the morning just because of my competitiveness).