Tell us about yourself!
I grew up loving all the different sports. Basketball was really the sport I chose to give my all in. I loved being a force to be reckoned with on defense. Scoring was nice, but there was just something about stopping the other team that I enjoyed. Throughout college I have still been fairly active in playing basketball but it's something that I wish I could do more. I love watching football and baseball as well but basketball has always been my favorite. My other hobbies right now that aren't CrossFit include hanging out with my wonderful girlfriend Alyx and working with kids with developmental disabilities. I have been working with Respite Care for almost three years and I love it. I get to hang out with some of the most amazing kids. Working in this field can be very stressful but it is also very rewarding when kids start to remember your name or look to you as a favorite person to play with. When I'm not at CrossFit or at home, I'm most likely at Respite Care spending time with the kiddos.

Why do you CrossFit?
I CrossFit as a way to help stay active and healthy. There was a point after my freshman year of college where I had really started to gain weight because I wasn't active and I did not eat very healthy at all. I worked on eating healthier first and then I started running. Although I enjoy running it can be pretty boring. I wanted a physical challenge and I really wanted to see if I could improve my strength. One of my friends that I work with and another friend I had in high school both go to a CrossFit gym and they said if can be super challenging. I wanted that. I had driven past Choice City many times but was always hesitant to go in. This January I took a chance and signed up for an introductory session and the rest is history. CrossFit is now my primary way to stay active. I use CrossFit as a way to challenge myself and work on improving in different areas. I had no experience lifting, so a lot of the movements that go along with Olympic lifts I have struggled with, but I'm working on improving and getting better. CrossFit helps me become the best me I can be.

What makes Choice City so special?
I definitely believe that the Choice City community makes the gym so special. The community from day one has been nothing but supportive and kind. I am typically a pretty quiet and shy person but I feel comfortable when I go to the gym. I know that whether I'm working out with ten people or just a coach I am going to get cheered on until I finish the workout. Just about every workout ends with either a high five or a nice job. The people that go to Choice City have much more of a family dynamic than what you might get from any normal gym. It seems like there are groups of people always looking to get together and doing fun activities outside of the gym and I love that! I had never been backpacking before and I was able to experience that with some of the wonderful people that go to Choice City. I may still be shy and quiet from time to time at the gym but I need the awesome community to get me out of my shell and to open up more! I feel like once you get a feel for the community and how close everyone is, it's so hard to not be a part of it and to want to add to it and that's special.

WOD
AMRAP 12:
15 burpee pull-ups
50 stepping lunges

170809 - Faces of Choice City - Jacob