11.5
AMRAP 20 Minutes:
5 Power Cleans 140/100
10 Toes to Bar
15 Wall Ball 20/14
Congratulations to Matt Smith on being chosen as our member of the month for February. Matt has been a member for over 3 years now and has been a true leader by example in our gym. He shows up almost every day and always has a great attitude. He’s a pleasure to WOD with and to coach.
Matt is one of the most coachable athletes in the gym. He listens intently and works hard to perform. I have used him as a good form example on quite a few occasions, and he has worked hard to get to that level.
Matt is truly here to work on and improve himself and is always encouraging to others. Thank you for being a positive and inspiring member of our community.
Here are some questions we asked Matt to answer so you all could get to know him a bit better.
1. What drew you to CrossFit East Sac?
A friend told us about CrossFit over a meal before our daughter was born four years ago. I walked by CFES and looked in the windows. Since I didn’t see any ellipticals or weight machines, I assumed you guys weren’t quite open for business yet. After a few weeks went by, I looked up CF online and found the courage to set-up an appointment to learn more.
2. What keeps you coming back for more?
The workouts are miserable and, for some reason, I love how it feels when they’re over. I couldn’t do a pull up without a band when I started. I keep coming back because I feel stronger than ever.
3. What type of WOD would you like to see on the whiteboard?
Grace.
4. Everyone has a movement they despise. What’s yours?
I have lots of movements I despise. Thrusters & rope climb are at the top of my list.
5. Be honest. Ever drop an “F” bomb during a WOD?
It’s actually rare for this NOT to happen in a WOD. CF gives me an excuse to say fuck and not think twice about it.
6. How does CrossFit inspire you?
The people in CrossFit inspire me. Watching someone else string muscle ups together challenges me to keep working. Seeing someone half my weight front squat my 1 rep max in the middle of a WOD pushes me to focus on my weaknesses. Knowing that I can now take our daughter to gymnastics and do a few of the beginner movements…well, that inspires me to keep at this even when the results feel slow.
7. Please tell us about your day job? And how did you get there?
I’m a United Methodist pastor at The Table (H & 53rd Streets). I came to ministry kind of like I came to CrossFit, unexpectedly. I went through the motions of church as a kid, not unlike I went through the motions of benching and curling at the globo gym. It didn’t do a lot for me, but something about the ways church could be a positive force for social change led me to keep struggling with faith.
Søren Kierkegaard said, “The truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught. You cannot have the truth in such a way that you catch it, but only in such a way that it catches you.”
Ministry caught me a few years ago, around the time I was caught by CrossFit. They’ve both changed my life. I find that I need to be with other folks if I’m to practice my faith. CrossFit is similar for me…I could workout at home, but I know I wouldn’t. So I keep trying to do church differently with an eclectic group of folks who watch over me in love. I love being a pastor at a church with amazing people who’re trying to help one another root our lives in Grace and grow in faith and reach in love.
8. What’s a typical Saturday night?
This question isn’t fair. My Saturday nights are like most people’s Monday nights. Mostly they consist of dinner at home with Sarah and Eleanor, followed by games of Old Maid & bedtime routine…then, I’m usually up late finishing details for Sunday worship.
9. Name the best meal you’ve ever had.
One Speed pizza with salad and champagne on the labor & delivery floor at UC Davis the night after Eleanor was born.
10. What words of wisdom do you have for those of us who want to be a better person outside of CrossFit?
Being a better person outside of CrossFit seems a lot like being a better athlete in CrossFit…keep working on our weaknesses and celebrating the strengths we do have, be open to learning from others, and get up tomorrow and do it again. For me, being a better person outside of CF means slowing down at meals with family and friends to give thanks, gathering weekly in worship with an eclectic mix of folks to root our lives in Grace, finding a small group of people to meet with each week to share about our lives, and reaching in love in the ways that I can.
