July Athlete of the Month

Congratulations to Phil Dunn for being named Athlete of the Month for July. Phil is as consistent as they come, he has strong focus on technique which has lead to steady improvement from the time he started, and he often gives us someone to chase. We appreciate his work ethic and positive attitude, thank you for making our gym a better place Phil!

1. Please tell us about yourself. I live in New Castle with my better half Angela (who is also a member of the gym) and our cats Ninja and Junior. We moved to Colorado from New Jersey in 2017 after I got a job at Colorado Mountain College. I previously worked as a newspaper reporter before working in marketing. Outside the gym, you can catch me running the local trails with the New Castle Running Club or grabbing a bite to eat with friends at the Lazy Bear.

2. When did you become a member at Defiance West? October 14, 2017

3. What made you join Defiance West and why do you do it now? I was a bit heavier then and in a rut. Kyle suggested I give it a try. To be honest, I really had no clue what CrossFit was, but he made it sound fun. I do it now because I like to see how hard I can push myself and it really tests my mental toughness.

4. What were your thoughts after your first workout? It was a Saturday partner workout. I wasn’t in great shape but still had a drive to push myself. Luckily, Brandi stepped in and told me to take a breather because I was turning green.

5. What is your athletic background? You name it, I played it. Ran XC and Track & Field in high school and college. My events were the 800 and mile, and I was also a fair long jumper.

6. What is your favorite movement or workout? Snatch. It requires so much to execute correctly. Explosiveness, coordination, speed, flexibility. It’s got it all!

7. What is your least favorite? Wall balls.

8. What has been your favorite or proudest moment since joining? Getting 1st place at the Spring Fling Competition in Carbondale. Em and I worked hard, and it paid off.

9. How has Defiance West changed your life, lifestyle, and level of fitness? We do a lot in the gym to help our fitness, but I think it was my first food challenge that changed my life. It helped me break some really bad eating habits and made me an overall healthier person– mind, body, spirit.

10. What are your fitness goals for this year? I’d like to snatch 135lbs and get a ring muscle-up.

11. What is something most people don’t know about you? I love watching game shows. Especially vintage shows like Match Game, Family Feud, and Supermarket Sweep.

12. What advice would you give to people looking to get started at our gym? CrossFit can sometimes have a stereotype that the gym is full of young people throwing around a ton of weight. Nothing could be further from the truth. Defiance West members are your neighbors. They are moms, dads, construction workers, teachers, firefighters. We are all trying to get healthier one day at a time and the best way to see results is to show up and work hard.