Sunday, February 27, 2011 – Athlete Profile: Patrick Mapile

The gym will be open from 2pm-4pm today for anyone who wants to come in and work on any movements and to cheer on our athletes in performing yesterday’s WOD for video submission into the Throwdown Series.

Athlete Profile:  Patrick Mapile

1. In general, what is your background?

I was born and raised in Wilmington, NC and went to undergrad at NC State where I majored in biochemistry and minored in business management. I will forever be a Wolfpack fan, no matter how many times we choke, don’t make it to the big dance, or fumble at the goal line. Whenever we are having a bad season in football, I try to lift my spirits by cheering for my good ole’ Carolina Panthers. Often (especially this year) this just adds to the depressing fact that I am the biggest fan of bad teams (I won’t even get into our basketball woes). Regardless, I am a proud fan even if we’re 2-14 or playing in a no-name bowl game!

Currently, I’m a first year student at MUSC working toward earning my Doctor of Pharmacy as well as an MBA at the Citadel. If all goes well, I’ll graduate in 2014 and be debt free in 2100!

2. Age, Occupation?

22, lifetime student (thus far at least). This has included busboy, surgical needle manufacturer, retail sales, taxi driver, parking valet, Starbucks barista (or is it baristo), and gymnastics coach. Pretty much the background you need to be a pharmacist.

3. How did you get to know about CrossFit and why did you start?

After watching the movie 300, my buddy did some extensive research on how to get jacked and be able to slay Persian armies as the Spartans did, and found several sources. CrossFit was one of them, and he would force me to workout with him. After a few years of off and on WoD’s from the main site, a CrossFit gym finally opened up where I lived, and I was dragged into it. I still wasn’t feeling it as much as I could be.

However, in 2006 I tore my ACL, and the rehab process resulted in 20 extra pounds to my body and too many hours of sitting around playing video games. Once better, I began shedding pounds (it was a tough tough process to physically awaken your body again after more than 6 months of inactivity) by running. Once I started to get used to it, I knew that I didn’t want to have to go through another ‘get-back-into-shape’ period again in my life. I wanted to take myself to the next level, which is when I (re)discovered CrossFit. I’d say that I have definitely taken my fitness to the next level since motivating myself to sign up!

Back then, I hated to have to go to CrossFit just one day a week. Today, I hate missing one day of CrossFit. I’m addicted!

4. How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, level of fitness?

I was once a Gold’s Gym junkie back in highschool, where I would only do the common lifts such as bench presses and bicep curls (chicks dig biceps, at least that was my philosophy) along with some treadmill boringness. I believed myself to be a pretty good athlete, as I played soccer, basketball, cross country, and track and field. However, I used to not be able to do one single pullup, and I never believed I would ever be able to. I would deadlift with my back…no stripper ass form whatsoever. I had never heard of a muscle up. I associated the word Paleo with 30,000 BC.

Today, I am so much stronger both physically and mentally. I’ve learned that every WOD is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one, and that this translates to many life situations. I can perform multiple dead hang, chest-to-bar, kipping, butterfly, and L pull-ups in a row. I can lift more than 200 pounds over my head and squat the same weight 20 times in a row. I have improved in every single aspect of fitness, and every day I look forward to keep advancing my body.

I feel as if I’ve grown from an average joe to a very well rounded athlete. Even though I can’t give up French fries for a Paleo diet, I can power through even the hardest of WODs!

….however I still think chicks dig biceps…

5. Name one goal and/or personal record you would like to accomplish through CrossFit?

There are a few..I’ll start with the most likely ones and move up:

-Complete a summer of paleo

-Complete a muscle-up WOD (namely the 30 MU’s for time)

-And the most honorable…get a WOD named after me!!

6. Favorite CrossFit moment so far?

First muscle up of course! I literally stayed up there for about 3 minutes to savor the moment.

7. What do you like most about CrossFit Integrity?

There really isn’t anything I don’t like about Integrity. But I love the sense of unity and support amongst all the members. It’s like anybody in there can be my coach or source for motivation.

8. Favorite WOD?

Any chipper workouts…nothing better than feeling completely destroyed after 30 minutes of straight work.

9. Least favorite WOD?

Murph. Used to vomit all the time during it when I started CrossFitting.

10. Favorite movement?

Double-unders (even though I’m not as good as I’d like to be at them)

11.  Least favorite movement?

Rope climbs. Coming down the rope is always harder than going up for me for some reason…

12. Favorite place to eat in Charleston?

Sober- Only lived here 6 months, but my best meal has come from Southend Brewery!

Intoxicated- Taco Bell. $5 big box meal? Yes please.

CrossFit Integrity, Charleston, SC