Sunday, July 31, 2011 – Athlete Profile: Patrick Hutchinson

Athlete Profile: Patrick Hutchinson

1.  In general, what is your background?

I grew up in Columbia, SC where I played soccer from the time I was a little kid and throughout high school. After high school I went to Wofford College up in Spartanburg where I traded in the soccer boots and focused more on consuming massive amounts of Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and very very cheap beer.  Somehow I managed to escape after 4 years without becoming a total fatty, but to say I wasn’t quite as fit as I once was would be quite an understatement.

While at Wofford I majored in Computer Science mostly because it was during the .com boom of the late ’90s and I thought that degree was going to make me fabulously wealthy. Fortunately I ended up liking software development because after the whole .com bubble burst the crazy salaries in the industry burst with it. That being said, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work in the software industry in Charleston ever since.  Shortly after moving to Charleston I married my beautiful wife Sallie and just more than 14 months ago we welcomed our daughter Tennie into the world. I try and spend pretty much every second I can with both of them which is the main reason why I train at 6 AM.

2.  Age, Occupation?

31, Software Developer at SPARC

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

Before starting at CFI I had been doing boot camp classes at the ESAC on Daniel Island for about a year. I heard about CrossFit through that. It was always in the context of “omg, my friend is doing this CrossFit thing, and you wouldn’t believe what they made them do the other day.” It always sounded intimidating and kind of weird.  After the birth of our daughter last spring my schedule wouldn’t allow me to continue with the bootcamp thing so I floudered around in the gym on my own for a couple months.  This basically involved me trying to follow a few different workout programs from Mens Health while slowly getting less and less fit and less and less motivated.

I never considered CrossFit as a viable option until I noticed the sign when I happend to be driving by one day.  That piqued my interest but it took another several weeks for me to psych myself up enough to actually come in on a Saturday and give it a try. Like they say, the rest is history.  I remember that day distinctly, mostly due to the fact that I was watching South Carolina completely dominate Georgia on the football field and yet was barely able to pull myself off the couch to cheer.

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

I honestly thought I was in shape before I started CrossFit. I guess in a sense I was, compared to your average American couch potato.  However, CrossFit has opened up a whole new concept of what it actually means to be fit. I know I’ve got a long way to go but just seeing results and measurable improvements on a daily basis has been really motivating for me.  I feel stronger and more confident than I ever have and its really exciting to think that I’m only really just getting started with this.

By far, one of the biggest lifestyle changes has been nutrition for me.  In my mind it would be a shame to do all that hard work in the gym all week and then waste all the benefits by continuing to eat junk every night.  I think you know you’re hooked when you find yourself wandering around the grocery store looking for weird stuff like coconut aminos and organic almond flour.  On a side note, there’s a link on the CFI homepage to Foodee’s Meal of the Day website – we’ve gotten a ton of great recipes off of there lately.  Everyone should check it out if you haven’t already.

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

Right now my biggest goal is to Rx a WOD with pullups.  Honestly I’m really getting sick of these stupid bands and ready to make them a thing of my past.

6.  Favorite CrossFit moment so far?

As much as it pains me to say it I’m often one of the last people finished.  I remember one WOD with, I think, 90 overhead squats.  By the end of that one I could barely lift my arms in the air but there were several people there cheering me on and not letting me give up even though I desperately wanted to.  By the end, my shoulders were completely numb but I was ecstatic that I’d made it through!

7.  What do you like most about CrossFit Integrity?

The easy answer is “the people.”  We’ve got a great group at 6 AM and I’m sure the same can be said about everyone else at CFI that I haven’t had a chance to meet yet. Aside from that though, I think there’s a real culture of perseverance that I’ve never seen anywhere else.  When you think about what we’re putting our bodies through day in and day out its really pretty daunting. Yet, somehow, some way, we all push ourselves and push each other to make it through.  I know that’s not something I could do on my own and I doubt there are many other peer groups who could provide that kind of push either.

8.  Favorite WOD?

I really like the EMOTM stuff – mostly because I like to get a littlebreak between different lifts.

9.  Least favorite WOD?

Anything with lots of pullups – nothing against pullups, I just suck at them and they take me forever.

10. Favorite movement?

Clean and Jerk – its a really cool feeling when it all just comes together

11. Least favorite movement?

pullups

12. Favorite place to eat?

McCrady’s, Al Di La, High Cotton, Zia, La Fourchette, and Early Bird Diner just to name a few