Collin Martin, Athlete of the Month

Like many, Collin joined after a long break away from fitness during COVID. But he’s back and improving more than ever! Just hear what some of our coaches have to say:

“Collin definitely has a competitive streak. He has definitely been working on improving his level of performance, technique and positioning to reach that next goal.” ~Coach Gino

“I can confidently say that Collin is laser focused. You can tell he spends his class time soaking up as much as he can from our coaches. He pushes himself and is eager to attack his weaknesses.” ~Coach Erin

“Collin is constantly pushing his own boundaries, willing to try unfamiliar movements, back off to work on form, and also work heavy. He is very coachable, and constantly working to improve.” ~Coach Lisa

“Coaching Collin is always a pleasure. Every workout, I can see his mind thinking “how can I attack this workout.” He never compares himself but constantly tries to beat what he did yesterday.” ~Coach Anthony

Congratulations Collin! Meet our July 2022 Athlete of the Month!

I joined in May 2021 after a 15-month CrossFit hiatus. My wife and I moved to Middletown from Jersey City during the pandemic.

I was mostly working out at home as a result of Covid, either running or hitting the Peloton, and I wanted to get back to the challenging/intense workouts that CrossFit provides.

I have definitely gotten stronger, especially over the last few months. I ran a marathon last fall so my attendance was spotty, and I wasn’t really pushing myself on the strength side of the equation.

Since this past winter I’ve tried to challenge myself a bit more with heavy lifts, and to not take the easy way out on the metcons (like choosing a weight that I knew was way too light.)

I’ve set a few new PRs on lifts lately as a result.

Both my overhead squats and squat snatches have improved a lot. That might sound crazy for anyone who has witnessed them, but they are so challenging for me that little increases in weight here and there are big accomplishments for me (I’ll challenge anyone in the gym for the “worst mobility” title!)

When I first started CrossFit, I would avoid classes where these lifts were programmed; now I seek them out since I want to keep improving.

The good news is that I have gotten stronger, but the bad news is that I still have the “quarantine 15” and don’t fit into a lot of my clothes! Angela might have a new nutrition client soon…

I try to take the 6a class when I can fit it into my schedule since it helps me get focused for the day. I get the feeling of accomplishment right away, and then I’m ready to tackle my job knowing I got the workout out of the way.

It’s a great community where everyone checks their ego at the door.

No matter how strong you are or how quickly you finish a workout, everyone is supportive because what matters most is that YOU push yourself and YOU make sure you’re getting the most out of each workout.

My friends have said it looks intimidating, but at the end of the day, everyone is there for the same reason.

And the coaches are all incredible—the coaches at Salus are all passionate and invested in the success of all of us.

I love competition, and while my “glory days” are behind me, this still allows me to get the competitive juices flowing. That can technically mean against the other people in the class, but more often than not it’s just about pushing yourself to the limits. I love the idea of workouts that say “go do XYZ as quickly as you can.”

Murph! I’d be happy with adding in another mile in there somewhere!

Just stick with it. It can be intimidating at first, especially when you don’t know the lifts and exercises, but over time it’s going to get you in great shape. And listen to the coaches!

Bar muscle ups.

Murph but with 5ks at the start/end

Trying new restaurants and golfing when I can

Healthy: grilled chicken and veggies
Splurge: Tomahawk ribeye with all of the unhealthy sides: mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, creamed spinach.

My dog Eli. He’s a weirdo so I’d love to know what’s going on in his mind..

“ To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” -Steve Prefontaine

-Every year I do a “beer mile” with my friends. I’ll be happy to provide more details off the record…

-I was once flown to Singapore for a 3.5 mile race.

The post Collin Martin, Athlete of the Month appeared first on Salus.