Read Hubbard

1. How long have you been a member at Hybrid?

Just about a year.

2. How did you hear about the gym originally?

I was doing a less rigorous cross-fit regimen about once a week and working out on my own to stay fit in general and to improve my lacrosse fitness. I was tired of the typical gym routine, but I was unaware of a class setting as diverse and hard-core as HYBRID. I started coming to open hours and then started taking a class once in a while. I was shocked at how much better everyone was at everything than me. It was . .. and remains humbling.

3. What is your favorite lift?

Honestly, squat cleans because they are my nemesis. I like to work on things I do more poorly.

4. What is your least favorite lift?

Back squats, because I used to be very good at them before I got old!

5. What has been your biggest achievement since starting at Hybrid?

I am a little bit hyper competitive. I try not to choose to compete with people in my class for fear of revealing what a weirdo I am. So instead, I have a role model at Hybrid, He works out at different times than I and I have only met once or twice. Every day I try to use whatever weight he uses and keep up in terms of time and reps. I still fail more than I succeed, but I am getting closer…more often. ______ , I am coming for you.

6. What other improvements have you seen since you joined?

I am overall much stronger. My engine has improved a lot. I played lacrosse five days a week this summer, often against college kids (I am 41). I have arthritis and ache in lots of places, but cross-fit and Hybrid helped me to compete and gave me the confidence to go out and surprise people occasionally.

7. How many days per week do you workout at Hybrid? Elsewhere?

I try to take a class once a day, five times a week. I also try to run the hill twice a day each of those days. I play lacrosse at least once a week in the evenings as well.

8. What movement are you still struggling with and what are you doing to fix it?

I will struggle with anything hip and back flexibility related. I stretch, practice and try to warm up and down but I am marginally better. I even dream about getting “into the hole” sometimes. And yes I know that may not be normal.

9. What were your stats, physically, before coming to Hybrid? Weight?

I was probably about 15 pounds heavier, which is not really significant for me since I was about 250lbs. I think I am slimmer, which wasn’t really hard to do. I know my neck has grown and my waist is smaller. But my ass and thighs are bigger. So, Hybrid has driven me almost completely off the rack.

10. How has your nutrition changed?

I am not eating Paleo .. .yet. I am much more aware of what and when I eat/drink. I really don’t watch calories but I try to eat more high quality and less processed food. I think I have SIGNIFICANT room to improve there.

11. What motivates you daily?

That SOB from the other class . No seriously, I look for improvement in anything. It is challenging because measuring your improvement is dynamic and not static. You will never notice yourself grow or shrink on a daily basis. I think for me it is being able to get stuff unbroken. I don’t measure or record workouts because..I am lazy. I have noticed improvements in repeated workouts so I guess this stuff works despite never feeling any easier in the midst of a workout.

12. What advice would you give to someone who might be intimidated by Hybrid?

Record your workouts. Don’t get frustrated because everything is and will always be hard because the finish line is an illusion. If you compete against yourself, marginal gains will get harder to achieve. If you compete against others, you can always find someone who is better than you to use as a beacon. Most importantly, enjoy the groups, the people and the little moments when you exceed your expectations. Use the failures, and you will fail, a lot to keep that fire stoked.

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