Once a month, we will recognize a single member who embodies the spirit of CrossFit Irondale. He/she is someone who has a good attitude, even on the toughest days, is always there to lend support to fellow athletes, and generally goes the extra mile to help build our community to become even more awesome.
Congrats, THE Jerome Byrd!
1. What do you do when you’re not at the gym? Your profession?
Most days that I am not at CF Irondale, I am out of town for work. I work in sales; I am a regional manager for a medical device company
2. How did you find out about CF?
I first learned about CrossFit over three years ago from a friend of mine who lives in Atlanta. At the same time, there was this nice girl that I worked with in the same office that owned a box and she kept inviting me to come and try out CrossFit at her place. So, I did and enjoyed it. I started my journey with CrossFit in August of 2013 and have not regretted it. When I started, I weighed the most I have ever weighed in my life, 178 pounds. I had not touched a weight of any kind since the early 90’s and had not really exercised that much at all during that time frame. After doing a few WOD’s I was hooked. Everything about CrossFit was what hooked me. I wasn’t working out by myself, I had great coaching, the people there were very friendly and cheered each other on, and we did something new every day. I was incredibly weak and could barely lift that much weight. I could not even do regular pull ups, I had to use a green band. As I look back at my PR’s from 2013 and compare them to now, it is crazy. I work out a lot now with weights that used to be my one rep max. Also, the weight starting dropping off my frame quickly. I started at 178 pounds and got down to 153 pounds, and from there started adding muscle weight (I took the before and after pics). By the way, that nice girl at work was Whitney!
3. What makes you come in and train on days that you don’t want to?
Honestly, there really are not many days that I don’t want to come to CID. Because I my travel schedule, I don’t get the opportunity to come every day. My goal every week is three WODs, and I typically have to come on Saturday to get the third one in. However, there are those days when I am either a little tired or what has been programmed for the day isn’t my favorite. When those days occur, I just know that I will be glad I went after it is all said and done and press on. Also, it is worth saying that I have made some great friends at CID and enjoy working out with them.
4. What’s your favorite movement and/or workout?
I love doing snatches. In my opinion, they are very technical and difficult to master and that is what makes them fun. Along with the snatch, I really enjoy cleans of any kind. My favorite workout… that is a tough one. I love any WOD that incorporates a bar. Some of my favorites, I guess, are long chippers incorporating the bar.
5. What’s one thing you would like to accomplish within CF in the next year?
I want to snatch 200# before December 31st.
6. Name something about you that’s a little-known fact.
I secretly (not a big secret) compete against all the twenty-somethings at CID. I love it when anyone in the over 40 group finishes in the top three for the class.
Most days that I am not at CF Irondale, I am out of town for work. I work in sales; I am a regional manager for a medical device company
2. How did you find out about CF?
I first learned about CrossFit over three years ago from a friend of mine who lives in Atlanta. At the same time, there was this nice girl that I worked with in the same office that owned a box and she kept inviting me to come and try out CrossFit at her place. So, I did and enjoyed it. I started my journey with CrossFit in August of 2013 and have not regretted it. When I started, I weighed the most I have ever weighed in my life, 178 pounds. I had not touched a weight of any kind since the early 90’s and had not really exercised that much at all during that time frame. After doing a few WOD’s I was hooked. Everything about CrossFit was what hooked me. I wasn’t working out by myself, I had great coaching, the people there were very friendly and cheered each other on, and we did something new every day. I was incredibly weak and could barely lift that much weight. I could not even do regular pull ups, I had to use a green band. As I look back at my PR’s from 2013 and compare them to now, it is crazy. I work out a lot now with weights that used to be my one rep max. Also, the weight starting dropping off my frame quickly. I started at 178 pounds and got down to 153 pounds, and from there started adding muscle weight (I took the before and after pics). By the way, that nice girl at work was Whitney!
3. What makes you come in and train on days that you don’t want to?
Honestly, there really are not many days that I don’t want to come to CID. Because I my travel schedule, I don’t get the opportunity to come every day. My goal every week is three WODs, and I typically have to come on Saturday to get the third one in. However, there are those days when I am either a little tired or what has been programmed for the day isn’t my favorite. When those days occur, I just know that I will be glad I went after it is all said and done and press on. Also, it is worth saying that I have made some great friends at CID and enjoy working out with them.
4. What’s your favorite movement and/or workout?
I love doing snatches. In my opinion, they are very technical and difficult to master and that is what makes them fun. Along with the snatch, I really enjoy cleans of any kind. My favorite workout… that is a tough one. I love any WOD that incorporates a bar. Some of my favorites, I guess, are long chippers incorporating the bar.
5. What’s one thing you would like to accomplish within CF in the next year?
I want to snatch 200# before December 31st.
6. Name something about you that’s a little-known fact.
I secretly (not a big secret) compete against all the twenty-somethings at CID. I love it when anyone in the over 40 group finishes in the top three for the class.
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