Athlete Profile – Eric Redman

 

Eric Redman
30
Indianapolis
May 2011
2nd Open
What led you to CrossFit?
When my competitive running career ended I really had 
no motivation to work out. I did not work out or
exercise one time in the year prior to joining Forged Fit. Laura was still a very high level
runner at the time and I started feeling like a slob. I knew I needed to find some way
to get back in shape. A couple of my buddies were into CrossFit out in California and I
decided to give it a try. I found Forged Fit on the internet and dove in head first. What's has surprised you the most about CrossFit? I have been most surprised by some of the things I have been able to do. I have always
considered myself an endurance-oriented, skinny distance runner. I had never lifted a
weight, including bench press, before I started CrossFit. CrossFit has made me more
interested and confident in trying out new sports, including activities that in the past I
would have not tried for fear of failing. It is surprising to me that at 30 years old I am a
more well rounded athlete than I have ever been in my life. What is the movement that you love the most, and why? Muscle Ups. This was one of those movements that when I joined I was just in awe of. I
did not think it would be possible for me to get one. I also love the muscle up from the
stand point that it is such an achievement for people who are learning CrossFit and
getting stronger. When I first joined, almost no one could do a muscle up and we didn't even really try.
Now it seems like someone is getting their first one almost every week, and we have
lots of people in the gym who are pretty proficient at them. This really highlights the
benefits of the group atmosphere of CrossFit. It is contagious. If people see others
achieving something, then they tend to believe that they can possibly achieve it as well. What is the movement that you hate the most, and why? There are no movements that I really hate. For me, the movements that I am weakest
at tend to be the ones I become obsessed with and work on all the time. After a while
these become some of my favorites. Overhead Squats and Snatch have been the most
difficult for me. What are you most nervous about with the Games? Well, the Open is 4 weeks in and my weakest movement (heavy snatch) came up in
week 1. So yea, the thing that made me the most nervous is already done. What is the one profession you wish you'd tried? I would still like to be a coach at some point. Track and Field, CrossFit, Soccer, I do not
really care what I coach, I just really enjoy seeing others succeed in athletics and
coaching is something I have not had enough time for yet. Other than training, what is the one hobby you most enjoy? I enjoy listening to and discovering new music. I also enjoy playing guitar, although I have
not had as much time for that as I would like lately. Also, I enjoy spending time with my
fiance and friends. Traveling is another hobby that I enjoy, but need more time and money
for. When you need motivation, what do you think about? When I need motivation in workouts I think about how upset I will be with myself if I finish
the workout and know that I did not give it my best. It is a feeling I have always hated in
my athletic career. I am pretty competitive and if I can't beat everyone then I want to at
least be able to tell myself that I gave it everything I had.

Jeff Edwards

- National Coach USA Weightlifting - Crossfit Coach of individual and team competitors - Outdoorsy nerd - Owner and Head Coach at BR Fit Club