Content Warning: references to CrossFit.

I’ve been an athlete my whole life: gymnastics as a kid; tennis, diving, and track in high school; diving in college; parkour the year after; and then weightlifting, rock climbing, and “American Ninja Warrior” while I was a grad student at the University of Iowa.

I’ve also worked out naked at an obscenely expensive Manhattan studio and written about an NBA player fasting for Ramadan during the playoffs.

Now, it’s mostly CrossFit, surfing, practicing the middle splits, and a lot of pre-hab and rehab on my shoulders and hips. If you’re ever in north Brooklyn, stop by CrossFit Virtuosity and take one of my classes.

 
CFV Push Up About Me Pic.jpg

Featured Articles

Writing Archive
I Went Surfing in an Office Park
The Atlantic
I Went Surfing in an Office Park
The Atlantic

During the hour-long session, I caught about 10 waves, and each was more or less identical. It was surfing, but optimized and run like an assembly line. And here’s the thing: It was so, so sick.Read more at The Atlantic.

The Atlantic
The Losses and Gains of the World’s Most Influential Stunt Dieter
Men's Health
The Losses and Gains of the World’s Most Influential Stunt Dieter
Men's Health

On the verge of 40, trainer Drew Manning promised to gain and shed 60 pounds to empathize with his clients. Is this how any of us should be thinking about weight loss? Read more at Men’s Health.

Men's Health
CrossFit Is Feeling The Weight Of Gym Owners Downplaying COVID-19
BuzzFeed
CrossFit Is Feeling The Weight Of Gym Owners Downplaying COVID-19
BuzzFeed

After making headlines for racism in 2020, CrossFit is also struggling to appease those who are taking the coronavirus seriously and those who are ignoring it. Read more at BuzzFeed.

BuzzFeed
While Enes Kanter is Observing Ramadan, the World Will Be Watching Him
The New York Times
While Enes Kanter is Observing Ramadan, the World Will Be Watching Him
The New York Times

Enes Kanter will be observing Ramadan this year under circumstances new to him: He’s in the middle of the N.B.A. playoffs. Read more at The New York Times.

The New York Times
How I Conquered ‘American Ninja Warrior’
Rolling Stone
How I Conquered ‘American Ninja Warrior’
Rolling Stone

I didn't think my first attempt on the Monkey Pegs or the Rotating Log or the Double Salmon Ladder would be during the competition. Read more at Rolling Stone.

Rolling Stone

CrossFit

Writing Archive
I Tried to Become the World's Fittest CrossFit Fan
I Tried to Become the World's Fittest CrossFit Fan

My experience at the Fittest Fan competition was brutal and intense—and I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Read more at Men’s Health.

How Kara Saunders Is Preparing for Victory
How Kara Saunders Is Preparing for Victory

The longtime CrossFit Games standout has missed first place last year by the narrowest of margins. She's not going to let it happen again. Read more at Muscle and Fitness.

Mat Fraser's 5 Tips for Crushing CrossFit Workouts
Mat Fraser's 5 Tips for Crushing CrossFit Workouts

The five-time Fittest Man on Earth has the knowledge you need to be your best in CrossFit. Read more at Men’s Health.

5 Tips to Find Success from CrossFit's Noah Ohlsen
5 Tips to Find Success from CrossFit's Noah Ohlsen

Ohlsen, who recently finished third at Wodapalooza, knows how to handle CrossFit's predictable unpredictability. Read more at Men’s Health.

Why Mat Fraser Is the World’s Fittest Man
Why Mat Fraser Is the World’s Fittest Man

As is Fraser’s style, his dominance came more from consistency than any single, guns-blazing event: he won only two events, but placed in the top five in 10. Read more at Men's Journal.

The 5 Coolest Non-Running Marathons
The 5 Coolest Non-Running Marathons

For when you want that same level of intensity but without all the running. Read more at Men’s Journal.

Is Haley Adams the next CrossFit phenom?
Is Haley Adams the next CrossFit phenom?

“I couldn't ask for a better performance,” she says. “Everything went perfect.” It was also the most dominant performance in CrossFit Games history. Read more at ESPN.

Not That Fit Series

Fitness Advice

Writing Archive
Everything I Learned at a Naked Workout Class
Everything I Learned at a Naked Workout Class

“It's only after touching my entire, uncovered body to the ground that I consider how dirty the floor is.” Read more at VICE.

I Spent a Day Trying to Eat Like a Vegetarian Version of The Rock
I Spent a Day Trying to Eat Like a Vegetarian Version of The Rock

Athletes have always told me how eating enough to fuel their training becomes a chore. I wanted to discover for myself what it feels like. Read more at VICE.

The 4-Move Workout to Improve Grip Strength
The 4-Move Workout to Improve Grip Strength

Here’s how to make your grip strength OCR-ready. Read more at Muscle and Fitness.

How to Scale a Wall like an Obstacle Course Pro
How to Scale a Wall like an Obstacle Course Pro

Here’s how to conquer the walls of any OCR race. Read more at Muscle and Fitness.

Two Moves to Bulletproof Your Back and Knees
Two Moves to Bulletproof Your Back and Knees

How to bulletproof your back and knees for any obstacle course race. Read more at Muscle and Fitness.

3 Ways to to Master the Army Crawl
3 Ways to to Master the Army Crawl

How to go from plebe to pro in an obstacle-course staple: the Army crawl. Read more at Muscle and Fitness.

Everything You Need to Know for Your First Sprint Triathlon
Everything You Need to Know for Your First Sprint Triathlon

Need new #fitspo influencers to follow? Read more at Men's Journal.