Athlete Spotlight: Tyler Jensen

 

Name: Tyler Jensen
Age: 46
Occupation: Self-employed. I own and operate an IT consulting, management and support firm. I went out on my own 10 years ago.
Hometown: I don’t really have a hometown. I live in Lawrenceville and have lived in GA the longest but I was born in Orange, CA. and moved often as a kid. A lot of my family including my parents were born and raised in Utah and Salt Lake City was always my “home base”.
Which class time do you usually attend? 6PM, occasionally 5.
Favorite WOD: I don’t have a favorite named WOD but pretty much anything with a barbell. I also like the tire flip, sled push/pull and atlas stone workouts too.
Favorite CF Movement: Cleans
Least Favorite CF Movement: Burpees
3RM Back Squat: 235
1RM Deadlift: 315
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Movie: Caddyshack “gunga-galunga”
Favorite Athlete: Pelé
Dream Job: Own and operate a non-profit – 2nd chance – no-kill dog shelter. Other animals welcome too.
Dream Vacation Destination: So many. Barbados is on the radar for 2019.
If you could have any super power… Fly like an eagle.
Favorite Motivational Quote: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky

How long have you been doing CrossFit?
“Since August 2014.”

How did you first discover CrossFit and what made you decide to start? 
“Some of the guys in the office were doing CrossFit and were really enjoying it so I decided to give it a try. I searched for gyms in the area and landed on No Excuses. I remember seeing a promo video with Glen and Nicole Wilkins. I knew Glen from coaching baseball at Collins Hill park. He goes by Coach Glen now!”

Tell us about your fitness/sports background: 
“From around 5 years old through high school I played basketball, soccer, hockey and a ton of baseball. I also lived on my BMX bike and skateboard too. In 1984 I played in the Little League World Series representing Europe. I was living in Brussels, Belgium at the time. I also did a fair amount of skiing growing up. After high school I lived in Colorado for a number of years and skiing and mountain biking was my life – also known as being a professional ski bum… These days it’s mountain biking, tennis, kayaking, hiking and something that loosely resembles golf.”

What sorts of positive changes (mental, physical, emotional) have you noticed in your life since getting involved at No Excuses? 
“Muscle tone and more energy throughout the day are the big ones. I used to have a lot of lower back issues but since joining the gym they have been a lot less frequent.”

Who or what keeps you coming back and motivated? 
“The whole experience. The members, the coaching staff and varied workouts. It’s a fantastic 1 ½ hour break in the day where I am challenged physically and mentally and do so in an extremely positive and encouraging environment.”

In what other ways do you use your fitness? 
“I carry all the groceries from the car to the kitchen in one trip. Seriously, it seems like I use it most around the house especially yard work and things like lifting kayaks on and off the car rack. Increased endurance is very noticeable especially on long bike rides.”

Please share with us a favorite CrossFit or No Excuses moment. 
“Completing my first Open workout – 16.1. I remember being so nervous and my mouth was so dry. I was a wreck and I was kind of self-conscience about the whole thing and thought everyone was going to watch and judge me. I learned that it’s not the case and if anything, everyone is encouraging and cheering you on. Cheering everyone on! I found out that when the clock stared everything around me came to a screeching halt. I couldn’t hear anything and I had tunnel vision. Nothing mattered except me doing the workout. Next thing I knew time was up and I was already thinking about 16.2. It was a fantastic experience and EVERYONE should sign up for the Open.”

Name one goal you would like to achieve in the next year (doesn’t have to be CrossFit related, but it can be) 
“Better nutrition choices. I would like to shed a few pounds and the whole “I work out so I can eat and drink whatever I want” philosophy will only get you so far. Eating healthy has been a missing ingredient.”

Tell us about your hobbies and interests outside of the gym:
“Spending time with my wife, family, friends and the 2 dogs. A lot of people don’t know this about me but I’m a huge fan of bands like Widespread Panic and Phish. I will travel several times a year to meet up with friends for multiple shows. I started seeing those guys in the early 90’s. The Grateful Dead was my favorite and until Garcia passed away and I traveled extensively all over the country to see them play live.”

What advice do you have for someone just starting CrossFit or is on the fence about starting? 
“Just show up! Make it a habit. Take advantage of the coach’s extensive knowledge and experience. Ask them questions or consult with them if you are not comfortable with a movement or you have an injury. Every time I have asked a question or for advice they light up with enthusiasm and are always very helpful. Also, check your ego at the door. Scaling or modifying a movement or reducing the amount of weight is your friend and getting fit can be a slow and steady process. Approaching it with a big ego will only hurt you and slow or stop progress. One last thing – take a specialized class like the gymnastics/skills class or the Olympic weightlifting class. I did the weightlifting class a couple of years ago and it was very helpful and the classes are open to all skill levels.”

What do you love most about No Excuses? 
“I love how it doesn’t matter what your skill level is or how fit you might be or how long you have been doing CrossFit, everyone struggles. Everyone comes together and pushes one another in a non-judgmental, positive and healthy way. We all come to the gym and visit that “dark zone” for a few minutes during the workout and at the end we are thankful for the experience and each other.

Coach Brandon’s Take: 
“Although he likes to try and hide in the back of the class, Tyler is one of our hardest working members. He’s made tremendous progress in his lifts over the years. A big part of that has been his consistency and willingness to arrive to the gym early to foam roll and do mobility. Keep up the good work Tyler!”