Name:Addison Williams
Age:32
Occupation:Marketing Strategist
Hometown:Wyandotte, MI
Which class time do you usually attend?:Everything after 9:30 AM
Favorite WOD: Cindy, because there’s no weights, rowing, or assault bike.
Favorite CF Movement: Push-ups, because I’m good at them.
Least Favorite CF Movement: Overhead squats 🙁
3RM Back Squat:245. Not great.
1RM Deadlift:335. Also not flattering, thanks for asking.
Favorite Food: Simply Cheetos
Favorite Movie: Lately it’s Infinity War
Favorite Athlete:Ashley Williams, my wife
Dream Job:Novelist
Dream Vacation Destination:New Zealand, because that’s where they filmed The Lord of the Rings
If you could have any super power:I would want the power to read minds. You can do a lot more in life if you understand and empathize with people.
Favorite Motivational Quote:“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” -Marcus Aurelius
How long have you been doing CrossFit?
Since June, 2017.
How did you first discover CrossFit and what made you decide to start?
My agency was working with Barbell Shrugged, the fitness podcast. They told me to join a CrossFit gym, and my company covered the cost. I asked them which one to join, and they did some research online. They said No Excuses “looks like they have their crap together” so I joined.
Tell us about your fitness/sports background:
I grew up doing calisthenics and weightlifting because I wanted to be like the characters on TV. I used weightlifting as a high school elective to get out of taking another class, but that was cool because I achieved a record at my high school for the strength index. I did functional fitness with my friends before we ever heard of CrossFit, and then I was in Army Special Operations for five years. Fitness has been a big part of my life.
What sorts of positive changes (mental, physical, emotional) have you noticed in your life since getting involved at No Excuses?
I have a new friend group that really shares many of my same values. That really helps improve mental health. I’ve also gained like 14 pounds of muscle weight, which is nice.
Who or what keeps you coming back and motivated?
The whiteboard. Knowing that there’s a record and a comparison keeps the workouts feeling like a game or a sport for me.
In what other ways do you use your fitness?
Fitness is a way to connect with like-minded people. Years ago, I submitted a cover letter to a marketing agency in which I mentioned that I could do one-arm chin-ups. They literally called me back and interviewed me at a gym because they wanted to see if it was true. After witnessing the one-arm chin-up, they took me on as a freelance writer. Now I own that agency.
Please share with us a favorite CrossFit or No Excuses moment.
Everyone was really cool when I joined. Strangers came up and introduced themselves in a genuine way, and a lot of those people are my friends now. It had a serious enough impact on me that I try to do the same thing when I see new faces at the gym.
Name one goal you would like to achieve in the next year (doesn’t have to be CrossFit related, but it can be)
Take a real vacation where I don’t have any obligations for several consecutive days.
Tell us about your hobbies and interests outside of the gym:
I spend time with the family and play video games.
What advice do you have for someone just starting CrossFit or is on the fence about starting?
Find a gym that matches your personality. If you tried a gym you didn’t like, check out somewhere else. CrossFit’s not like Planet Fitness where every location is essentially the same. Each affiliate has a personality of its own. I wouldn’t fit in at the majority of CrossFit gyms, and that’s okay because I only have to fit in at one.
What do you love most about No Excuses?
The friendly competition among peers. There’s good sportsmanship all around in that people will honor the spirit of trying to beat other athletes, but they are humble when they win and graceful when they lose.
Coach Adam’s Take:
“I started working with Addison in my Weightlifting Class, and it was immediately obvious that he had a great base of strength! It’s always incredible to see how small, often subtle, changes in movement can yield such impressive results, with Addison. He’s an athlete who seems to be very aware of his strengths and weaknesses, and as a result tends to stay very motivated when devoting time to conquering those weaknesses. Though humble, Addison possesses a level of athletic confidence that I wish I could pass on to more of my athletes.”