There are times when an athlete stands out in the coaches’ eyes and the recognition is a huge help to keep up their positive habits and consistency. There are times when we look at a few potential Athlete of the Month candidates and say of that person doesn’t ‘need’ it. Mike O’Brien is a guy who doesn’t ‘need’ the recognition. However, there are times when we like to say hey we appreciate all the effort, dedication, thoughtfulness, selflessness, integrity and humility. I’ve gotten to know Mike a bit over the last few years and have looked up to him in a number of ways. He joined our 5:30am group after a few back and forth emails with me about coming in to see if it worked for his schedule due to driving to Connecticut most days. Thankfully it stuck. He is a hard working, driven individual who as he explains below has matured mentally as an athlete over his years of training/completing. His resiliency is unbelievable continuing to come back after 3 ACL tears. By the way, this is the guy who owns the top spot on out 20 minute bike test. When quarantine hit, Mike called me within the first week to offer to pay his next 6 months on the spot to ensure he was able to help the gym could cover it’s costs while we were out of the building. That thoughtfulness is something Dr. Jeremy and I will always remember and appreciate. I look up to Mike as the great role model and father he is. He talks about working out with his daughter and how much he loves it. I love seeing that and want to see more of that. I believe it’s important to recognize ourselves as examples and role models for younger people whether that be family or friends’ kids. It’s awesome to see the enjoyment both Mike and Caley have at the gym. The last thing I want to share (and I got Mike’s permission) is that Mike hasn’t missed a day of working out to some degree in well over a decade. When I say working out, I don’t mean barbells and burpees. It started as a bet with his friends to complete 100 reps of a few movements every day and then email the group that you did it. If you missed a day, you contributed money to a pool. At the end of the year, they all go on a trip and that money collected is used for the group. To this day (6600+ days in) Mike and a few buddies continue this daily task. This is impressive.
Written by: Coach Rob Moloney
——————————————————————
Q&A
Why did you start functional fitness cross-training?
I started as an alternative to running. For many years, I was one of the crazy people running the boardwalk at 5am every day, regardless of weather conditions. The wear and tear on my body, particularly my knees, pushed me to look for something different. A colleague told me that I should give Crossfit a try back in 2018, so I did. I was pretty intimidated early on, but am grateful that I gave it a chance.
What’s your background? (Athletic)
I’ve always loved playing sports – mostly team sports like baseball, basketball, etc. After tearing my ACL for the THIRD time playing hoops, I came to the realization that my basketball days were likely behind me and I had to find a more sustainable alternative. That transition wasn’t particularly easy for me and I certainly let my fitness go in the process – I had always (incorrectly) viewed “athletes” as people who excelled in team sports. It wasn’t until I was forced to focus on individual activities like running that I fully appreciated the attributes that make individual sport athletes special – mental toughness, discipline, ability to embrace pain while breaking through preconceived limitations. I think many of those skills are not just helpful in the gym, but are true life skills. The people who are willing to show up to the gym at 5:30am during a snowstorm are just built
differently.
How long have you been a member and how long have you been doing functional fitness?
I have been with IPF for about 2.5 years, and spent about a year at a Crossfit gym in Connecticut, close to where I work.
What is your favorite thing about the gym?
Simply put, it’s a lot of fun. Life is busy, so when you are able to combine a few things that you enjoy, that’s an opportunity too good to pass up. The programming is great – for someone like me, it’s nice to be told what to do on a given day. I have spent many hours aimlessly walking around gyms thinking about what exercises I should be doing. Rob and Kyle take considerable time developing a thoughtful program that can be altered to meet the needs of any member. I love having a group of like-minded people pushing you to work harder, which ultimately leads to greater improvement. Most importantly, I love getting to develop relationships. There are members of all different backgrounds, and getting to know these people and build friendships is something I value a great deal. There’s not a single day in the gym that I don’t laugh. I like to work hard, but I love having fun. IPF provides both in spades.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome since joining the gym?
As you get older, it’s important to realize why you are doing something. There are so many incredible athletes at the gym. If you spend your time trying to compare yourself to some of them, you’ll end up disappointed and discouraged. It can be humbling at times, but if you can focus on the work that you are putting in and build an appreciation of the process, I think that goes a long way. At the end of the day, you are there to work towards becoming the best version of yourself, not the best version of someone else. I’d say that learning to focus on my own personal improvements has been the biggest challenge I have overcome thus far.
What is your favorite moment at the gym so far?
During quarantine, there were limited options for children to stay active. My wife and I were fortunate to be able to keep our kids pretty busy throughout the lockdown, but it never felt like enough. Then it dawned on me that my oldest daughter, Caley (12), could actually do many of the things we work on at the gym. I reached out to Rob to see if I could bring Caley in for some of the lower skill sessions, and without hesitation he agreed. That really meant a great deal to me. Now, I try to squeeze in at least one workout a week with Caley and it’s just an incredible blessing. We get to work hard and have fun doing something together. Even though sometimes she resists going, she’s always smiling by the end. I remember one of our first workouts together involved the ski. In the middle of the workout, I didn’t realize that she was actually too short to reach the handles but other members picked up on it and immediately jumped into action to help her out. It may have seemed like a small gesture, but it highlighted to me what it is that makes IPF special – it’s a tight-knit community where people really try to look out for one another. I feel really lucky to be part of that. I look forward to spending more time with Caley at the gym and hopefully bringing my younger daughter, Katherine (10), in soon too!
What’s your favorite “cheat” food?
The list is embarrassingly long here, so I’ll just go with ice cream for now.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about starting?
It’s easy to be intimidated, but try not to be. The reality is that the members and coaches all want you to succeed, regardless of where you are on your fitness journey. If you can commit, it will change your life for the better in many ways. Just go for it!
What drives you?
I am a classic middle child, with limited natural talent. Ha! The only thing I have ever felt like I have had total control over is effort. Whether it be working, working out, or developing/maintaining important relationships in my life, I try to work hard at it. I hate the feeling of failure due to lack of effort, so that fear is probably what drives me the most.
What is your biggest fitness goal right now?
I feel like I do a lot of the “work,” but definitely fall short on healthy eating. A wise man once told me, “You can’t outwork a bad diet.” As the years pass, this becomes more and more true. This is an area that I need to focus on most.