Name: Ryan Madsen
Nickname: Used to get mostly Madsen and Mad-Dog; recently heard from someone at our gym – “Tall One who Runs”
Age: 25
Occupation: Financial Analyst
Hometown: Grew up in Syracuse, NY. Currently live in Ardmore, PA.
Favorite WOD: Fight Gone Bad
Favorite lift: Squat Clean, with Snatch a close second.
How long have you been CrossFitting? 8 months
Which class time do you usually attend? 5:30am
How did you find CrossFit? A couple years ago, my brother started going to a Crossfit gym in Washington DC (Crossfit MPH) and lost a lot of weight / got really fit doing it (while also eating strict Paleo). That inspired me to check out gyms in the area, and low and behold I found CFDV.
What is your athletic background? Played some soccer and basketball growing up, but then really took to rowing in high school. I rowed all 4 years in college on Georgetown’s lightweight crew team (for those who don’t know, “lightweight” meant we couldn’t weigh more than 160lbs the night before races – it sucked!).
How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, level of fitness? Crossfit has generally added more fun and excitement into my workouts. I hate when I first hear my alarm go off at 5am, but once I finally wake up and make it to the box, I find it to be one of my favorite parts of the day. I love the variety that Crossfit workouts provide, and I feel myself getting stronger. My girlfriend Katie also joined recently, so it’s been fun flexing our newfound guns in front of the mirror together post-wods.
What made you drink the CrossFit “kool-aid”? It was definitely the people and trainers. Everyone is really supportive, the trainers have been great, and I particularly love the humor and competitiveness that the 5:30 crew brings. I had missed being in that team-like environment, and Crossfit has definitely helped fill the void.
What are your CrossFit goals for this year? 300+ Fight Gone Bad, a muscle-up, sub 8-minute Fran, 50 unbroken double-unders.
What do you do in your free time? Play pick-up basketball; try out new Paleo recipes; read (currently reading Game of Thrones series); Fantasy Football
What is your favorite cheat food? Chocolate chip cookies
Tell us something that most people wouldn’t know about you: I’m a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do – started when I was 5 years old.
Name at least one embarrassing guilty pleasure: I watch a fair amount of embarrassing TV on a regular basis (though I blame Katie for getting me hooked on most of them): The Bachelorette, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Project Runway, Pretty Little Liars.
Any advice for new members? Don’t turn over the orange buckets, and buy a sweet headband.
What is your favorite song or kind of music to WOD to? Techno
What was the most embarrassing or hilarious thing to happen to you at CFDV? In one of my first couple Elements classes, Larry was going over pull-ups with us, and one of the girls in our group was having trouble reaching the pull-up bars. I noticed all these conveniently-placed orange buckets under the bars and could only assume that they were meant for stepping stools. I proceeded to turn one of them over for her and said smiling, “There ya go.” Only then did I realize I had dumped chalk all over the floor – Larry wasn’t pleased.
That is one bad-ass picture! Ryan is a great addition to the CFDV family. I’ll never forget watching him during death by 10-meters and thinking that we would be there all day watching this guy go back and forth.
Good luck Ryan!
Ryan is a class act who consistently gives every wod his all, especially the really nasty ones. He definitely contributes to the big laughs and camaraderie in the 5:30. Ryan’s effort is inspiring and his progress has been phenomenal. And yeah, his running is out of control fast. I’m glad he’s a part of the gym.
Ryan and I were in the same Intro class and he has been killing every WOD since! He is part of what makes the 5:30 class awesome and he will definitely be hitting those goals this year.
“Mad Dog” should be used far more frequently.
Also, this is the 2nd athlete spotlight in a row that someone said they like Techno. I think we need to get way more of it in the mix at the gym. You ever see videos of Russian weightlifters?! That’s all they listen to, and they seem to do pretty well.
I love the chalk bucket story! That would totally have been me given some different circumstances.
Ryan’s fast! Don’t ever forget that. He’s also a solid part of the illustrious 0530. I always expect Ryan to be at the head of the pack in WODS. He’s a force. And, a black belt. Would like to see him put his hand through like 8 blocks of ice, just like in Karate Kid II.
Ryan is official. I agree that Mad Dog needs to used more often. Don’t think I feel the same about techno though. Oh and Pretty Little Liars is guilty pleasure of mine as well. It’s actually a decent murder mystery with all of the drama of high school set in a fictitious Main Line town.
Ryan has truly been a great addition to the box and now we have his girlfriend too. They are good people and have been very supportive for every event from the day he joined. 5:30 is a rare hour and Ryan fits right in and definitely contributes to the antics. He is another extremely positive person and is a big supporter of the group.
Mad Dog – Yes
Techno – anything is better than Eminem for the 100th time-530 needs new music desperately
Pretty Little Liars – No F’n Way
It’s great to have Ryan as part of the 0530 crew. He always gives 100% and is constantly at the top of the pack no matter what the workout is. But for any WOD with a run in it, look out….. He is like a deer out there.
Have to agree….love the chalk bucket story!! Don’t have much chance to WOD with Ryan, but by all accounts, a great guy and a great addition to the box!
I particularly enjoyed the chalk bucket story as well:) Ryan always brings the best out of those around him. I wish I could go to the 5:30 AM classes to see him dominate! Thanks for the shout outs;) <3
Haha, love the chalk bucket story! I don’t make it to the 5:30 class often (read: ever) but there is clearly an awesome crew!
I watched Mad Dog row for 4 years on the Potomac – great stroke, great body. Will have to make it up there for one of your WODs! Stay long and stay smooth.