NOVEMBER 2015: DAVID ORCHARD

Competing at the ETX Games

This month, we celebrate the CFT member known for wearing pink (and tutus) and imagining zombie apocalypse scenarios for our WODs.

He is also the guy we can count on to offer his help before we've even asked for it. (It's really not as creepy as it sounds). 

​Here's to you, David Orchard, of Tyler TX via Grand Saline and Atladena CA. This 42 year-old father of 3 has been CrossFitting since May 2012.

Favorite WOD:

Gymnastic and oddball stuff.

Least Favorite WOD:

Anything where I have to lift stuff overhead.
​

Tell us about you sports & fitness background:
​
Played sports in high school, but never really understood that they were supposed to be fun. I never really liked working out, but I liked a lot of different sports. Mountain biking, mountain unicycling, Ultimate Frisbee, disc golf and rock climbing. 

Moved to Tyler in 2007 and looked for something to distract me from not being able to climb. Finally found CrossFit and though it isn’t climbing, it keeps me engaged so that I can climb when I get the chance.

How were you first exposed to CrossFit?  .

My wife asked me if I was interested in trying it and we signed up together. Val had also told me about it, and I had apparently told her I didn’t want to lift weights and get all bulky :-).

Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel?

The first WOD I did was a 50-40-30-20-10. It had a movement for each number. I know there where Squats and Sit-ups, but can’t remember what else. I also remember my abs being sore for a week after.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)?  

I can see that I have muscles now. That wasn’t always the case when I had a desk job. Though I am not getting better at any of the other sports I enjoy, I am not getting worse for the most part. 

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?  

I didn’t expect to gain a whole family of people that I enjoy hanging out with. I also feel more confident in myself about just about everything.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFT moments:

Favorite moment was getting spirit of the games award at the ETX games this year.

​Any advice for people just getting started?

• Come every day you can.
• Don’t feel like scaling is a shameful thing.
• Focus on time domain and form first.
• Ask questions about lifts and technique to anyone. Just ask.
• Enjoy the WOD, even if it’s something you don’t like.
• Have fun with the people that are there dying with you.
• And try to encourage or compliment someone every WOD.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

​Rock Climbing and Family.