Brian Clinton has been on our coaching team’s mind for quite a few months for athlete of the month, but we had to wait until he had been a member for a year to officially nominate him! There is something special about the way Brian approaches each class, each workout, each movement as if it is a construction job and each element needs to be analyzed so it perfectly flows together. Then you can see Brian realize CrossFit doesn’t work like that because he is a human!
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do for a living?
I grew up on a farm in a small town, Clearwater Nebraska. I came to Lincoln for college and have lived here since 1986. I went to UNL and have a degree in Construction Management. I’ve been a project manager with Cheever Construction since 2012.
How did you find out about Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness?
After COVID, my fitness journey had become very stale. I was looking for a new challenge and decided to look at the different CrossFit options in Lincoln. I knew Hannah Kai, a current member, and she really liked Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness and decided to give it a try.
What was the biggest obstacle for you to start?
Frankly, I was very apprehensive about the gymnastics (never done anything like that before) and Olympic Lifting. Before I joined the gym, I really didn’t know much about this stuff. Now, I have learned and practiced enough that I consider them challenging vs scary.
How did you overcome that obstacle?
The coaching at Lincoln Nutrition and Fitness. Breaking down each lift or movement into pieces you can digest and practice. It took a lot of the mystery out of it. Now it’s practicing and muscle memory to accomplish things I didn’t know I could do.
Do you remember your first workout?
Yes. We did “Grace”. You don’t forget “Grace”. ( 30 Clean and Jerks for time with suggested weights 95# for females and 135# for males)
Who have your coaches been? How have they helped you through your first year of CrossFit?
Because of work, I go to classes at different of times the day. I’ve had classes with most of the coaches. All very positive, all push you and give you the coaching to keep improving. All strive to make it fun. It is the positive direction I was looking for.
Why do you keep coming back to Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness?
The challenge, the great coaching, the other athletes, and the positive atmosphere. There is a competitive spirit when you’re in a group class that pits you first against yourself and then the other athletes. Even though there defiantly is an eye on the leaderboard. The entire class celebrates when an individual reaches a goal or a PR (personal record) and there is a lot of encouragement to push and do your best. There is nothing like 16 people lifting something amazingly heavy and then you hear 16 barbells all hitting the ground. That is a cool sound! I have a long way to go, and I wish I had started this part of my journey earlier.
What results have you seen?
I am lifting much heavier and my endurance and stamina have improved. I can execute handstand pushups, rope climbs, and kipping pull ups. Those were not possible for me when I started. I lost some weight and am sleeping better.
How do you balance health & fitness with a busy schedule? How do you stay so consistent in the gym?
I used to work until 8 or 9 at night, every night. My job is endless and stressful. Now, I have a set time to leave the office and go hang out with great people doing fun things. It is the best way to end the day. A challenging workout lets me leave a lot of stress behind and enjoy the rest of the day.
What is your favorite thing about Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness: Home of CrossFit Lincoln?
The people. Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness core values say, “It’s cool to be human”. It’s even better when you hang out and work hard with cool humans.
“I remember pretty clearly my initial meeting with Brian because he came with more questions than me, it lasted almost an hour, and at the end I was sure he wasn’t coming back as he was so skeptical about this whole CrossFit thing. His questions were all valid and showed he did his research. He treated my answers with respect. A couple days later he reached out and said he would give this thing a try and I could still sense his skepticism through his email. Thankfully he approached every class with questions, he slowed down and studied the movements, and very quickly realized the potential for growth that lay ahead. ” – GM, Emily –
We are so thankful to have Brian in our community so that he can continue to get stronger, faster, and in better shape at an age most people think that is not possible! Thank you for signing up and trusting us Brian!
See you in the gym,
LNF Coaches