1. Tell us about yourself:
I am 28 years old, a full-time Psychology student, and am getting married next May. Along with my absolute obsession for all things CrossFit related, I enjoy playing World of Warcraft (yes, it’s still around and is still fun!), hanging out with my fiance, hanging out with my small but close circle of friends, walking and playing with my dog (he is my son), and sleeping. I sleep a lot. Also food. I <3 burritos. I cook too! If you’re feeling brave, you should ask me about my carbonara recipe.
2. What do you do for a job?
I am a Guest Service Agent at a Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott – the one in Camarillo. I’m no longer sure what I want to do as a career – I either want to be a BCBA, or get an MBA in finance and, you know, make people money. Honestly though, my dream job is to be a CrossFit gym owner. Maybe one day, haha!
3. Tell us something people might not know about you:
My middle name is “Ryan,” which makes my full name Daniel Ryan Shapiro. That’s “DRS,” or “Dr. S.” So if you’d like, you can call me Doctor.
4. What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
My best friend introduced me to CrossFit 6 years ago when I became bored of running. I had just lost 100 pounds and needed something a little extra. I found CrossFit, and started at a gym in Newbury Park, just outside of Thousand Oaks.
5. What was your first impression? How has that changed?
My first impression was interesting, because my hubris was grand. I knew nothing about fitness, questioned everything that transpired, and was an absolute pain to teach the movements to. Thankfully, I’ve grown up since then, if only a little. I couldn’t ever imagine doing something for fitness other than CrossFit, really. I look forward to every workout that isn’t an RPE 5, and truly enjoy the fitness aspect itself. There is something about CrossFit that has an absolute hold over me – I obsess over it constantly, think about it (much too) often, and drive 30 minutes every day to BSCF because I enjoy the product so much.
6. What was your first “bright spot”?
My first bright spot was when I first cleaned 225lb, about 5 years ago. I have never really been too impressed with anything I’ve done, fitness wise. I tend to compare myself to the best athletes. Something I’m always told is that, “comparison is the thief of joy,” and I have truly come to believe that. We are all on our own personal journey and it has taken me a long time to learn that, and it’s a lesson I’m still learning.
7. What are you working on now?
Perfecting technique in olympic lifts, balancing my diet better, mobility, handstand Push ups, butterfly pull ups and C2B, a stronger upper body, endurance, sprint workouts, maintaining composure during frustrating workouts, and being happy with my progress. The list is never ending, really. If there’s a movement programmed in a wod, my goal is be able to do it in the given stimulus.
8. What’s your favorite Beachside CrossFit memory?
I have a lot of great memories. It’s hard to pick. I’ll choose a recent one; on 6/21 I executed (and I thought it was quite smooth) 2 bar muscle ups, strung together. It was the first time I had ever strung together bar muscle ups. Then we did that comp wod and I’m pretty sure I saw God while lying on the floor after. That is definitely a positive memory. I love BSCF!
