Howdy! 🤠 I'm Brennan. I grew up in Catonsville and moved to Hunt Valley following my graduation from Mount St. Mary's University in 2022 and landing my job working in client services for Merrill Lynch. If I'm not in the gym you can find me practicing with the good folks at Hot Yoga Baltimore in Catonsville.
What led you to try CrossFit?
I started CrossFit because I needed a new fitness activity that was closer to home. I used to drive from Hunt Valley to DC after work two to three times a week to train at my friend's martial arts studio that I had been going to since I was a sophomore in college. Eventually the drive just got too exhausting and work got too stressful, and I progressively went less and less until I just stopped going altogether. I fell out of shape quickly over the course of a little over a year, and at some point just decided it was time to get back out there. CrossFit appeals to me for some of the same reasons martial arts did; I feel like I thrive in an environment where I'm receiving coaching and instruction to follow. I feel like I'm not "getting the most" out of the workout when I exercise by myself.
Why do you continue to CrossFit?
I continue to CrossFit because I'm seeing the results and I like them. I see the shape of my face changing. I have suits that I had to stuff myself into a year ago that are now fitting right. People treat me and talk to me differently. I stutter less when I talk. This sport has been crucial in rebuilding not just my physical well-being, but my mental and social well-beings as well.
Describe how your attitude towards health and fitness has evolved since you began your journey.
When I was younger, I viewed exercise as something you did to build muscles and look better. When I was in college and starting training in Kyokushin, I began to view fitness as something that encompasses not just the body, but also the mind and spirit. Our physical conditioning goes beyond building muscle to also build coordination, resilience, posture, and technical mastery. Through training, the mind develops presence, awareness, and emotional control, and the ability to be at peace and free from doubt while under extreme pressure. The spiritual element emerges through physical exhaustion, and it's from there that discipline, focus, and perseverance are tested.
Share a memorable CrossFit moment that makes you laugh or puts a smile on your face.
Before I started training, I used to share a cubicle office with Coach Lance, and was later introduced to Coach Jess through him outside of the CrossFit environment. I had no idea either of them were coaches here, and I remember doing a double take the first time I saw each of them in the gym. Small world.
What are you proud of and why?
I take pride in my willingness to do things that other people find challenging, uncomfortable, and maybe even a little bit scary. I fought at a few events before I fell out of martial arts, and my friends would be shocked whenever I would show them a video of me getting knocked unconscious or body slammed. I've been doing hot yoga for a few years, the room is heated to 105-110 degrees, the sequence is cardio-intensive, and I know several people who have tried it and refuse to go back. Whenever I'm with friends or on a date and I mention I do CrossFit, almost everyone asks the same thing - "Wow, isn't CrossFit intense?" And I'm proud of that.
I'm also proud that I was able to recognize that I had let myself go, and am doing something about it. Getting back into a consistent routine after more than a year away can be challenging, and I'm glad that I'm sticking with it and am seeing real progress.
What's your advice for other CrossFitters or people looking to start?
Just showing up really is the hardest part, and a hurdle that I still struggle with sometimes. The workouts are definitely challenging, but if you can just take those first couple steps into the gym, your own grit, determination, and perseverance will see you through each session. You'll push yourself because you don't want to see yourself fall behind the spectacular athletes around you, and the coaches will help you keep up in the most "correct" way possible, best suited to your fitness level and familiarity with the movements.
Why the coaches chose Brennan as Titan of the Month:
Brennan is hardworking and receptive to feedback. He consistently applies guidance to improve his technique and form. Most importantly, he demonstrates perseverance and determination, refusing to give up even when the challenges of CrossFit become difficult.
.jpg)
.jpg)
