If you find your workouts aren’t getting any easier, take a step back. You may find that you’ve been pushing yourself that much harder. September Fusion Athlete Douglas Murray is doing just that. You may notice him doing extra work after class — what began as a fast 400 is now a fast three-miler! It’s that tenacity that inspires us to do what we do, and we’re glad members like Douglas come back to the Shop everyday.
Congratulations, Douglas!
We asked Douglas a few questions about where he finds that energy to push himself harder every time.
How long have you been coming to the Shop? How did you find out about us?
I’ve been going to Dane’s Body Shop for a year and a half now (plus some odd months). I didn’t hear about Dane’s so much as I went looking for it. I decided I was way out of shape and needed to get my butt in gear. I hopped onto Yelp.com, typed ‘Gym’ and voila, Dane’s Body Shop was first on the list. After scrolling through five or six pages of nothing but GUSHING ,GLOWING, and POSITIVE reviews (there were a lot more pages exactly like those!), I knew I had the right place.
When you first started Dane’s Body Shop, what were your goals? What was your main reason for joining?
When I first started at DBS, my main goal was just to get through the warm up part without wanting to curl into the fetal position and cry for mommy *grin*. Needless to say, ahem, that has changed. My main reason for joining the Shop was simple. I wanted to get and stay in the best possible shape, as well as lose some love handles. Ah, vanity!
Have you met your goals now that you’ve been a member for a while? If so, what new goals have you set for yourself?
Well, I have made a dent in them (still looking for those six pack abs—they must be in the front office), but by no means have I achieved them. That’s mainly due to the fact that I am constantly changing/pushing my goals. “An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction.” Newton’s first law is spot on; you simply have to keep pushing yourself no matter how tiny the steps may be.
What is the most dramatic change you have seen in yourself since joining the Shop?
The biggest changes I’ve seen are threefold: 1) I’m able to run a 400m (now up to 3 miles post workout) with no problem, 2) Do back squats and still be able to walk the next day, and 3) Actually signing up for the classes I attend! (Don’t tell Leann!) [From Leann: BUSTED!]
What movement is your favorite? What is your least favorite?
Wow, that’s a tough one. I’d say my favorite movement is Child’s Pose. Kidding! It would the the Power Clean. I love adding just a little more weight each time. Least favorite movement? Well, it started out anything kettlebell related, then morphed into push ups, and is now currently ANYTHING squat related.
Explain the Shop in two sentences like you’re telling someone about it for the first time.
Dane’s Body Shop is a community where everyone is dedicated to making everyone one else around better; each day, every day. It’s a gym where you know your body is going to be pushed to and past what you thought was humanly possible (looking at you Coach Matt and Coach Dante!).
You have such a great work ethic, you give 110% every time you walk into the fusion room. What drives you?
I had to chuckle at this question a little. I am more than a little stubborn, so my parents tell me—I like to think of it as “tenacious.” I firmly believe you get what you give no matter what it may be. If you have that ”fire in your belly,” there simply aren’t many things you won’t be able to achieve. I love the line from near the end of Top Gun: “You know you won’t be happy unless you you’re going Mach 12 with your hair on fire.” It all boils down to “BE PASSIONATE”. If you are, you will never look back with regret!