Andrew Elia

Favorite WOD:  Anything with bench press or pushups.

Least Favorite WOD: Overhead squats 

Tell us about your sports & fitness background: Growing up I played soccer, basketball, and softball. I also swam for 12 years for various teams. I always liked to lift weights but didn’t have any formal training.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel?  I had a few injuries, and physical therapy wasn’t working and I needed to try something different. My wife told me about Kennett CrossFit and told me to check it. I don’t 100% remember my first workout, but I do remember it involved the echo bike. The echo bike was squeaking, and everyone was yelling out to get me a different bike! 

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? I lost weight, got stronger and have better endurance. I started CrossFit with mid back and knee issues that I fought with for 10+ years. both flexibility and building strength as helped me beat those injuries. 

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The high intensity exercises are great for managing stress. Every day tasks have become easier like squatting down, carrying laundry and doing yard work. My wife Nicole also joined Kennett CrossFit and it is something we like to do together. We encourage each other and we understand each other’s grunting noises when we try to get up off the couch after a hard workout.  

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFKSQ moments: I always avoided running and pushed myself to start running. It started with a half mile (which I thought was a mile at first) and I built up from there. I never ran a mile in my life until this year. I continued pushing myself in preparation for the 5k Kennet run this year, and although I wasn’t the fastest, I completed it. 

Any advice for people just getting started? Go in with a fresh perspective on fitness and focus on form to prevent injury. Don’t get frustrated if things don’t come quickly, many of the movement are complex and understanding your body and capabilities takes time. Talk with others, have fun and embrace the great community that we have at our gym.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I like to go camping. We have a camper that we keep at the Delaware beaches and it is a great way to unplug. I also love to cook and Nicole and I are foodies and we like to explore different restaurants and try new food.