Our first Member in the Spotlight for the New Year is none other than Brendan Carney. He is soon to celebrate his year anniversary with The Port and we couldn’t love his excitement, work ethic, attention to detail and desire to improve more. Brendan, we love having you, your wife, and kiddos as a part of our community. You can get to know our January Member in the Spotlight a bit more below!
1. First, tell us a little about your CrossFit story! How long have you been with the Port and how did you get started?
I started CrossFit last February 2019. I wanted my first WOD to be during the Friday Night Lights OPEN 19.4, but esteemed Head Coach Mahan let me know maybe 50 HSPUs might not be the best first workout. My best surfing friend (another Justin who happens to be married to a different Lisa) insisted that I give CrossFit a try. I think surfing Justin understands my nature to find and explore limits and insisted that I would love it! I have been called Captain Excess by some…
2. What has changed for you since joining? What change are you most proud of?
Truly I am thankful to be part of The Port. It’s changed my life for the better! I love the tracking, the PRs, “da rangin’ of dat bell”, the workout releases that feel like a present the night before, the blend of fitness, grit and guts, skill and tactics and above all, the community! I think CrossFit has provided me with a deeper appreciation for the mundane ugh…for example the Assault Bike, as well as intensified my focus, and allowed me to find rhythm and relaxation in effort. That blend of trying and striving, but not giving too much is so interesting and those moments of peak effort are truly the life we are meant to LIVE!!!!
A few proud moments include my first Murph – man that thing is a beast and I had my kids and family there counting for me, talk about pressure! – as well as my first Open! The best was the collective support from my 2-teammates Justin n Justin on all the workouts. Without their encouragement and strategic advice there is no way I would have gotten 26 RMUs or achieved as many rounds as I did in the thruster DU workout. Of course it could have just been the Mahan glare technique that scared me into working hard. I also had a blast judging Chad in one of the workouts – I was psyched for him! The Port has given me an outlet to be loud, crazy and give an outlet to all that energy! Thank you! Okay last one, having my wife decide completely on her own to join the Port. I’m very proud of what she’s accomplished and loved seeing her achieve her first pullups during 20.5.
3. What are some things you love to do outside of the gym?
Number one I am a father of two great Carney boys – they are the wild kids climbing the walls….Number two or maybe 1.5 I am a husband. I am a dog lover, an avid all year round surfer (that’s why I moved to Rye, NH), an ocean advocate and lover, a recovering collegiate basketball player, a skier / boarder slopeside and backcountry, a hiker, a skater, a fan of the tasteful palate of 1970’s rock, modern and 90’s hiphop, and a gilded dodge ball assassin at Blitz Air Park.
Professionally I am an a licensed acupuncturist specializing in pain therapy and I love teaching people and bodies to move better. I also love continuing education where I can geek out with fellow manual and pain therapists, about all types of things including the pain neutromatrix, visceral fascia or the somatic anatomy of our emotional bodies. I love to help people and have lots of opinions but few direct answers.
4. If you were an existing or new color addition to the crayon box, what would you be and why?
Like the Cheetos flavor – Flamin’ Hot Red. We need some more flare in this world so bring it!
5. If we had a Port Karaoke Night, what would be your song of choice?
So difficult. In the spirit of the Port one of the (many) hype songs I listen to while heading to class is Kayne West Power – so BOOM there you go. “I’m livin’ in that 21st century, doin’ something mean to it. doin’ it better than anybody you ever seen do it.”
6. What is your favorite meal or treat that you can’t live without?
High quality, ultra hazy New England Style India Pale Ale at night or single origin high altitude Central American espresso by day
Thank you so much to all of our amazing coaches, Mama Soph and the rest of our awesome community. I hope to be here at least another 10 years!
