March's Athlete of the Month
Time to highlight one of our spectacular athletes! What makes up an Athlete of the Month? Not RX’ing every workout or lifting the most weight. This athlete exhibits consistency and a hard work mentality. Every time they come to the gym they have a good attitude and give their all. This person is also welcoming of others, helping make CFHD the best community there is. Each month we choose a different athlete and post some fun facts about them to help y’all get to know them better.
This month congratulations are in order for Mr. Jake Durm! He is a long time best friend of Coach Trey's and had been with H Dub (basically) since the beginning. Jake is one you want in your class, not just because of his sarcastic humor. He never complains and is always ready to work. He also loves a good strategy! We love the positive vibes he brings to the 5:30pm class. Keep up the good work, Jake!
Name: Jake Durm
Hometown: Cookeville, TN
Age: 30
Occupation: Merchandising Analyst
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I grew up in Cookeville, TN, went to college at the University of Tennessee, and I moved to Nashville in 2012. I currently reside in East Nashville with my lovely wife Krista and our miniature bull terrier Ace. I began my career out of college as a CPA, but after working a few years in tax accounting, I decided it wasn’t for me and pivoted to a career in retail buying & merchandising that aligned more with my interests and passion. I’ve always had an interest in clothes and I spend way too much time online reading message boards and blogs, researching brands, and buying/selling stuff on Ebay and Grailed. My wife and I love to travel and try to go abroad as often as we can; our next trip is to Greece in May. My favorite show is Seinfeld closely followed by The Office and Game of Thrones, and my favorite band is Dawes.
What were your goals when you started CrossFit?
I was mainly focused on aesthetics and building muscle before Crossfit. I started lifting weights when I was a freshman in high school as a member of the football team, and I continued working out pretty consistently through college, although I focused almost exclusively on upper body as most college guys tend to do. I wasn’t intrinsically motivated to work on strength or aerobic capacity at all, and I thought Crossfit would help me become a more well-rounded athlete in that regard.
How long have you been doing CrossFit and how did you get into it?
I met Coach Trey in 2006 during our freshman year at UT-Knoxville and he quickly became one of my best friends. When he started coaching at Crossfit Gulch in the spring of 2013, he asked me to try it out and I’ve been doing Crossfit pretty consistently ever since.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing we do in CrossFit?
My favorite movements are power cleans and handstand walks, and my least favorite movements are thrusters/wallballs and running any distance longer than 400 meters.
How has CrossFit H Dub positively affected you?
While I’ve certainly reaped the physical benefits of Crossfit, I think the improvement in my mental toughness has been the biggest positive. Pushing myself mentally and physically 4-5 times a week has had a profound effect on my confidence and grit both inside and outside the gym.
What advice do you have for newcomers?
Don’t let your pride prevent you from properly scaling.
Be coachable.
Attack your weaknesses through deliberate training and practice (even if this means extra work outside of class).
Proper Crossfit shoes are worth your investment.
Keep showing up!
What is something no one at the gym knows about you?
I was a pretty advanced (for my age) pianist when I was in middle school.
Who are 3 people you would have a meal or drink with dead or alive?
My grandmother Jewell who passed away in 2007
Larry David
Steve Carell as Michael Scott
If you had an intro song when you walk into the gym what would it be?
Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack
Favorite Sport?
Close tie between football and basketball.
If you could have one super power what would it be?
Teleportation
What is your favorite cheat meal?
My favorite cheat meal is also somewhat of a guilty pleasure: a chicken finger platter from Rafferty’s with a half-sweet/half-unsweet tea with lemon. Rafferty’s is criminally underrated.
