JLo, JayLow, JLow…from his interesting socks, to short shorts, and typically a bandana…ya’ll know the infamous Justin LoFranco. He bleeds DCF. Sometimes literally. Always working hard, giving everything he’s got…and then cheering on everyone that finishes after he does, each and every WOD. Check him out:
What’s your athletic/fitness background?
I grew up playing just about every sport under the sun. Once I got the high school I started concentrating on basketball 12 months out of the year. But I always maintained a pretty healthy running appetite and frequently worked in runs in excess of 8 miles. Once I graduated from college, my runs started getting longer and longer, eventually working up to running my first marathon in 2011.
What was your first CrossFit workout and what did you think of it?
I actually can’t remember my first CrossFit WOD…sad I know. I first got introduced to it in 2006, when a friend of mine in college started doing it. I remember some combination of double unders and pull-ups. It was disgusting. I pretty much dropped the sport after that until early 2011. I started seeing more and more people doing CrossFit so I started looking into it again, tackling a few WODs on my own at a regular gym. Oh man the stares. The WTF is that burpee thing bug eyed look you get.
The first WOD I 125% remember doing was at DCF NorthWest. It was the class free Saturday WOD. It ate my lunch, like literally. I hit around 130 ish reps and I could just taste that aluminum in my mouth, my legs were shaking, Lord only knows what Noah was saying.
What’s been the biggest change for you since starting CrossFit?
Have any of you guys seen Kickboxer 2 with Jean Claude Van Damme when he has to kick bamboo trees with his bare shins and gets his groin stretched out with two ropes pulling his legs back into the splits? Well if you haven’t, please watch this:
This is how I feel almost every single day. Mobility is a long journey that has to be tackled daily. 10 minutes a day, 7 days a week of mobility is far better than one day of 70 minutes of mobility. The biggest change in my life has been becoming much more mobile. I’m not even close to where I want to be, but that’s a part of the journey.
What’s been your favorite DCF moment up to now?
For more than 11 months, I struggled to PR my clean. I came in and hit 185 lbs within my first three months and I swear, I couldn’t even hit that again for almost an entire year. It was the most frustrating thing in the entire world, but honestly, it forced me to focus on my deficiencies like mobility and form. The same day that I hit 185 lbs again, I hit 195 lbs. I was ecstatic. I didn’t really say anything cause I didn’t wanna jinx it.
Least favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
I really love thrusters.
Favorite CrossFit movement/WOD?
I love thrusters.
When did you know you were hooked?
Day one. It wasn’t a hard decision for me. I’ve never once thought about quitting.
Any advice for people starting out?
Oh man, there are so many things I wish I had done in the beginning. Being patient, listening to your coaches, focusing more on mobility than the weights. But if I had to narrow it down to just one thing: stop focusing on what cool skills you can do, or how much weight you can throw up, but relentlessly pursue perfect form. Practice it over and over and over again until you are sweating beads. Then practice some more.
Describe your favorite part about DCF?
I love the people. I have so many good friends from DCF, and they’re people that I never would have met had I not joined.
Dive in, the water’s warm ☺