How a 71-Year-Old Made It to the CrossFit Games with Just Class Workouts
Mike will tell you himself—when he started training with me 13 years ago, his goal wasn’t to compete or qualify for the CrossFit Games. He wanted to get healthier for his grandkids, plain and simple. Fast forward over a decade, and here he is, finishing 7th in the Men’s 70+ division at the Games! It’s incredibly humbling and fulfilling to see someone make this kind of progress by just sticking to the class workouts I write, with a few extra one-on-one sessions here and there.
Since 2010, I’ve personally programmed every single CrossFit workout for CrossFit Trussville. I’ve also written every ReBoot workout since early 2023. When I did the math recently, I realized I’m nearing my 20,000th workout written—kind of crazy when you think about it!
I’ve never been a fan of the “done-for-you” programs that you can just buy off the shelf. They can be effective, sure, but they lack engagement. In my opinion, the two biggest factors in achieving real results are:
Being part of a community that pushes and supports you
Actually enjoying the workouts while keeping perspective on the process
You can make progress doing just about anything—whether it's walking around the house or playing pickleball—but if you’re not seeing improvement, it might be time to try something different. The key is finding something you enjoy that keeps you engaged and moving forward. And remember, it’s not about making workouts hard just for the sake of difficulty, which is where a lot of CrossFit gyms fall short. Instead, workouts need to be mentally stimulating and physically demanding in a way that keeps you injury-free and progressing functionally.
Mike’s story proves that you don’t need a fancy gym with rows of high-end equipment to succeed. He’s a 71-year-old who made it to the Games by doing CrossFit classes 2-3 times a week in a church sanctuary and staying active outside of the gym.
At the end of the day, it’s simple: get outside, soak up some sun, stay hydrated, eat your protein, cut down on carbs and fat, lift weights, reduce stress, and most importantly, find something you love doing. Oh, and surround yourself with a community that pushes you to be your best.
Mike, we’re all so proud of you!