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From chasing a professional baseball career to finding a new passion in CrossFit, Cesar Alvarado has one heck of a story! This week we sit down with Cesar, who grew up in Venezuela before moving to Florida to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball. A promising prospect, Cesar's baseball career was cut short by an arm injury, eventually leading him back to Venezuela to study engineering. In 2018, Cesar discovered CrossFit, and in 2019 he made the move back to the United States in search of new opportunities. Fast forward to March of this year, when Cesar joined CrossFit Grandview, and he's quickly become one of our favorite people to have around the gym! At 45 years old, Cesar shows up almost every day, works his tail off, puts up some impressive scores, and continues chipping away at his Level 2 checklist. He's a great example of what consistency, hard work, and a willingness to keep improving can accomplish. In this episode, we talk about his baseball journey, life in Venezuela, moving to the United States, discovering CrossFit, and what keeps him motivated to continue getting better at 45! We're lucky to have Cesar as part of our community, and we're excited for everyone to get to know him a little better! 🎧 CrossFit Grandview Podcast #206 — Cesar Alvarado #CrossFitGrandview #CrossFitGrandviewPodcast #CrossFit #GrandviewBarbell #MastersAthlete #CrossFitCommunity

This week we sit down with CrossFit Grandview athlete Heather Paye, fresh off an incredible performance at the Desert City Classic!Heather finished 2nd overall, tying for first in total points and winning the final event, but ultimately losing the tiebreaker based on an earlier event finish.We break down her experience at Desert City, but also dive into Heather's background, her evolution as an athlete, and the training and mindset that have helped turn her into the fierce competitor she is today.We also talk about the unique dynamic Heather shares with her husband, Chris. Both are highly competitive CrossFit athletes, and their shared passion for training and competing has played a huge role in shaping their lifestyle.After following our programming remotely for several seasons, Heather and Chris made the decision to move closer to Columbus to train full-time alongside our Level 2 crew. We discuss what went into that decision, how the transition has impacted their training, and what they're chasing next.Great conversation about competition, commitment, relationships, and the pursuit of getting better!

This week we sit down with Doug Stephens, father of our head L-2 coach Drake Stephens, and one of the most inspiring members of our community! At 67 years old, Doug is proof that it’s never too late to start something new. Just three years ago, Doug took his first steps into CrossFit Grandview. What started as simply getting into a fitness routine has turned into a lifestyle. Today, he’s a regular in our Tuesday and Thursday evening HYROX classes, and just two weeks ago, he traveled to Boston to compete in his very first fitness competition as part of a HYROX relay team! We talk about Doug’s life, what initially brought him through our doors, the challenges of getting started, and how showing up consistently turned into a habit he genuinely looks forward to. We also talk about what’s next. At 67, this grandfather isn't slowing down. If anything, his newfound fitness has opened the door to goals and experiences he might never have imagined just a few years ago. Doug's story is a great reminder that you don't have to be fit to start, and you're never too old to get better. Sometimes the hardest part is simply walking through the door. We're incredibly proud of Doug and excited to share his story! Episode 204 is LIVE! Give it a listen! #CrossFitGrandview #GrandviewBarbell #HYROX #CrossFit #FitnessAtAnyAge #NeverTooLate #CrossFitGrandviewPodcast

This week, Kate and Brandon sit down to recap their first HYROX race together in Boston! After months of training and preparation, we finally got to put it all to the test, finishing the Mixed Doubles division in 1:12:32! We break down our approach to training, how we prepared for the demands of HYROX, our race strategy, what went well, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently next time. We also talk about our weekend in Boston and how awesome it was to have roughly 25 athletes from CrossFit Grandview and Grandview Barbell competing across nearly every division! One of the coolest parts of the weekend was seeing so many members take on a new challenge, push themselves, and support each other throughout the event. Whether you're considering your first HYROX, already training for your next race, or just enjoy hearing about the pursuit of challenging fitness goals, there's plenty to take away from this episode. Thanks for listening, and congratulations to everyone who represented CFGV and Grandview Barbell in Boston! #CrossFitGrandview #GrandviewBarbell #HYROX #HYROXBoston #HYROXTraining #CrossFitGrandviewPodcast

Marathons. HYROX. CrossFit competitions. Public speaking. Creating something and putting it out into the world. In Episode 202, Brandon, Kate & Dave dig into The Pursuit of Hard Things—and why, in a world increasingly built around comfort and convenience, intentionally doing difficult things might be more important than ever. Does discomfort actually build resilience? Are we searching for challenges because modern life has become too easy? And when does constantly chasing the next hard thing cross the line from healthy growth into unhealthy obsession?

Remember when carbs were the enemy, you HAD to drink a protein shake within 30 minutes of training, and everyone was chasing the latest nutrition hack?In Episode 201 of the CrossFit Grandview Podcast, Brandon, Kate, and Dave look back at fitness trends and advice they once believed in, promoted, or even followed themselves—but have since completely changed their minds about.From low-carb diets paired with high-intensity exercise to the infamous anabolic window, we dive into how our understanding of nutrition, training, and recovery has evolved. We also get into the explosion of longevity protocols and whether we're overcomplicating the basics in our pursuit of optimal health.Nearly two decades in the fitness industry have taught us one thing: What we think we know today might look completely different 10 years from now. Join us for a fun conversation about changing our minds, lessons learned, and separating fitness fundamentals from passing trends.What fitness trend did YOU once swear by that you no longer believe in? Drop it in the comments!#CrossFitGrandview #FitnessMyths #FitnessPodcast #Nutrition #StrengthTraining #Longevity #CrossFit

For episode 200, Josh Hogue joins us with a pretty wild stretch of training ahead. Josh is preparing to race HYROX Pro in Boston, then turn around one week later and run a half marathon. We get into how he’s training for two very different challenges back-to-back, his training history, deployment, and how his approach to fitness has evolved over the years. And yes… we finally get the full story behind the infamous HYROX pooping incident. 💩 Then we look ahead to an absolutely audacious future goal: THE 3-4-5-6 CHALLENGE 315 lb Bench Press 405 lb Back Squat 500 lb Deadlift Sub-6:00 Mile A ridiculous combination of strength and conditioning—and exactly the kind of challenge that makes training fun. Great conversation with Josh and a perfect one for Episode 200 of the CrossFit Grandview Podcast!

This week, Brandon and Kate sit down during a short trip to Sedona, Arizona, for a conversation about alternative healing, mind-body health, and the parts of strength and fitness that are much harder to measure. We spend a lot of time trying to optimize the scientific inputs: barbell percentages, macros, sleep, recovery, supplements, training volume. Those things matter. But health is more nuanced than a spreadsheet. Stress. Mental health. Rest. Past trauma. Old injuries. Family issues. Relationships. The way you see yourself and the world around you. All of it can show up in the body. We talk about our experiences exploring different healers, modalities, and practices—and how working on these less measurable pieces can sometimes create a synchronicity between physical, mental, and spiritual health. The goal isn't to abandon science or training. It's to recognize that becoming the strongest, fittest, healthiest, and wisest version of yourself may require working on more than your squat, your diet, or your sleep score. There is no finish line. It's a lifelong practice of training, learning, healing, adjusting, and constantly tuning the system.

This week Brandon and Dave sit down for one of those conversations we probably don’t have often enough — no real script, just riffing on training, health, performance, and some of the trends taking over the fitness world. We get into the oversaturation of “longevity” protocols, over-sciencing training, and whether we’re sometimes making this stuff way more complicated than it needs to be. We also dig into: • Stress — and how your body adapts to what you’re asking of it • Why progressive overload isn’t always the answer • Finding a flow state in training • The massively underutilized tool of sprinting — incredibly potent, but something that needs to be respected and eased into • Rotational strength — something traditional strength training ignored for years that suddenly seems to be having its moment • And why sometimes the best training isn’t about chasing another metric, protocol, or optimization strategy It’s a fun, free-flowing conversation between two coaches who have spent a lot of years training, coaching, experimenting, and changing their minds along the way.

This week, Brandon and Kate dive into their training for their first HYROX race — Mixed Doubles in Boston! We talk about how we approach preparing for an event and why it’s important to identify and protect the big workouts that matter most each week. Right now, that means:Wednesday — HYROX race simulation work Saturday — Long run Everything else during the week has some wiggle room. We still want to train hard, lift, and stay well-rounded — but not at the expense of the sessions that are moving us toward the main goal. We also talk about fall being a common time for training to start slipping. Summer ends, schedules change, the days get shorter, and it becomes easier to miss workouts. Having an event, race, competition, or even a personal challenge on the calendar can be a great anchor for your training and give your weeks some direction.

What happens when life pulls you away from the athlete you used to be… and years later, you decide to find her again?Rachel Escolas competed all the way through the 2018 CrossFit Regionals before life changed in a big way. She and Brian had three kids, she sold her gym, stepped away from competition, and poured her energy into raising a family.Five years later, Rachel walked back through the doors at CrossFit Grandview.And somewhere along the way, she found that fire again. 🔥Since then she’s worked her way back onto the competition floor — recently competing at the CrossFit Semifinals with Team CrossFit Grandview, the Ohio State Weightlifting Championships, and The Challenge.This episode isn't just about competing.We talk about motherhood, identity, making time for yourself, chasing goals in your mid-30s, and realizing that becoming a mom doesn't mean the competitive part of you has to disappear.Rachel’s story is a pretty damn cool one.

One of our rare return guests is back! Donald joins us ahead of The Challenge, Coach Drake’s in-house competition happening tomorrow, where he’ll be taking on the Partner Masters Division. We also catch up on Donald’s recent trip to Valencia, Spain for the Gay Games XII — a massive international event featuring nearly 10,000 athletes competing across dozens of sports. Donald competed in both Powerlifting and CrossFit, bringing home a bronze medal in the team CrossFit division! 🥉 We talk about the experience of competing on an international stage, the Gay Games, powerlifting, CrossFit, getting ready for The Challenge, and plenty more.

This week we sat down with Alyssa Litzinger, owner of Coffee & Cone, mom of five, and someone who's done a great job of building a business without letting her health and fitness fall by the wayside. We talked about what it's really like balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, marriage, friendships, and staying consistent in the gym. There isn't a magic formula, but Alyssa shares a lot of the lessons she's learned along the way—from opening one of Columbus' newest coffee shops to finding ways to make time for herself in the middle of a busy life. We also get into: Building Coffee & Cone from the ground upRaising five kids while running a businessWhy fitness has become such an important part of her routineCreating a life where family, work, and health can all coexistThe value of community and surrounding yourself with good peopleI think a lot of our members—and honestly anyone trying to wear a lot of different hats—will relate to this conversation. Episode #194 is live now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. As always, if you enjoy it, give it a listen, leave us a review, and share it with someone who'd appreciate Alyssa's story.

This week on the CrossFit Grandview Podcast we sit down with longtime member Jonathan Glancy.Jonathan has lived a pretty incredible career behind the camera, shooting for IMG Academy, CrossFit HQ during the golden era of the media team, and even the Cleveland Browns. We talk about what it was like being around some of the biggest moments in CrossFit and sports, and how those experiences shaped him.After the pandemic, Jonathan and his wife took a leap of faith, leaving that world behind to build something of their own. Today they're creating an incredible business with Oak Spring Farms—an Airbnb and wedding venue designed as a full weekend destination and experience.The second half of the conversation gets much more personal.Earlier this year Jonathan was diagnosed with kidney cancer and underwent surgery to have a kidney removed. We talk about the mental battle, recovery, and what it took to get back into the gym. Today he's back in class training every day, rebuilding his strength, preparing to welcome a new baby, and embracing everything life has in store.It's a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and refusing to let life's toughest moments define you.This is one of my favorite episodes we've done. Give it a listen—you won't regret it

One of the coolest things about owning a gym for nearly two decades is seeing members come and go, move across the country, start families, build careers—and somehow still remain part of the community. Julia Camp is one of those people. After joining CrossFit Grandview in 2013, Julia and her husband Dan eventually moved back out west, but they've never lost touch with the gym. Through our Edge Online Programming and regular trips back to Columbus, they've stayed connected every step of the way. This week we sit down with Julia to talk about adventure, travel, hiking, fitness, and creating a life centered around experiences. We also discuss how she has continued to prioritize her health through every season of life and why she's currently the fittest she's ever been. Having Julia back in class this week was a reminder of what makes this community special. No matter how far people move or how much life changes, some connections never really go away.