Lots of running this week (Those that currently run multiple 5ks are going to love it!)
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Lots of running this week (Those that currently run multiple 5ks are going to love it!)
Coach
Born in the 80s, embraced Saturday morning cartoons, travel soccer, boy scout camping trips, my mushroom haircut, and Sunday church growing up. High school was awkward and I graduated 6th out of a whopping 48 in my class (the top three missed a combined 10 questions on their SATs…) with Varsity letters in soccer and swimming at 6’1″ and about 160 lbs soaking wet. I was an early adopter of Napster in college, enjoyed summers down the jersey shore, gained some muscle mass with chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, etc and went out at least 4 nights a week upon receipt of my first after college paycheck. Grew out of bar tabs and bought a house in 2007. Broke my finger playing Thanksgiving flag football in 2008 (due to the slight linebacker status), started CrossFit April 2009 as a suggestion on how to train for parkour. Won the Paleo challenge in June, forgot all about parkour, and started interning as a coach in November. Received my L1 in January of 2010 and by February of 2011 had decided to open up my own box. Had my first official Veracity Athletics wod in a park on June 2, 2011, ran a 50 mile ultra marathon and seriously considered never using my legs again (obviously a short lived consideration), and have been coaching and running my own business ever since. Oh, and I owned only VW TDIs from 1999 until Dec 2015 – not because of the scandal nor the fact that it had over 304k miles on it but because of a small fender bender due to texting in the rain. I would buy again. Finally, it is tough choice but I’m Team Superman over Team Batman.
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
Coach
Born in the 80s, embraced Saturday morning cartoons, travel soccer, boy scout camping trips, my mushroom haircut, and Sunday church growing up. High school was awkward and I graduated 6th out of a whopping 48 in my class (the top three missed a combined 10 questions on their SATs…) with Varsity letters in soccer and swimming at 6’1″ and about 160 lbs soaking wet. I was an early adopter of Napster in college, enjoyed summers down the jersey shore, gained some muscle mass with chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, etc and went out at least 4 nights a week upon receipt of my first after college paycheck. Grew out of bar tabs and bought a house in 2007. Broke my finger playing Thanksgiving flag football in 2008 (due to the slight linebacker status), started CrossFit April 2009 as a suggestion on how to train for parkour. Won the Paleo challenge in June, forgot all about parkour, and started interning as a coach in November. Received my L1 in January of 2010 and by February of 2011 had decided to open up my own box. Had my first official Veracity Athletics wod in a park on June 2, 2011, ran a 50 mile ultra marathon and seriously considered never using my legs again (obviously a short lived consideration), and have been coaching and running my own business ever since. Oh, and I owned only VW TDIs from 1999 until Dec 2015 – not because of the scandal nor the fact that it had over 304k miles on it but because of a small fender bender due to texting in the rain. I would buy again. Finally, it is tough choice but I’m Team Superman over Team Batman.
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
Coach
It was 2012. I was working out at a local globo gym. It was mom’s hour at the gym after the kids get dropped off at school when another mom that I knew comes up and tells me “you’re not really working out.” I argued back “yes I am, I sit on this bench and I do 12 reps and four sets.” That’s when she said “No, you’re coming with me, I will drive.”
So two other moms and I jumped in her car and she took us to CrossFit. I loved it and signed up that day. She was right, I wasn’t really working out.
That week hurricane Sandy hit our town and the gym owner sent a email telling us where we should meet to help folks clean up. I was a little confused. I thought I had joined a gym and not a rescue squad. That’s when a learned about the powerful community Crossfit creates.
In 2021 I decided to take my love of the sport one step further and to get my L1. It’s been nothing short of an amazing journey from athlete to coach and I’m so proud to be a part of this amazing supportive staff!
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
CrossFit Weightlifting Certified – Burgener Strength
Coach, Silver Steps Coach, Semi Golf Pro
Flashback to 2012… I would repeatedly drive by a small storefront with a sign that read “Crossfit Veracity” on my way home from the globo gym I had belonged to for years. I had heard of Crossfit but wasn’t exactly sure what it was. I’ve never been one to let something new pass me by, and so my curiosity got the best of me and I had to check it out.
I was hooked immediately after my trial class. But that didn’t mean it was easy. I vividly remember the first time I tried to do a pull up. The coach told me to just jump up on the bar and try to pull myself up. I don’t think I moved up at all, but I did quickly fall down to the floor! Challenge accepted! Somehow I would figure out how to do a pull up — and I did. It took about a year or so, but I did it. And now pull ups are one of my favorite movements.
Fast forward years later, I have my Level 1 certification and now I’ve become the coach encouraging members to jump up on the bar. Although I had thought about coaching for a few years, it was my box mates encouragement that convinced me to register for training. And I’m so glad they did. Coaching is just as much fun as being a participant in class. Seeing someone PR anything, big gains or small achievements, is exciting! It could be a first box jump, pull up or muscle up… I’m proud to be a part of it. I have met the most wonderful people at CFV – athletes of all different abilities, ranging in age from teens to seniors in their 70s. Guiding them through a workout as a coach, or sweating beside them in class as a member, is a continually satisfying experience.
My whole life I was an exercise fanatic. I jumped around from being a runner, boot camp addict, you name it, but had never stuck with one thing long term because I would get bored. Crossfit is never boring. At CFV, you get a little bit of everything – and a passionate community to help keep you moving and motivated!
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
Coach, The Closer, Taco Cat
Born in the 80s, embraced Saturday morning cartoons, travel soccer, boy scout camping trips, my mushroom haircut, and Sunday church growing up. High school was awkward and I graduated 6th out of a whopping 48 in my class (the top three missed a combined 10 questions on their SATs…) with Varsity letters in soccer and swimming at 6’1″ and about 160 lbs soaking wet. I was an early adopter of Napster in college, enjoyed summers down the jersey shore, gained some muscle mass with chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, etc and went out at least 4 nights a week upon receipt of my first after college paycheck. Grew out of bar tabs and bought a house in 2007. Broke my finger playing Thanksgiving flag football in 2008 (due to the slight linebacker status), started CrossFit April 2009 as a suggestion on how to train for parkour. Won the Paleo challenge in June, forgot all about parkour, and started interning as a coach in November. Received my L1 in January of 2010 and by February of 2011 had decided to open up my own box. Had my first official Veracity Athletics wod in a park on June 2, 2011, ran a 50 mile ultra marathon and seriously considered never using my legs again (obviously a short lived consideration), and have been coaching and running my own business ever since. Oh, and I owned only VW TDIs from 1999 until Dec 2015 – not because of the scandal nor the fact that it had over 304k miles on it but because of a small fender bender due to texting in the rain. I would buy again. Finally, it is tough choice but I’m Team Superman over Team Batman.
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
Affiliate Manager, Coach, Two Left Feet
My story’s a little different because I didn’t exactly choose CrossFit. I barely even knew what it was. My mom, who had been doing it for years, told me I had to join with no doubt that I would love it… She was right (she’s always right). Almost 3 years and a certification later, I really can’t imagine ever not doing CrossFit.
Growing up meant summers at sleep away camp and school nights at practice, whichever sport was in season. Everything from ballet to rugby. And although there isn’t anyone at CFV that can bust moves like my college dance team, there’s no community like it anywhere else in the “adult” world. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, I’ve become more confident in myself and have about 150 more like-minded friends, who encourage each other everyday to work harder and achieve more than we ever thought possible.
CrossFit Level 1 Certified – ANSI Accredited
CrossFit Weightlifting Certified – Burgener Strength
Coach, aka Coach Jerry, The O.G.
I played every sport I could get my hands on while growing up. While at college though, I missed organized sports and was looking for something new. Then a friend at school introduced me to this weird workout program where you do all sorts of crazy movements I had never heard of. I had tried other workout plans, but always got bored after a week. This was finally something fresh and new all the time. I couldn’t do more than 1 pullup at a time, and had no idea what correct form was, but I was hooked. Next thing I knew, I was sneaking in with him to the varsity gym so we could use the olympic lifting platforms because it was the only place available to do most of the workouts. At the time, CrossFit gyms only existed on the West Coast. We were living vicariously through the CrossFit main site. And if you want to get in your wayback machine, here is my first ever post to CrossFit back in 2005 (I’m the first one) https://www.crossfit.com/mt-archive2/000701.html After being lazy for the better part of that first year after college, and having no place to CrossFit in my hometown, my cousin suckered me into my first marathon (May 2006), which segued into my first year of triathlons. Training went great and I got back in shape, but I lost a lot of muscle, which was very discouraging. I wanted to have it all. I decided I needed to do something about it and knew CrossFit was the answer. I drove out for Pittsburgh for my CrossFit Level 1 certification in November 2007. While out there, I got some contact info about how I could combine CrossFit and triathlons. And in March 2008, I went to the first CrossFit Endurance certification offered on the east coast. I got my questions answered at the CFE certification, and was inspired to put my new knowledge to the test. I decided to go big, and I completed an Ironman distance triathlon in September 2008. I was CrossFitting 4-6 times/week, and swim/bike/run 3-4 times/week. It was awesome, I was in the best shape of my life, and I still had a life with my friends (not countless hours on the weekends hitting the pavement). After proving what was possible with CrossFit, I never looked back. I took my passion and applied it in as many facets of CrossFit as I could. Since then, I have competed in 2 CrossFit Games at the Regional level (2009, 2010). I completed the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler (May 2011). I regularly attended an adult gymnastics class for 6 months. I went to a specialized powerlifting gym and added 130 pounds to my back squat and 140 pounds to my deadlift in 3 months. I have been coaching CrossFit for over 2 years, and I am still striving to always better and improve in every area that I can. I live by doing. I do not recommend to others what I would not be willing to do myself. Just like when I was a kid growing up, I still want to do it all (and I still want to act like a kid). I firmly believe that CrossFit is the perfect medium for any athletic activity. Whether it is just getting back into shape, or training for a specific sport or event, CrossFit has proven to be the perfect base. As a CFV coach, I want to use my first-hand experience to help you achieve all of your goals. My mission is to have you show up and learn something new every class with me, not just show up and go through the motions. By doing this, I firmly believe you will ignite the fire inside you to realize your true potential.
Jared (aka Jerry) graciously answered some silly questions, go to this Meet the Coaches page to find out his silly answers.
CrossFit Level One Certified – ANSI Accredited
CrossFit Endurance Certified (by Brian Mackenzie)
Head Coach, Lead Singer
I have been teaching elementary school music since 2011, CrossFitting since 2012, coaching since 2015…call it a reactionary chain. When I first began my teaching career, I was miserable, tired, and stressed. I needed immediate change, so I joined CFV, cut out sugar from my diet, and lost 15 pounds. About two years later, I realized that my 9-5 and love for functional fitness could easily merge if I got my Level 1 certification… so… I did. Fast forward another 3 years, a few more certifications, about a gazillion coaching hours, a million cups of coffee, and an L-2 later and here I am. Nothing about the way I choose to live my life is easy. I wake up at 4:45 am, coach classes or On-Ramp sessions, teach all day, come home to workout and coach some more. Weekends are basically the same, with the addition of my third “job” of volunteering to sing at my church. What keeps me going each day is knowing that what I do, both in and out of the gym, makes a difference in people’s lives. Not everyone can say that they love their job(s). I can. And it’s awesome.
Things I love: coffee, God, family, singing, over head squatting, running with objects, an awesome tan, saying awkward things during class and hoping people laugh, cats, green grapes, my Veracity family.
Things I detest: Moths… and Fire.
Certified CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
CrossFit Strongman Certified
CrossFit Kids Certified
Owner, Coach, #proudnerd
Born in the 80s, embraced Saturday morning cartoons, travel soccer, boy scout camping trips, my mushroom haircut, and Sunday church growing up. High school was awkward and I graduated 6th out of a whopping 48 in my class (the top three missed a combined 10 questions on their SATs…) with Varsity letters in soccer and swimming at 6’1″ and about 160 lbs soaking wet. I was an early adopter of Napster in college, enjoyed summers down the jersey shore, gained some muscle mass with chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, etc and went out at least 4 nights a week upon receipt of my first after college paycheck. Grew out of bar tabs and bought a house in 2007. Broke my finger playing Thanksgiving flag football in 2008 (due to the slight linebacker status), started CrossFit April 2009 as a suggestion on how to train for parkour. Won the Paleo challenge in June, forgot all about parkour, and started interning as a coach in November. Received my L1 in January of 2010 and by February of 2011 had decided to open up my own box. Had my first official Veracity Athletics wod in a park on June 2, 2011, ran a 50 mile ultra marathon and seriously considered never using my legs again (obviously a short lived consideration), and have been coaching and running my own business ever since. Oh, and I owned only VW TDIs from 1999 until Dec 2015 – not because of the scandal nor the fact that it had over 304k miles on it but because of a small fender bender due to texting in the rain. I would buy again. Finally, it is tough choice but I’m Team Superman over Team Batman.
CrossFit Level One – ANSI Accredited
CrossFit Specialty Course: Kids
CrossFit Specialty Course: Aerobic Capacity (w/ Chris Hinshaw)
CrossFit Specialty Course: Adaptive Training (w/ Kevin Hogar)
CrossFit Specialty Course: Running (w/ Dr. Nicholas Romanov)
CrossFit Specialty Course: Weightlifting (w/ Mike Burgener)
CrossFit Endurance Certified
USAW Sports Performance Coach
Hybrid Athletic’s Strongman Seminar (w/ Rob Orlando)
Pose Method Certified Level I Coach (w/ Dr. Nicholas Romanov)
Two 50 Mile Ultramarathons
308 Broad Street, Summit, NJ 07901
(973) 348-9457