October Athlete of the Month: Dan Langevin
By Christian Fox
This month we’ll finally answer one of the oldest questions around CFSBK: ”Who the f%ck is Dan L.?” The 6am folks know him well, the 7am folks might recognize him as the guy who’s often finished with the workout for 5 minutes already while almost everyone else is getting into the last round. The rest of you might know him only by his numbers on the big results board, where many have exclaimed the previously mentioned query. Many others have insisted that Management made him up in an effort to coerce members into better performance. Rest assured, he does exist and is actually a really nice guy.
Fox: Congrats, Dan! It seems to be about time for you to be here. Let’s start with when and how you first found CrossFit.
Dan L.: Thanks very much! I started CrossFit in February of 2009. I’d been doing triathlons and was a member of the Brooklyn Tri Club, which is where I first heard of CrossFit. As I remember it, CFSBK was offering some sort of class for BK Tri members, and we were encouraged to inquire about it. I called the number, which was apparently David’s cell phone, and left a message. David soon returned my call and the rest is history. I did Foundations that month and have been pretty consistent ever since. By the way, Foundations felt like it was a LOT of classes back then. We had a lot of people in that group, too—Charlotte K., Peter H., and Chris J., to name a few.
Fox: Haha! Foundations used to take a month to get through and wasn’t capped back then. It obviously did it’s job, though. Petey Hopps trained with us until he moved to Wisconsin last year, Charlotte still makes cameos every so often, and Chris J. has been coming regularly since then as well. What were your first impressions of CrossFit, and why did you stick around?
Dan L.: I’d been looking to diversify my training a bit and was growing bored with triathlons. I had never really done any weight training beyond the usual 3 sets of 10 Bench Presses, where I’d eventually and predictably fail and get frustrated, at which point I’d stop doing it for a while before coming back around to the same pattern. With CrossFit I started to see results pretty quickly. I got stronger, and I looked and felt it. I do remember thinking that there was no way I could do all the training I needed in an hour, though, and that I’d have to do lots of extra stuff on top of class. I quickly realized I was wrong. As for the space itself, the Lyceum was a “special” place—special in that the bathrooms leaked, the roof leaked, it was COLD in the winter, and it was always pretty dirty despite what I’m sure were David’s best efforts to keep it clean. My first time in there, I walked in on a class that was about 30 seconds into “Fran.” I was so worried because I assumed they’d been doing that for the whole hour! There was no way I could keep up with that! As I moved away from doing triathlons, I became more drawn to CrossFit. The group dynamic really allows me to push myself harder than I otherwise would. There’s something new every day, and I don’t have to think about what I’m going to do. Like most people, I saw results pretty quickly early on but am still improving today, even if it’s slowly.
Fox: Ah, the Brooklyn Lyceum. I have my own “first sighting” story and always love hearing others. It’s a wonder people stayed. Have you always been a 6am guy?
Dan L.: Pretty much. When I first started there were only a handful of classes to attend, so I went at different times. I think there were only morning classes a few days a week, so I’d attend those on my way to work and make the evening classes on the other days when there were none in the morning. Since CFSBK moved to Degraw Street, I’ve been a 6am regular but have made a few appearances in the evening. The place feels so different compared to the morning, totally different energy for me. I just can’t drum up the mojo to train hard after a long work day.
Fox: I know you travel a lot for work. Do you visit other affiliates to get your training in when you’re out of town?
Dan L.: I do, but I almost always just drop in and take a class. I like getting the experience of a class and have noticed that standards have gotten better across the board. I trained for a while at Alexandria CrossFit (now Outlaw CrossFit) in late 2009 when I lived there for a bit, and even back then, they used many of the same practices (like labeling equipment, starting classes on exactly on time, and using timestamps) that make CFSBK a great place to train. That’s something I see more and more when I travel. SBK has certainly evolved over the past 8+ years that I’ve been a member, but it feels the same in key ways. The equipment has gotten better, classes are even better run, and you can tell there’s a concerted effort to provide the best experience possible. The true spirit of the gym hasn’t changed, though, it’s just more grown up.
Fox: Glad to hear we’re all getting better! I really enjoy taking classes at other affiliates, too. What do you do for work that has you on the road?
Dan L.: I work in tech and recently co-founded a company called Vericred, which is why I’m currently traveling pretty often. We provide health insurance data to companies that need it in a simplified manner. I’m on the road regularly for face-to-face meetings with clients to learn what they like about our product and what changes they’d like to see.
Fox: Where’d you grow up?
Dan L.: I grew up in Madison, Connecticut, just southeast of New Haven. My folks are still there. I’m the oldest of 4 siblings: I have one sister who lives in Oakland, another sister who lives in Boston, and my brother, Ethan, is here in Brooklyn. My brother did Foundations and was actually coming to CFSBK for a while, but he isn’t really a morning person. He’s been threatening to come back.
Fox: Did you play any sports as a kid in CT?
Dan L .: I wrestled in middle and high school. With wrestling, I can see how it carries over to CrossFit in a way. In a match, much like during “Fran,” there’s nowhere to hide. That taught me how to push myself and ask the question, “How much do I want this?” Also like CrossFit, there’s a team or group dynamic but really it’s an individual sport where you control your results. I played baseball in high school, too, but was more of a decent hitter who played right field.
Fox: Where can you be found when you’re not crushing workouts at 6am or working?
Dan L.: My girlfriend Laura and I just got a puppy, Burrito, who takes up lots of time but is totally worth it. I was pretty indifferent as to what type of dog to get (I grew up with hamsters and cats), but Laura really wanted a Corgi (here’s a bonus link to Corgi’s being adorable), so his name sorta makes sense. We’re currently looking for a daycare for him and will happily take reviews. I hope we can get him into a solid first grade when the time comes. I also like to travel. We regularly visit Ottawa, where Laura’s grew up, and recently had amazing trips to Peru and Mexico City.
Fox: Love the puppy’s name, and can’t wait to meet him! Were you always good at CrossFit? What’s your kryptonite?
Dan L.: Ha! I’ve had my struggles and still do. Early on I realized that I just wasn’t strong enough to be good at any barbell stuff. I could hold my own with bodyweight movements, but a heavy barbell would crush me. I tackled that by doing a pure strength phase for a few months and drank a gallon of milk a day. I put on 30lbs, and even though some of it was a fat, I’ve been able to hold on to the strength I built during that period while losing the extra fluff. My Olympic lifting wasn’t any good, to be honest it was a disaster, when I first started. I literally fell on my ass on my first ever Overhead Squat. Now I’m working on things like mobility, which is a slow process. Handstand Push-Ups are a weakness, as are high-volume Wall Balls or any high volume Squat workout. I’ll generally spend a few minutes before and/or after class working on some stuff but find the programming here to be pretty comprehensive. I’ve been able to improve consistently over time just by showing up and working hard. I did a Strength Cycle (now Starting Strength Program) here way back, but all of the other specialty classes are in the evenings, so I haven’t done any.
Fox: What keeps you coming back to CFSBK to train?
Dan L.: It’s a fun and effective place to train, and I’ve developed a group of good friends here that help keep each other honest. If someone isn’t in for a few days the texts will start flying. Honestly, seeing the gym evolve and having been a part of it through that process, I feel a real connection to it. I identify myself with the gym in a way.
Fox: What’s your least favorite thing about Brad K., aka BK?
Dan L.: Can’t answer that. Can’t choose just one thing.
Fox: Great stuff, Dan. Thanks again for coming in the evening to chat with me. Last question: What should we look for in a future Athlete of the Month?
Dan L.: Someone who works hard to be better but compares her or himself to themselves, not to professional athletes. Someone who wants to be part of the larger community and makes an effort to get to know people, even when you’re not partnered up with them. Lastly, someone who adds more to the community than their personal accomplishments.
News and Notes
- Tonight’s 6:30pm Active Recovery Class is cancelled.
- Missing something? Check out our latest lost and found dump on Flickr. Claim your stuff before we donate it to CHIPS in two weeks!
_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Press / SLDL | Row, Ring Support, Hollow Hold
Adults in Halloween Costumes NY Times
Welcome to Your Worst Nightmares Atlas Obscura
Wednesday’s Programming
Tempo Back Squat (20X1).
3 x 6
Heavier than last week.
Post loads to comments.
Exposure 8 of 8
_____________________
For Time:
21-15-9
Thrusters 75/55
Pull-Ups
The Thrusters should be light, and the goal is unbroken. Sub Jumping Pull-Ups as needed.
Post time and Rx to comments.
Congrats Dan L.!
AG
A.
2-3 sets @Z1 effort
5 ring rows @3013
5 push ups @4012
10 Glute bridges @4012
20 double unders/single unders
B. Kipping Ring Muscle up practice
B. 5-6 sets @80-90% SE
16 wall ball 20/10 14/19
5-8 pull ups
30 double unders
rest 1:1
Wow! Can’t believe the illusive Dan L. has never been Athlete of the Month! As a night workout person, “today’s best times were…” almost always Dan L. for the win! He’s a beast!! Super nice, supportive and a *really* hard worker. It’s a treat when he shows up to the night classes and makes us all look bad…especially on a NFT! Congrats, Dan!
I could hardly sleep last night because I was so excited for AG Strength. That accessory stuff that makes you swole is *addicting*, I tell ya!
Congrats Dan!!
Congrats, Dan!
PS – lulz @ the low-key Fran casually dropped in the WOD?
RIGHT?! Y’all aren’t fooling anyone by not calling it Fran. 😉
Dan L you are the apple of my eye
Congrats brotha!
And hooray Burrito!!!
7am w/ Lauren doing Wednesday
Tempo BSQ: 140#x6x3
WOAH. This was really really hard! And a PR for me at this volume. Seriously grateful to my rack mate, Kate, who encouraged me to go for this weight and helped me stay calm (I was definitely getting psyched out and almost skipped the third set!). Thanks Kate!! <3 I think I let my fear get the best of me a few times and didn't get quite deep enough as a result, but for the most part I feel good about this!
Fran Lite in 8:26 RXed. Was totally beat up from the squats and just couldn't get myself to move any faster.
Congrats Dan L! I can’t tell you how many times during a chipper I have looked over and thought, huh, Dan L must have hurt himself and stopped, only to realize he was finished and I still have about 1/2-2/3 of the workout to go.
1) Dan L has never been AOTM before?
2) Congrats 6 AM crazy person!
3) A CORGI NAMED BURRITO OMG AMAZING
4) I think you need to follow Mike A’s lead and submit a high-school photo of yourself, particularly if you had frosted tips at the time.
Dan L – love it! Huge chi-enhancing force at 6am, when you really need it. And, aww, Burrito. Agree with Stella: the high school portrait should be de mandatory.
Dan has been a steady force at SBK for as long as I can remember. He was also the only other person (than me) who drive our Ragnar Relay van without getting lost or hitting something.
Congrats, Dan!
________
9am with La Esposa
BSQ
275x6x3
Better this week. Belted up.
Metcon Rx’d in 4:12
Thrusters unbroken.
Pull Ups 8/7/6, 6/5/4, 5/4
Was STOKED about beating Jess by a second until…
Congrats, Dan! Such a supportive and amazing athlete and person all-around. Hard to imagine you falling on your ass on an overhead squat. Or on anything, for that matter. Proves we all start from somewhere!
7am Monday’s work with Jess
Tempo press: 56#
Last two reps of last two sets were very grindy, but doable. I put two 1-lb plates (ringlets? tiny pancakes?) on each side instead of a 2.5 plate because I psyche myself out with half a pound, but now I just feel silly. Excited to test out next week!
Stiff-Legged Deadlift: 125#
WOD:
Consistent 9 cals on the row
First round on ring support I held for :20, but my elbows weren’t locked. From there I used a red band and held it easily.
Hollow holds were held.
Adding my incredulity to other’s that Dan has never previously been AOM. Congratulations.
8 AM class with Jess.
155# on the back squats- felt really good.
Franita in 6:21 with 63# and 15/12/9 pullups.
My pullups sucked, but my only other Fran was in 5:40 with
64# and jumping pullups, so definitely progress.
Unbelievable that Dan L is only now ATOM. I have no hope.
Small 10am class. Did Wednesday.
235 x 6 x 3 on the tempo squats. Still more there – I was holding a conversation while I was squatting.
Light Fran: 7:47. Rx on thrusters. Jumping pull-ups.
Congrats Dan!
Congrats Dan! Well deserved: hard working, check; nice, check; on my team FGB team for the 2nd time, check and yay!
8 am with Jess
I was worried about 125# and planned to ask for spotters but somehow it didn’t feel so bad and so 3×6 went well. Jess noted I was shallow on some reps in the 2nd set but I managed to correct and all were good in the 3rd. If I had a different mind set I feel like I would have been fine even heavier today. (Someone remind me that I said that.)
6:58 with 42# thrusters. Since the point was to go unbroken I scaled and kind of wonder what I could have done at today’s Rx. I did put the bar down once after 10 in the set of 15 but got back to it pretty quickly (for me). I overestimated my abilities on the pull ups and those took a long time. Mixed 1/2 chin ups and went 12-9-6. Fun.
What a great journey through the history of CFSBK with this write-up! Dan, a truly deserving AOM, a bonafide CFSBK OG and a great guy to boot. Perhaps this AOM was long overdue, but perhaps all the more meaningful after this long in the game. Three spooky cheers to Dan L!
The original Foundations program was 12 classes long and as many people as wanted could sign up for it. You almost had your CFL1 by the end of it. 😛
See? No wonder Dan is so good!
I see Dan L. all the time and I still don’t believe he exists when he puts up those whiteboard scores.
But seriously, many congrats, Dan! We’re very fortunate here at CFSBK to have so many immensely talented athletes who are friendly and gracious like you, though as your scores indicate, you set a standard that the rest of us vainly chase after in all those categories.
Congrats Dan! Enjoyed reading your story and you definitely are unbelievably fast at everything. Keep inspiring!
5:30 with Jeremy doing Wednesday
Tempo BSQ 95x3x6
A bit grindy but overall ok. Also got to have a little Halloween fun with my Henry VIII mask.
Thrusters + pull ups aka Fran:
6:42 using 35# for thrusters and jumping pull ups. A little bummed that this is 9 seconds slower than when I did the same thing in June, but I did use a 16” box rather than 20” box so maybe that’s sort of progress? I also was way more stressed today which I don’t think usually works in my favor.
Cash out happened.
Congrats Dan! Definitely so well deserved and so long overdue!
9am session with Chris.
HBBS:
225x6x3
-tough stuff today but got them all!
Fran…
4:13 rx’d
-couldn’t bring myself to do Fran 10# lighter so I just went for the full thing before I changed my mind. PR’d by 41secs so I’ll take that! Would love to be sub 4 next time. Thrusters all unbroken. Pullups all butterfly and felt pretty smooth in 9/6/6, 7/5/3, 5/3/1 (why did I do that!).
Anyways, happy about that and fun to have Chris push me on the pace…even if he did beat me by 1sec!
6:30 with Whit
Press: 65x6x2, 65×4. Fought very hard for the 6th rep on the second set and didn’t have the push for round 3 🙂
RDL: 145x6x3
Wod: 10 cals each round, 20 second rings felt pretty good. Good cues from whit throughout the whole class on engaging glutes!
Yeah yeah. Dan L. posts some great times on the WODs. But more importantly, he’s a great member of the gym, an integral part of our 6 a.m. family, and a great friend.
Big congrats to Dan L. So well deserved!!
Yay Dan! You were the hero of that foundations class. I still remember you doing “pushups to death” and making it to something like 11. I was thinking, “Wow, he’s really strong.” (I had failed at 5!) If you make it to Madison, I’ve got a box in the garage, come, let’s do a WoD for old times sake.
Yay Dan! You were the hero of that foundations class. (No mean feat, with 5 month pregnant Charlotte kicking my tail every workout) I still remember you doing “pushups to death” and making it to something like 11. I was thinking, “Wow, he’s really strong.” (I had failed at 5!) You were thin as a rail. If you make it to Madison, I’ve got a box in the garage, come, let’s do a WoD for old times sake.