NutriForce Sports CrossFit Athlete Mike McGoldrick Talks To M&S

What is your athletic background, and how did you get involved with CrossFit?

I played ice hockey for 12 years. 4 years of club at MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN. Once my career was over I continued to have an interest in strength and conditioning. Strength training plus running led me to discovering CrossFit.

How many times have you competed, and what is your best placing to date?

I’ve competed in over 20 fitness competitions. My best placing was 1st place at the 2013 South Central Regional which qualified me to compete at the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games.

Please detail your weekly training protocol. How many days per week do you train, how are your workouts structured, etc?

I currently train twice a day, 6 days a week. I take Sunday completely off and Thursday is an active recovery day with two sessions.

What do you love most about CrossFit, and what do you like least?

I love the community involved with CrossFit. My mom, fiancé, cousins, and best friends are all involved with CrossFit.

Please tell us about your nutrition and diet approach. If you follow a specific meal plan or eating structure, please detail it.

I take in a LOT of calories. I try to keep it very simple. If it tastes good and makes me feel good, I’m going to eat it. I do my best to avoid gluten as much as possible as it gives me some GI issues.

What advice do you have for someone interested in getting involved with CrossFit?

Don’t try and rush the results. You may see a lot of people around you who have better “numbers”, but give it time. Try to remember that this is about being healthy and fit. There is no end point in your fitness. It’s a journey, so enjoy it.

What are your 3 favorite and least favorite exercises/movements, and why?

• Bar facing burpees – Just plain uncomfortable.
• Box jumps – They wind me very quickly.
• Overhead squats – Mobility is a limiter in this movement so it doesn’t feel great.

What drives you and keeps you motivated?

It’s simple. I LOVE to train. Competing is a bonus. Nothing makes me happier than going out to my garage and throwing some weights around. Even better when people join in.

CrossFit is a very physically demanding training style. What steps or precautions do you take to stay injury free?

I sleep A LOT. Next, I eat enough calories. Then, I am sure to prep my body for each movement prior to each training session. And equally as important to me is cooling down properly. The sooner I can prep my body to recover for the next session the better. As soon as I complete the last rep of that current session, I am preparing for the next one.

How has CrossFit improved your life outside of the competition realm?

It has instilled a confidence in me to take control of my life. People often avoid taking chances because of the fear of failure. We fail everyday in training. I am no longer afraid to fail, so there for I am no longer afraid to take chances. That is how you grow.

Any tips you can provide on learning the Olympics lifts?

Most important – Develop a solid movement platform. If you can’t get in to proper positions, it’s going to be difficult to learn the movements correctly. From there, get a set of eyes on you in person. Nothing is better. Next, film your lifts and share with peers and coaches to input. Finally, watch videos religiously. Be patient. Don’t expect to perfect it overnight.

CrossFit athletes are known for having amazing physiques. Can you give us some tips on how we can look our best?

Just take your shirt off and use Instagram filters.

What music do you listen to while training?

Right now, mostly electronic. But it changes.

Give us your top 5 favorite movies or TV shows.

Life is Beautiful, Happy Gilmore, Breaking Bad, The Bible, Cosmos.

What other physical activities or sports have you participated in?

Ice Hockey, soccer, and countless hours in the gym.

Do you have an all-time favorite WOD? If so, can you detail it?

“Amanda”…

• 9-7-5
• Ring muscle ups
• Snatch – 135#

What are your goals in the sport of CrossFit, and how long do you hope to keep competing?

Currently my goal is to qualify for the 2014 CrossFit Games. I plan to compete until I feel that my time is up. I will NEVER stop training.

Who are your role models, or what other CrossFit athletes do you admire?

I love, fear, respect, and trust our creator. More than anything.

I admire any and all fitness athletes that are still living a normal life who are trying to bring their training to the next level. It’s hard work with not much payout. But we still grind!

Do you supplement your nutrition with any sports supplements? If so can you tell us which supplements you utilize on a weekly basis.

I am a NutriForce Sports athlete. I take Natural Amino pre-workout, and NutriWhey post-workout. I’ll add in some creatine, beta-alanine, and l-glutamine as well for post workout.

What sacrifices have you had to make to reach your competition and physique goals?

I wouldn’t say I have sacrificed anything. I just changed my mentality. If you feel that you are missing out on things, or having to “give things up,” it might be worth it to reevaluate why you are doing this. I love what I do. Changing my life to form around my training was easy.