June Athlete of the Month: Paul Conzemius

Congratulations Paul, you are our June Athlete of the Month!

Paul is the definition of a lifelong athlete. From football, wrestling, track, and jujitsu to surfing, dancing on tour, rock climbing, and now CrossFit, he's never stopped looking for new ways to challenge himself. Since joining NoCoast just over a year ago, Paul has embraced the gym's balanced approach to fitness, adding endurance events like sprint triathlons and Hyrox training to his ever-growing list of athletic pursuits. As a husband, father of two young children, and self-proclaimed lover of high-skill movements (but definitely not wall balls), Paul brings curiosity, consistency, and a passion for growth to everything he does. We're excited to share more about his fitness journey and what NoCoast has meant to him.

Age: 38

Athletic/Sports history/highlights: 

I'm definitely a generalist as an athlete. I played football, basketball, wrestled, ran track, and practiced jujitsu throughout high school. I've always been into movement in general so in college I kept up with Jujitsu and martial arts, spent some time surfing in Mexico, and actually ended up dancing and performing on tour for a while with a group called Up with People. After I settled in Colorado I got into rock climbing and gymnastic strength training. I found CrossFit in 2023 (really late to the party) and was hooked on the training philosophy and methodology of cross functional fitness. Now I've added in some endurance races like sprint triathlons and an upcoming Hyrox race.

How long have you been at NoCoast? 

A little over 1 year now.

How did you get into fitness/exercise? 

I've always been a mover so I got into fitness in junior high as part of the athletics I was involved in. I've been addicted to adding to my fitness quiver ever since.

What is your favorite workout or movement? 

I love any workout that makes me take on two very different movements, like deadlifts and running, or ring muscle ups and rowing. It always feels fresh and challenging. I also just love high skill movements.

What is your least favorite workout or movement? 

Wall balls. Man am I bad at wall balls. Maybe also the bike. It's an instrument of torture.

What is your most memorable NoCoast moment?  

Maybe the 12 days of Christmas workout this past year. That was a blast.

How does nutrition play a role in your fitness and recovery? 

I find I have to keep things somewhat locked in or I quickly see my recovery decline in particular. I try to eat whole foods, avoid added sugar, and prioritize protein. If I don't stay on top of things I notice the inflammation creep up pretty quickly.

How has NoCoast improved your overall wellness? 

A ton! I've really seen the benefit of balanced programming that pushes me outside of my comfort zone into areas of fitness I wouldn't have explored otherwise. Looking broadly across all aspects of fitness I'm fitter than I've ever been. Plus, doing this with a  community of people that also want to push themselves has been good for my mental health. I didn't realize how much I was missing this kind of camaraderie until I got to be a part of it again.

How has NoCoast changed your family?  

As a parent of a 4 year old and an infant, having an efficient, relatively short workout that leaves me feeling reset helps me show up as a better husband and father. It's undoubtedly had a positive effect on my whole family.

Advice to new people: 

Consistency is key. Showing up and making incremental improvements each day is where the magic happens. Also, scaling is your friend. Getting to the desired stimulus of a workout is way more important than using the prescribed weight or movement.