Joe Thiede

Full Name: Joe Thiede

Preferred Name or Nickname: Just plain Joe

How long have you been coaching?
15 Years

How long have you been doing CrossFit, weightlifting, or other types of training? What other types.
I've done some sort of sport since I was in grade school.
I've been doing CrossFit for 16 years.
I was a locally competitive distance runner for time in my life.

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How did you first get started with fitness or CrossFit?
I always enjoyed the gym. Always had a gym membership somewhere since high school. I'm 51 years old now. I became heavy into distance running in my early 30's and became burned out from that.  I tried a CrossFit class. The regular gym became boring after that. CrossFit kept me interested and enthused about working out.

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What made you decide to become a coach?
I tend to go "all in" on anything new I try. There was a Level 1 coaching course nearby so I registered for it after being in CrossFit about 8 months. I started Coaching neighbors in our garage set up. Our garage was our first actual affiliate. About 6 months later the opportunity came up to rent a small warehouse space. We took a chance thinking it would be more of hobby and it grew into more than that.
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What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Watching someone new to working out do things they never thought they could do and the new level of confidence that comes along with that.

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What is your favorite movement to teach?
The more complicated ones even if someone doesn't get it right away. I know they will get it sooner or later and it's great to see someone accomplish something they didn't think they could do. The process of it is my favorite part.

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How would you describe your coaching style?
I try to keep it simple and fun. Get the reps in. Fix one issue at a time. Let people safely get movement in. Never miss a chance to throw a good one liner in.

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What can members expect when they take one of your classes?
Learning, improving, and laughing.

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What is the most important thing you want athletes to learn from you?
You don't have to move perfectly, but it's something you can always work towards. Movement is medicine. It keeps you young. Just keep going.

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What is one piece of advice you would give someone who is nervous about starting CrossFit?
EVERYONE is nervous. Walk in and try it. It might just change your life. You won't know if you don't try. We know you most likely have an opinion on CrossFit. Find out for yourself what it's like instead of taking someone else's word for it.

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What is a common mistake you see athletes make, and how do you help them improve it?
Too much- too fast. Listen to your Coaches and scale way back when you start so you can make it in more days than you don't. Our staff learns from the best Coaches in the industry. Trust the process. You  don't want to be so sore your first few weeks that you can barely make it to the gym.

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What is your favorite lift or movement?
Used to be deadlifts but I think I am liking power cleans now.

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What is your least favorite lift, movement, or workout?
Overhead squats. I also do not like the workout Fran. I've done it too many times. I know what its like. It makes me nervous. It shouldn't but it does.

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What is your favorite CrossFit workout, benchmark workout, or type of workout?
"Helen" 3 round for time Run 400, 21 KB swings, 12 pull ups. Not my favorite movements but its a benchmark I can go fast at for some reason.

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What fitness accomplishment are you most proud of?
Keeping a CrossFit gym open for 13 years. That's very uncommon.
Keeping a 405 pound deadlift into my 50's.

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What fitness goal are you currently working toward?
Staying really consistent with my workouts and nutrition the next 6 months so I can have a great CrossFit Open next year.

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What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the gym?
Well... sleeping is good. Besides that spending time away  with Alison and the dogs.

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What is your favorite food, restaurant, music, and movie?
I have a sweet tooth. I could probably live off candy, chocolate and FitAid. I don't eat much of it, but it sure is good.
Favorite restaurant is Rocca.
Favorite music is anything heavy, or anything really calm. Step Brothers or Dumb and Dumber for movies. I like not to have to think when I am watching a movie.

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How long have you been part of Train Harder CrossFit?

Since day 1. 2013.

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What do you like most about the Train Harder community?

People really work hard but they have fun doing it. That is really important. You make more progress if you are having fun doing something.  CrossFit doesn't consume their lives so they don't get burned out. They work hard for 1 hour here so they can make the other 23 hours outside the gym better.

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Why should someone come take one of your classes?
You will get coaching, you will get better, and if you are on a Platinum Membership you will get one of my comedy shows.

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