Athlete of the month - DECEMBER - Liam Hill

**Tell us about you?**

I'm a 34 year-old video game designer, I've been in Brisbane for around ten years since fleeing the cold and the disappointing train services of the UK. 

Nicknames are a touchy subject right now. I've never really had one and a few weeks ago I was on the verge of gaining the very cool one of 'Turbo' (thanks Dash). However all this appears to have been ruined by turning up to the box in my wife's car with her custom plate 'Duckie'.

**What did you do fitness wise before Crossfit**

I did a bit of cycling but my real passion is for squash.  I'm one of a few CFMB members who play at Redcliffe PCYC Scarborough Squash (although they're all far superior to me).

**Why Crossfit?**

I was happy that squash and cycling had helped me lose a bit of weight but I felt like I needed something else but I had no idea what it was. I had heard the squash players talk about this 'Crossfit' thing and I ended up watching 'Fittest On Earth' on Netflix. Well I reckon that delayed me contacting Brett by about three months as I thought "That isn't for me, I can barely do a push-up!" I'm very glad at whatever eventually prompted me to drop in an email and give it a go

**What results have you seen while at CFMB**

I'm over the moon with the results I'm seeing. I couldn't run 1k without my calves giving up before but I've just run 5k with our Run Club. Much to my surprise I've discovered I quite enjoy lifting weights and hitting those PB's. 

Most enjoyably, I just feel stronger all round. I was chucking my niece and nephew around in the pool this Christmas in a way I never could have before.

**Favourite Excercise**

Running obviously! As well as other cardio like rowing and the bike. Also back squats.

**Least Favourite**

Snatches and burpees. 

**Who or what inspires you?**

Here must go a big shout out to the 5AM crew, these awesome folks have welcomed me and are a constant source of inspiration. I could wax lyrical about everybody but for sake of brevity, top 'inspo' moments:

- Seeing Mandy tear through a WOD like a tornado.

- Lindsay continuing to hit PB's even in her third trimester.

- Watching Bealey knocking out massive chains of double unders. 

- Dash demolishing himself into a heap only to do it all again the next day. 

**Advice to newcomers**

Everything is scalable and nobody cares. In my first weeks I found it easy to feel self conscious about the movements I was scaling and weights on my bar but I soon realised that, apart from your coach, this community doesn't care about those things. Did you turn up and give it a go? Great, have a high five a smile because I'm trying to remember how my legs worked after those burpees.