“CrossFit, when taught properly, can be phenomenal for any student or any athlete. Not every student wants to be an athlete, but every student should want to be fit.”
Photos courtesy of Jason Ackerman
For some people, turning 40 is a daunting experience. But when you’re a dedicated CrossFit athlete, it means you are eligible to compete in the masters division.
Mike McCulloch, 40, scored 297 on Open Workout 14.1, 171 on 14.2 and 132 on 14.3.
He admits the double-under and power snatch combo in 14.1 didn’t play to his strengths. He had been battling an Achilles problem that affected his double-unders.
“Two years ago, having double-unders in a workout would have crushed me,” McCulloch said. “Now when I see double-unders in a workout, I know I won’t be at the top of the Leaderboard but I won’t be at the bottom either.”
The overhead squats and pull-ups in 14.2, and the deadlifts and box jumps in 14.3 worked more in his favor, and gave him the momentum he needed to continue through the Open.
“I like participating in the Open because it gives me a chance to compete with a worldwide population of like-minded athletes,” McCulloch said. “I can compare myself with the world’s elite, the great athletes, the athletes my age, and most importantly, myself and my scores from the previous years. The Open exposes my weaknesses and makes me go outside my comfort zone.”
“Mike did a great job,” said Jason Ackerman, McCulloch’s primary coach at Albany CrossFit. “He still has some weaknesses and we need to address them in the offseason. I know Mike will attack them, and by next year be even more ready for the Open.”
A teacher at Shaker Road Elementary School in South Colonie, N.Y., McCulloch joined Albany CrossFit five years ago intending to try it for a month and then go off on his own.
“Five years later, I’m still learning,” he said.
This year, he said he’s happy to be competing in the masters division, while he admits some movements are out of his range.
“I’m more a (metabolic conditioning) guy,” McCulloch said. “Once you get over 150 lb., I’m in trouble. Once you start doing one-rep maxes, I don’t have the fast-twitch fibers or the brute strength to do them, so I lose out.”
McCulloch is currently pursuing his Level 1 Certificate to be a CrossFit coach, which will help him work toward integrating CrossFit into his school’s physical education program. His school district recently won a PEP (Physical Education Program) grant, and he plans to use the funds to incorporate a lot more fitness into the curriculum.
“CrossFit, when taught properly, can be phenomenal for any student or any athlete,” he said. “Not every student wants to be an athlete, but every student should want to be fit.”
He also coaches high school lacrosse and has introduced the team to CrossFit movements.
“They’ve never done CrossFit before and are only in the third week of it, but I see them cheering each other on,” he said. “Even though they’re teammates, it brings it to another level. You see them pushing each other. It’s great to see.”
Lacrosse is McCulloch’s first love. He’s both a coach and a player, and CrossFit has dramatically improved his performance.
“As a lacrosse player, I can’t think of a better way to exercise,” McCulloch said. “With most of the met-cons, they’re five to 20 minutes. That time frame is a lacrosse quarter. A month after I started CrossFit, I felt I was in the best shape of my life. There’s no way I’d play at the level I play now without it.”
McCulloch looks forward to continuing through the Open, and will use the results of this year to better prepare for next year.
“His willingness to compete and become uncomfortable is what makes him an above average athlete,” added Albany CrossFit coach Jason Murphy. “His attitude and willingness to help others is what makes him an amazing member of the community. ‘Teach’ is a pleasure to coach and train with.”
McCulloch’s goal is clear: keep improving and learning.
“At 40 years old, it is what it is,” McCulloch said. “I’m comfortable with what I can do. If I can do it … great. If I can’t—if I’m not strong enough, not fast enough, whatever it is—I’ll be able to accept it.”
