Maddison “Maddog” Levine

Maddison has been a solid member for two years now. She came in full force when she was a new member, and has only gained more steam in her tenure. Consistently improving her strength, recently hitting some nifty PRs in fact, Maddog takes coaching very well, asks questions and applies new knowledge. Also, never one to shy away from being uncomfortable, she took on that 5000m row in October without a single complaint. If you’ve met Maddison, you know she is probably the friendliest person in the room on most days, always willing to share a bar, bell, story, laugh, and will also probably tell you why she thinks you’re incredible in every way. We are extremely happy to honor Maddog and all her hard work this month, and can’t wait to see where her dedication continues to take her.

How old are you, and where are you from? 
27, Buffalo, NY (GO BILLS!)
 
What do you do for work? 
Business Development Manager at Foundation Escrow
 
What do you do for fun outside of P360?
I LOVE to have a good time, going out dancing, watching my home town sports teams play. I enjoy meeting new people, travelling, and finding new campsites. I recently went to Yosemite and cannot wait to go back!
 
How has P360 affected your life?
Where do I begin?! First, I met my business partner (Natasha Keitges) at the gym, and now I have my dream job! 
Second, it has totally transformed my body and my mind. It is the best part of my day, whether it be the 6am with my early birds or the 4pm with my party people, I look forward to seeing the everyone and getting the best work out of my life. Out of all the gyms I have been to I have never felt the rush and excitement I do than at P360. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, strong is a different kind of confidence. Each day I walk out of class and have learned something new, it’s an incredible feeling.
The coaches and my classmates continue to push me and challenge me to my full athletic potential. 
 
What are your favorite, and least favorite exercises? 
Favorites: back squats, rowing, cleans, and anything with a KB!
Least favorite: dead lifts, Turkish getup’s, and those darn box jumps!!
 
What is the hardest thing you have done, physically, in the gym? 
I like to think that I have a good relationship with the gym in regards to challenging myself as much as I can. Recently I committed to rowing 5000m  Mondays in October, it conveniently also happened to be during a heat wave so I would say that’s the winner right now. It was a true mental and physical test.
 
What is your most proud achievement at P360?
In my wildest dreams I would have never ever thought I would ever back squat over 200lbs or row a 500m and make the leader board. But, the absolute best moment at the gym (and probably in my life), was the day I did one strict pull-up!
 
What is a hidden talent of yours? 
I’ve been told that my hidden talent is that I can make just about anyone smile, be it with my HILARIOUS jokes or just plain splitting my pants open on the dance floor!
 
What is an embarrassing fact most people don’t know about? 
I willingly chose to drive a mini van all through high school, college, and into my first big girl job…did I mention it had “Maddog” spray painted on the hood?
 
If money was no concern, what would be your dream job? 
Water girl for the Buffalo Bills. I get to travel with the team and sit front row every game. #billsmafia
 
What is the biggest overall improvement you’ve made, since joining P360?
The best part is that in 2 years at the gym I still feel like I am improving and learning every single day and there is still a lot I am excited to keep working on and improving. I would say my biggest overall improvement is confidence that started inside the gym and followed me outside the gym. 
 
What is the most valuable piece of coaching you’ve received? 
The most valuable thing about P360 is the coaches. It would be hard for me to pick just one thing since each coach has found a way to help me grow and improve each day I walk in. I admire and have the upmost respect for each and every coach. Recently Coach Jules coached me to a 160lb clean, before I walked up to the bar she said “be confident and commit”, and it stuck with me. Now I tell myself that both inside and outside the gym. 
 
Which public figure or celebrity would you put in the dunk tank? 
I had a nightmare once about Carrot top and he since then haunts me–I am for sure dunking him, plus it would be funny to see his hair straight.
 
What’s your favorite place to eat in San Diego? 
Amplified, if I could eat there everyday… I would.
 
What famous person (alive or not) would you  most like to have a drink with and what would you buy them? 
Betty White, a class act like herself deserves a classy drink… she is probably a martini girl. 
 
If you had one movie on a deserted island what would it be?
The Goonies, you can never get enough of the truffle shuffle
 
What’s a funny story from your childhood? 
I remember like it was yesterday, we were doing “popcorn” reading, when the teacher randomly calls on you to read aloud, and I got to the word “chaos” but pronounced “CHA- OS”…. don’t worry it mentally prepared me for high school when we read the Odyssey, that book was full of chaos. 
 
What’s your favorite naughty food? 
Pad Thai, its a Sunday problem…
 
If you could travel to any point in the past, where would you go? 
That is tough I would either want to go back to the 1950’s so I could be best friends with Lucille Ball, or back to 1990 so I could try to change the outcome of the Buffalo Bills 90′,91′,92, and 93′ Superbowl losses.
 
What’s your favorite thing about training at P360?
Everyone comes to the gym for different reasons and all of our goals are different, but at the end of the workout we all accomplished something truly amazing. It doesn’t matter if its your very first day at the gym or you have been there for years the coaches and the people are all there cheering you on.The knowledge and support system is truly on another level and I have never seen anything like it before. Not to mention I have made some life long friends from the gym and that is priceless!
 
What is your biggest goal moving into 2018? 
Inside the gym my goals are to continue to focus on technique and improve mobility. There are definitely a few timed challenges I am excited to take another crack at and see how I can improve.
Outside the gym I make a list of however old I am and that is how many things I want to accomplish that year, they vary from work goals, travel goals, and typical bucket-list shenanigans— I am happy to share if you really want to know!

Rich Michal

Rich  has been a member for a long time, first coming through the doors back in 2012 with a short break along the way. He’s always been a hard worker, finding the speed and endurance elements to be where he shines, and putting in lots of work to improve upon his strength and power. Recently we watched Rich start out October with a baseline L1 Mile time, and improve immediately the next week to bump up to L2 with 5:46! Within a week of that, he went ahead and hit consecutive L4 Row times for the 500m and 1000m pieces combined. We’ve seen a lot of gains for Rich over the years, and his exceptional hard work this past month has been amazing to watch. He’s an overall great and helpful member, and we are very happy to congratulate him on a job well done!

How old are you, and where are you from? 
39, Born in Seattle, grew up in OC, and came to SD for school (Toreros!)
 
What do you do for work? 
TPS reports (and financial analysis) for a govt contractor, SAIC
 
What do you do for fun outside of P360?
Used to be all sports related, whether it was playing or watching, traveling (World Cup, Olympics). Now my wife and I spend most of our free time taking our 3 boys to toddler birthday parties.
 
How has P360 affected your life?
I originally joined when I was looking for some direction in my work outs. I’ve been involved in sports all my life but never took the training side that seriously. I feel now that I have a better knowledge base and feel a lot healthier.
 
What are your favorite, and least favorite exercises? 
Favorites:I like one of the fastest (cleans) and slowest (TGU) movements we do.
Least favorite: Random, but Ab rollouts. Burpees suck, too.
 
What is the hardest thing you have done, physically, in the gym? 
Three things come to mind right away. Running 500m repeats after heavy sled drags, the diabolical rep sequence of Mr. Purple (10:1 HPC/1:10 OTB Burpees), and trying to walk after the 1000m row for time.
 
What is your most proud achievement at P360?
It would have to be taking 3rd place in the defunct P360 Olympics a few years ago. I signed up for it with little expectations given that I wasn’t anywhere near the strongest in the gym. I came in last in the strength event even. I was able to hang in 2 others, and won the final (1 mile sprint). I exceeded my expectations, given the competition!
 
What is a hidden talent of yours? 
How about,….I can dunk a basketball!
 
What is an embarrassing fact most people don’t know about? 
I was a Santa Clause truth-er until about 10 or 11.
 
If money was no concern, what would be your dream job? 
Playing in the NBA has always been the dream job, but I’m starting to think that ship has sailed.
 
What is the biggest overall improvement you’ve made, since joining P360?
Definitely the strength gains. I’ve never had too much trouble with the endurance side, but I’ve always struggles with heavier lifts. Slowly but surely I kept building up and was able to hit L1 Barbell about a year ago. 
 
What is the most valuable piece of coaching you’ve received? 
While “giraffe, not turtle” comes to mind, I’d have to say that going max effort every workout is not only unnecessary, but also can be detrimental. I’ve fallen into that trap to go all out every day, but can definitely feel the burn out after too hard too often. That advice has been extremely valuable. 
 
Which public figure or celebrity would you put in the dunk tank? 
I mean, Harvey Weinstein has got to be the leader in the clubhouse right now.
 
What’s your favorite place to eat in San Diego? 
I’m going to limit to more casual places so Island Prime doesn’t win. I’d go with Embargo Grill in PL (Caribbean/Latin American food) with the caveat that there are a few new Peruvian places that I haven’t tried yet.
 
What famous person (alive or not) would you  most like to have a drink with and what would you buy them? 
This one took me the longest to answer. There are so many ways to go. I’m going current (with the World Series) and say Vin Scully. I don’t think he’d have trouble holding a conversation, and I’m sure he’s got a million baseball stories. I hope he likes George T Stagg, neat. 
 
If you had one movie on a deserted island what would it be?
It’s got to be Casino (only by a whisker over Goodfellas, frankly because I happened to see it first).
 
What’s a funny story from your childhood? 
In the days of the $1 allowance, I once refused $20 from my dad because I wouldn’t pretend-marry a girl at a 2nd grade fundraising event. I was THAT scared of girls.
 
What’s your favorite naughty food? 
Does dipping chocolate in my own tub of peanut butter count?
 
If you could travel to any point in the past, where would you go? 
November 5, 1955
 
What’s your favorite thing about training at P360?
Standard answer….. The community. I’ve tried workouts at home on my own, and it’s tough to replicate the encouragement sprinkled with a healthy dose of competitiveness that helps get the most out of the work outs.

What is your biggest goal moving into 2018? 
I have always struggled with pull ups, and missed Prison Yard by 2 a few months back, so I’m looking forward to getting that one. Level 4 Flight Club as well, especially with those new cushy boxes.