Pushing Downhill

Dane Donaldson is a 44-year-old small business owner who just loves to sweat and train. He’s just like most of the listeners of this podcast in that he has a family and a busy schedule and yet still finds a way to piece it all together. He’s an “average Joe”, he’s relatable and he has a hell of a story that I can’t wait for you to hear. In episode #10 of “Pushing Downhill”, Dane discusses his journey, what health and wellness means to him, and his “why” behind CrossFit and training.

Who better to shed some light on the topic of sport psychology and mental performance than the one and only Dr. Jack Lesyk, director of the Ohio Center for Sport Psychology, Sport Psychologist for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and an Adjunct Asst. Professor of Psychology at Cleveland State University. We discusses the stress and anxiety and what to do about them, the "Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes", what separates success from failure and other mental strategies to help you level up in your own life

Can we really quantify endurance? Who needs it, really? Luckily, we have the one and only Dr. Matt Stevens to answer these questions. Matt is the founder of the recently launched “Pure Endurance”, an online training platform designed for CrossFit and endurance athletes looking to be optimized in this realm. In episode #8 of “Pushing Downhill”, Matt and Ryan discuss all things endurance. Programming, training and, perhaps most importantly, why endurance is needed for ALL athletes.

In Episode 7 of “Pushing Downhill” we discuss Mark Valenti’s view on the continuously world of fitness, as his philosophies on training and coaching, gym culture and what separates Blind Dog Gym from the pack. We learn how Mark has been able to compete at such a high level in multiple sports for a long time. We wrap up the episode with a discussion of how Mark structures daily routine, how he maintains a balance between work and life and what the future holds for him, his business and his family.

Mitch Lowry is a coach for CTown Fitness who utilizes fitness & health as his gateway to help people realize their most longed-for dreams and to help them grow into their fullest potential. Over the past 5+ years, Mitch has worked with 100’s of people on an individual level, bringing them a personalized approach to achieving their goals. In this episode, Mitch and Ryan discuss all things CrossFit, personal training, fitness and wellness.

Running a successful business is no easy feat but it becomes even harder when you have 5 children. For Marisa Pelser, founder of Raw Trainer, this is everyday life. When she’s not running Raw, she lives an active lifestyle through fitness, Olympic weightlifting and pilates. In episode #5 Marisa discusses her day to day routine, how she manages to maintain her work life balance, how she maintains a healthy relationship with her husband, Pieter and, in her opinion, what it means to be truly successful.

Kylene Bogden is one of two humans in the US who is board certified in both sports nutrition AND integrative and functional nutrition. She is considered a leading expert in the field of Functional Sports Nutrition, is currently serving as the Performance Dietitian/Nutritionist for the Cavaliers and runs her own company Forward Fuel. In episode, we debunk nutritional myths, discuss dietary recommendations for the elite, what a typical day should look like, and how you can use nutrition to Push Downhill.

Imagine having to work 40+ hours/week while training for the Olympics! For Sarah Horbol, this is reality. Sarah is an elite distance runner and a 2020 Tokyo Olympic Trials Qualifier. She’s the winner of the 2018 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and most recently, the 2019 First Energy Akron Half Marathon. In episode #3, Sarah and Ryan discuss how she maintains balance between work and life and training, racing tips and strategy and how she structures her daily life in such a way that allows her to Push Downhil

You don’t have to be a CrossFitter to appreciate hard work, determination and grit. These are common characteristics shared by high performers in all aspects of life and Pete Taylor of CrossFit Roaster Barbell understands that better than anyone. Pete’s been tapped into the world of CrossFit and functional fitness for years and n episode #2 we discuss the evolving landscape of CrossFit and what it means moving forward, gym culture and community, and what it means to have an injury.

Can you imagine falling flat on your face from a height of 20 feet, breaking bones, and then having to “dust” yourself off and do it again? Nick Bruce can. He’s a legend in the world of competitive extreme sports and has experience and a mindset that very few share. In episode #1 of the Pushing Downhill, Nick discusses his injuries and how he’s managed to overcome them, his daily routines that allow him to perform at his highest potential, and what it takes to be a “professional” in any aspect o