Here he is!! The July 2016 MVP. I still remember one year ago, this gentleman walking in to check out what Jefferson City CrossFit was all about one early Saturday morning! We chit chatted and then he signed up for OnRamp! One year later he is still working at being the best person he can be. He puts in the work, grunts, sweats and smiles. He may even give you a turn the head nod and a few words in Spanish to let you know he is always listening!
Congratulations Richie! Thank you for being a part of our community!
Name: Richie Ruiz
Age: 51
Family: wife and three children 
How long have you been CrossFitting?:
1year
What time do you come to WOD normally?
530
Favorite Lift: Deadlift
Favorite Met Con/Cardio: Love to run, but don’t have the knees for it – keep trying though!!! (I really thought you were going to say burpees.)
Favorite Gymnastic/Body weight Movement: Plank hold…  could not do 10 seconds when I first started crossfit
Favorite Shoe to WOD in: reebok nanotechnology 5s…  look at them every time I go to the shoe store, but can’t bring myself to endure the wrath of the wife if I actually purchase them.
Favorite Meal: Anything from the veggetty
Favorite Beverage: Peanut Butter protein shake
Funniest memory at the box: Brian Phillips had been an annoyance for coverall months, and I could not get him to stop.  I finally found that he would leave me alone if I spoke to him in Spanish.  During class, and every time he spoke to me, I would respond in Spanish and he seemed to minimize his jokes.  The funny part of all of this was how everyone else took this.  They were all supportive and if they could have spoken spanish….
I started crossfit for a change, something that I could add to the mix since so much had been taken away from me because of my medical issues.  I was looking for a workout, but I got so much more.  The motivation was the price, the work was the workout, the pain was the reward, and the food was the punishment.  But now I look forward to working out, my medical issues are in control, the diet and food is second nature, and the pain is minimal.  The cost is way too low for what you get!  I go to the grocery store and someone is checking my basket,  “who are those pizzas for?”, and when you are out for a long period of time I must get 10+ texts sayings “where are you?”.  Nothing like this place!
My goal are to keep on going!  Doctor’s got me taking it lighter than I have in the past, but I told him I would not quit!  So we came to a compromise…  my advice to anyone starting crossfit would be the same – DON’T QUIT!
Keep coming back Richie!! Cheers to Better than Yesterday!