Coach Lou Williams: I am a father of three who grew up in the Harrisburg area, where I graduated from Central Dauphin East High School.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a lover of all sports, especially those that tested endurance and mental toughness. I was a YMCA national level swimmer, a competitive runner, and a soccer player growing up but also dabbled in basketball, baseball, rock climbing, and triathlons.
I continued my education at Bloomsburg University, where I pursued a degree in Mass Communications (Journalism) while a four-year member and senior-year captain of the Bloomsburg University Men’s Soccer team. It was during this time at BU when I started coaching both soccer and swimming and realized that working with children in an athletic forum was something I really enjoyed.
I moved to the Bucks/Montgomery County area in 2003 with my wife Lauren, who is a Pennridge HS grad. I spent a few years experimenting with different employment, including stints as the head swim team coach and youth sports director at the Ambler Area YMCA.
More recently I’ve stepped into positions as the Aquatics Director at the Souderton Area High School, head coach for the 200+member Souderton Area Community Aquatic Club, head coach of the SAHS swimming and diving teams, and head coach of the Souderton borough summer swimming and diving teams.
My CrossFit “Journey” began in April of 2013 when I was seeking a way to stay competitive in a non-contact sport. Many years of post-collegiate soccer were beginning to exacerbate injuries suffered as a young athlete and I needed a way to stay active. A recommendation from my sister to try CrossFit resulted in me checking out CrossFit Apex, a move that has honestly changed my life.
Among other things, CrossFit has provided me with new knowledge of and excitement for fitness, a ton of new relationships, an outlet for my competitive nature, and a healthy environment to grow as a person.
Vinnie Tortorich of Fitness Confidential - http://vinnietortorich.com
https://youtu.be/xwwToIaepZU
00:30 - Introduction
02:40 - We probably have similar time domains here, Scott, my Level 1 was set to expire this past fall, and I did end up paying $1,000 and getting my L-2. This was important to my everyday workspace both with swimming and with CrossFit. So I started in 2013. So we're going on eight full years, it took me a year or two to get my Level 1, five years of that though is coaching extensively at the CrossFit Apex gym. So I just got my Level 2, so I guess it's about eight years in the CrossFit space, but I've been in the swimming coach role, in the fitness world too, similar to you and some other areas for a long, long time.
16:40 - CrossFit Apex did a great job of lending out some equipment which I know a lot of gyms are doing which is awesome for them to kind of give that to their members so we can solve for them. So I got a couple of kettlebells from them. I love kettlebell work. I do swings every day, the rower is my go to right now, we've been linked into the concept2 logbook I don't know if you have that app on your phone. I would highly recommend it.
25:00 - Let's talk some bike stuff. So let's take my 12-year-old son and then myself, which I would call myself a newbie. I've been riding my mountain...
