McConnell seeks Gym Jones certification

Andrew McConnell is looking to join an elite group when he travels to Salt Lake City, Utah, later this month.

The Rehoboth CrossFit trainer will participate in an eight-day internship at Gym Jones, an ultra-exclusive training program that only the top fitness professionals complete. McConnell's goal is to become a fully certified Gym Jones instructor. There are fewer than 40 in the world, and just one in Delaware.

“I'm in this for the long haul,” McConnell said. “I want the network. I want the community. I want to continue to evolve and learn because that's the only way you're going to be able to stay in this game. If you're not staying up with what's current and try to mix in what's useful, you're going to go by the wayside.”

To attain full certification, Gym Jones offers a four-tier program. McConnell completed the advanced seminar, tier 3, in August, and has been invited back for an internship, the fourth and final tier.

At the five-day advanced seminar, he said, every day was treated as a two-a-day, with morning and evening workouts. Training varied from 2K rows to interval weight training to a 2-mile hike up a 2,200-foot hill.

“Their main philosophy is that the mind is primary,” he said. “It's about mental training and toughness and pushing beyond self-imposed limits.”

He said he couldn't have achieved what he has without the support of CrossFit owners Hans Fuller and Billy Klemkowski.

“I'm very grateful and appreciative to [them] in supporting me with pursing this professional and personal goal,” he said. “I'm looking forward to helping lead the community with furthering my education.”