March Featured Athlete - Sam Fishman
Where are you from?
I am originally from Southboro, MA and spent every summer of my life enjoying eastern Long Island, so I call them both “home”.
What do you do for a living?
I am a paramedic at Trumansburg Ambulance.
What brought you to ithaca (if you aren’t from here)?
I am your typical transplant! I came to Ithaca College in 2003 for undergraduate and...never left! I fell in love with the Ithaca-area on my very first visit here (February 2003, during a HORRENDOUS snow storm!) and the pieces fell into place, allowing me to remain here. After undergrad, I worked in the Ithaca City schools in a variety of capacities, mostly as an educator (speech-language therapist, then special education teacher, then a substitute teacher as I was changing careers) which allowed me to live here during the school year and go “home” to Long Island, where I was an ocean lifeguard during the summers. It was a pretty sweet deal!
How are you doing this trying time? We appreciate you and all of your hard work and are beyond grateful for all you do on a daily basis.
Most of the time, I am actively working at staying very, very calm. I pick and choose where I obtain information (the CDC and TCHD are my go-tos) and limit my media exposure as much as possible. Some moments are better than others but that’s ok. I hear Lex’s voice in my head pretty often, saying “we’re all doing the best that we can…”
You have an amazing story that involves another member, Nancy T. Can you share that with us? (Only if you’re comfortable.)
I would love to! Well before I worked in EMS, I worked part time as a lifeguard at Island. During my shifts, we had a group of triathletes that swam together every week and I got to know many by face, some by name. One night, one of the swimmers experienced a sudden cardiac arrest mid-stroke in the middle of the pool. Together, with his fellow swimmers and the staff at Island, we began CPR on the poolside, including several defibrillations with an AED. Bangs arrived and transported him, calling me not long after to say that not only had this swimmer survived but he was awake and talking when they arrived at the hospital.
This was my first time doing CPR and changed my view on the world immensely. I struggled after the fact and was put in touch with the swimmer’s family, who allowed me to visit them at their home. I (vividly) remember him answering the door and working SO HARD not to cry, as the last time I had seen him he looked so very different. I spent an hour sitting with the family, playing with the kids and just chatting, it was truly, truly incredible.
Fast forward to September 2018. Nancy and I had just finished the 815 class and were chatting. She said something about bad luck with health stuff (those Toffolos do have some serious bad luck!) and said “after Shawn’s cardiac arrest”. I interrupted her and asked her to repeat herself. I must have looked at her funny because the lightbulb went off for us at the same time. “You’re Lifeguard Sam?” I remember her saying. There was screaming, yelling, hugging and a lot of tears. We had no idea we had been working out together for six months. The Toffolo family are the reason I went to EMT school and later became a paramedic. Shawn taught me so, so much and I love their family more than I can put into words! Nancy coined the hashtag #Iamnotcryingyouare … Alright, enough with the sappy stuff.
What’s your favorite CF movement?
Power Cleans! Push jerks are pretty great too.
What’s your least favorite CF movement?
(Insert F bomb here) SQUAT SNATCHES. Power snatches suck too.
What’s a goal you’ve crossed off your list?
Kipping handstand push ups! I need a couple ab mats but can do them!
What’s a future goal you’re working towards?
I really, really, REALLY want to get kipping pull ups and TTB, both I think are within reach, I just haven’t put the pieces together quite yet. Longer term? Dubs, most definitely and I really love (modified) BMUs, so one day a BMU would be super.
If you could write a WOD, what would it look like?
SamFish would be an outdoor workout, ideally at an ocean beach but a modification to Taughannock would be fine.
Warm up- Sharks and minnows (yes, I’m serious), ALLLL the treading and lots of stroke drills.
Then, a nice long AMRAP- 45 minutes of:
Run-swim-run→ A favorite/least favorite from my lifeguard days-- short run, intermediate length open water swim (200 yards or so), short run
13 push ups (on a bench/ledge for those of us modifying)
13 bench dips
21 air squats
7 jump squats
With the buy out being a looooooong (group) open water swim, kayak, paddle, whatever.
What’s your go to meal during the week?
A few years ago I decided to learn to make soup and can say that I’ve mastered broth based soups. I make everything from scratch (starting with the stock!) and they’re divine!
What’s your favorite local restaurant and what do you get from there?
I really love Just a Taste, although I haven’t been in forever. A wine flight, the focaccia, the roasted squash and everything else.
What do you do for self care?
It’s taken me years to learn that “self care” doesn’t mean “selfish” and for me, most of my self care involves the outdoors, my animals and moving. I have a horse, who I see/ride as often as possible. I live in the woods, on 10 acres and spend time daily exploring, hauling firewood, reflecting by the pond, throwing stones in the creek, etc. I also have some chickens (chicken math, look it up, it’s VERY real) and thoroughly enjoy watching them, as they’re hilarious creatures. In the summers, I spend ample time on my boat, where I can be found floating in the middle of the lake, soaking up vitamin D. Perhaps most importantly, I see Sarah regularly for desperately needed tune ups!
15. If you could rent 1 piece of equipment from the gym, what would it be?
I would have really loved to snag a Bella bar.
17. I’m going to combine two questions here- What brought you into CFP and what would you tell someone hesitant about trying CrossFit?
A coach at my previous gym worked out at CFP. Over coffee, without telling me what or where the gym was, she convinced me to come with her and try a workout. When I agreed, she said “what if I told you it’s Crossfit?” My immediate reaction was “People like me don’t Crossfit!”.
Well, two years later I’m here to tell you that people like me crossfit every day. Crossfit is for Every. Body. My advice? Show up. Seriously, walk in. Meet the coaches. Meet the community. Once you start to get comfortable, go to skills sessions, early on! In 30 minutes Janessa taught me to squat without pain. About a month ago, in 20 minutes, Tim S COMPLETELY changed my kip. Crossfit is for everybody and this community is incredible!
Just keep swimming my friends, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...