Athlete of the Month: February 2017

Brian Doyle

Nickname: Big Cat

Member since: March 2012

Windy City: An all around great athlete, Brian Doyle represents everything we want Windy City to be known for. He's extremely coachable, supportive of fellow members, and always working on being the best version of himself. We know that the 3:30 class is often the highlight of "Big Cat's" day and we couldn't be more proud that he's chosen Windy City to be his home for the past 4 years. Big Cat is always ready to compete and push his fellow classmates to lift more and move faster. This month is yours Big Cat, let's celebrate with some country music and Drop Kick Murphy's beats at 3:30! 

“Anything worth doing, is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards.”

Big Cat: When I first walked into WCSC I had just lost 40lbs by running. I was losing weight but I hated running by myself every day. I had little motivation to run and I wasn’t having any fun while doing it. After joining WCSC and attending my first few classes, I began to feel motivation and a competitive fire that I haven’t felt since playing college football. I now look forward to working out. Each morning I wake up and check the WOD. I love the supportive environment of WCSC, how everyone picks each other up, always encouraging to go just a little harder. WCSC has become my second home. No matter what type of day I’m having outside of the gym, I know exactly what I’m getting when I walk through the doors at WCSC—the staff will be smiling, encouraging, and will push me further than I thought I could (and usually, wanted to) go.

Joining WCSC has been a blessing. I am in better shape now than when I was still playing football. I have met some incredible people who I now consider to be friends. I have become more disciplined, healthier, happier, and motivated since I joined and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.

Recent Adventures

I have been lucky enough to have gone on some cool trips, and have a few more lined up. My favorite trip I have been on was Lake Tahoe for my 30th birthday. During that trip with my girlfriend, we hiked an 8500ft mountain, which had amazing views of Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay. On the trip, I also played Black Jack next to Toby Keith. In this next year, I have trips planned to go to Spain and New Orleans. Athletically, in the past, I am most proud of finishing a half marathon, a 10 mile run, a tough mudder, and playing college football at Colgate University, Go Gate! 

Future Adventures

Dream big, live big. I love that quote. Never in my life did I think I’d be where I am today, but I took a chance after college moving to Chicago, and have made a life that I am proud of. I believe to Live Big is to attack and win at whatever you are doing in your life on a day to day basis. Whether it’s at work, at the gym, or with your partner, win the day. To “win”, to me, is simple. Get better, each and every day. No matter how small the “win” may be, a win is a win.

In the next year, my big adventure is a 10 day trip to Spain with my girlfriend. We have plans to go to Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. Our plans include eating tapas, drinking gallons of wine and sangria, and experiencing all that Spanish culture has to offer.

If time and money weren’t an option, I’d love to go to culinary school, see more of the world, go to a couple major sporting events and own a bunch of dogs. I am a simple man—sports, food, dogs. 

Personal Goals

Weightlifting: My super heavy days may have passed me by, but I still would love to have a 300 clean, 275 jerk, 225 snatch.

Professionally: I am in sales for a company called Retriever. My goal this year is to be Representative of the year. I’ve had some good success, but never good enough to win that award, so this year I made a pledge to myself to win it. My job allows me to talk for a living (imagine that), and it keeps me on my toes. Sales life is up and down, so this year I want to concentrate on being up and staying up.

Personal: My personal goal is to weigh and stay in the 210-220 range. I’ve been there in the past, but haven’t been able to maintain. I also want to work on being a better partner, brother, uncle and friend to everyone I know. In today’s society, it’s easy to always have an excuse, especially “I’m busy,” and I want to work on eliminating that.

Words to Live By

I tell myself that “If you go (to the gym) you’ll feel better afterwards,” and it has almost always been accurate. The hardest thing for me is getting from my house to the gym. It is so easy to get home from work and say “I’m so tired, I’ll just go again tomorrow,” but all that is doing is cheating yourself. Once I get done with the workout, I feel proud, energized and leave with a sense of accomplishment. I can justify not working out with the best of them! But if I can go, then anyone can go. It’s such an easy concept, just go to the gym, but I find it incredibly difficult. I have been trying to take steps to insure I go every day, just little notes on the mirror, or reading the workout of the day, and that gets my mind in the right place. It also helps that the coaches won’t let me hear the end of it if I skip a few days!

Really, all I can say, like I referenced earlier, just get better every day. I try to fix my mistakes, I try to work on my weaknesses, and this isn’t fun, but it’s worth it. I was lucky to have great parents who were a great example of what hard work and perseverance could do in life. It doesn’t matter how talented you are or athletic you are, if you commit to putting in the work at the gym, home or at work, you will not be sorry for it!

I want to thank WCSC and everyone I have met there for helping mold me into a better person over the last 4 years. You guys have helped me through some down times, and made everyday I walk into the gym worth it.

Stay jacked everyone!

–Big Cat