SGPT Interviews CrossFit Elite Athlete Chase Ingraham

SGPT: Tell us about yourself.

CI: Not much to say about myself really but that Crossfit has given me everything that I have in my life right now. Whether it has been a relationship or even an injury it’s all worked out to be a positive in the long run. If I were to you anything specific I know that whatever it would be it was shaped and created because of Crossfit Dallas Central.

SGPT: Did you have an athletic background growing up?

CI: I definitely had an extensive athletic background going all way back to when I was a kid but in no means have I ever been a great athlete. When I was younger I was the weakest, slowest, smallest and least athletic kid of the bunch. I matured at a very late age so I have had to work harder than everyone to get anywhere with sports. That being said, I believe it has paid off ten fold especially as I started to mature late in College. In high school I was an All-American swimmer and water polo player. I continued my swimming career in college where I captained the Men’s Swimming team at Southern Methodist University in 2006. For the next 2 years after college I started doing triathlons and ended up completing my first (and last) full Ironman in 2009.

Video – Crossfit athlete Chase Ingraham

SGPT: How did you get started with CrossFit competitions?

CI: I started doing Crossfit in 2009 after I met an old swim team buddy and he introduced me to the sport in February of 2009. In October of that year I had a few buddies that signed up for the Okbterfest Obliteration in Houston, Tx put on my Crossfit Champions. I basically got guilt tripped and dragged to this competition at the very last moment and made my way to Houston. By the end of the day I was sitting in awe and disbelief while I looking at my name at the top of the leaderboard. I also was given a new nickname because I wore a Captain America t-shirt in the final event just for fun. From then on Captain America was born and I was hooked on Crossfit Competitions for good. I went on to win the South Central Sectional in March of 2010 and placed 3rd in the South Central Regional to put my ticket to the 2010 Crossfit Games.

SGPT: Can you tell us about some of your recent competitions and placings?

CI: The last 3 competitions I have done have told an interesting story that has led me into the position I am at right now. I entered the Texas Triple Crown Series, which is a series of events which involved Crossfit Champions Oktoberfest Obliteration, Crossfit Dallas Central’s All Cities Open and finally Crossfit Central’s Fittest Games. In October 2011 I competed in the Oktoberfest Obliteration III in Houston, Tx and earned a first place finish. After that competition I started to notice that my right shoulder was getting sore when I did certain movements and just figured it was normal wear and tear, no pun intended. December 2011, I attended Crossfit Dallas Central’s own All Cities Open III and that’s where I really started to feel that my shoulder was giving me serious discomfort. I dropped the ball on a couple workouts and ended up in 8th place overall. It was not until January where I really started to feel something was wrong and I decided to get an MRI to see what was going on. Since the All Cities Open I had been training hard for my The Fittest Games because I was still in contention to win the Triple Crown. Unfortunately the day before I left for Austin my doctor called and informed me that I had torn my bicep tendon and rotator cuff in my right shoulder. Knowing the risk and understood that my Crossfit Season is all but over I decided to compete anyway and go out on my own terms. It my worst competition of my Crossfit Career ending in my first DNF as a Crossfit Athlete. It all but confirmed my decision to shut things down and get shoulder surgery.

Chase Ingraham on weighted Cindy CrossFit workout

Chase Ingraham uses Progenex Protein and Recovery Protein

SGPT: How do you typically train?

CI: Typically during the off-season I will train on my own. My coach and owner of Crossfit Dallas Central, Spencer Nix, programs all my workouts that focus on all my weaknesses. Mainly it’s just working on pure strength and power which I severely lacked in when I started doing Crossfit. Once the Games season starts though all our competitors compete side my side and against each other through-out The Opens and into Regionals. This is by far my favorite part of the season where we all just get together and beat the hell out of each other every single day. It really does not get any better than that.

SGPT: What about diet – how do you eat and fuel yourself on
competition days?

CI: In season I stick to the Paleo Diet while throwing in a few of my favorite treats here and there. On competition days its drastically different. I have a small breakfast to start the day but once I am at the competition I don’t consume any solid food others than an occasional apple here and there. During my competitions I will stick to shakes and Advocare products. I absolutely hate working out with any heavy food in my stomach so I stick mostly to protein shakes for recovery.

SGPT: Do you take any protein supplements or post recovery workout drinks?

CI: Yes I do. In season I will take Progenex Protein and Recovery Protein during the day and after training sessions.

SGPT: Have you had any injuries in the past and how did you deal with
them in training?

CI: I have had a few injuries over the last 3 years of my crossfit “career” and most all were due to me being clumsy or stupid. My first injury was back in 2010 after I just qualified for the 2010 South Central Regional. I was playing flag football and for some reason though I was Ed Reed all of a sudden, jumped up to intercept a pass I had no business trying to intercept and ended up blowing out my right ankle. In 2011, I sprained my right knee practicing box jumps for the open WOD 11.2 and it took a few month to get back to form. Finally, this season, I really went all out and tore my bicep tendon and rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I have it repaired and will be out until the beginning of the 2013 Games Season.

SGPT: Do you have any pre-competition or hard workout warmup or mental drills you perform?

CI: I always do the same warm-up and listen to the same music before every competition. I wear the same gear every competition, basically anything that has Captain America on it will suffice. My warm-up consists of a lot of hip and shoulder mobilization and some intense bursts of complex body weight movements to get my heart rate up to get my body warm and firing. The night before I got through every workout in my head from start to finish, going through my game plans that I made up the day before and actually time myself when I do it. It’s all about visualization and planning to me, you gotta have a plan.

SGPT: What are you reading now?

CI: I’m almost embarrassed to admit it but I just finished reading the Hunger Games series. I really enjoyed them.

SGPT: Thanks for the interview Chase.

CI: Thank you so much for taking the time, I really appreciate it! Thank you for all that you have done and God Bless.

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