April member of the month
Nick Dirosa
In his words…
I joined Vitality for the first time in November 2017. When I first started, I actually dread going. It was so painful. I would force myself anyway because I wanted to get better, but there was always a part of me that was even a little scared to go back. Eventually, I pushed through it and I wasn't painfully sore all day everyday. Now I actually look forward to going every time.
A mark of my progression would be that for a long time, I always hovered in the "B" category of weights. Most recently, I've been able to fairly regularly use the "C" weights. That feels really good.
Something I am proud of in my Vitality journey is that this year, I was able to run the Crescent City Classic in under an hour. I and cut a full 6 minutes off my fastest time. I'm really proud of that and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the training and support from VBK.
When I describe Vitality I usually say it's the gayest gym in town. But I also say how great it is because there isn't a lot of bullshit macho energy where everyone is always trying to outdo each other. It's a supportive community.
In Coach Kristin’s words…
Nick Dirosa joined Vitality in 2017 and was recommended by a good friend and long standing member of the gym. Nick works in film so his time with Vitality has been sporadic throughout the years. But as soon as the show wraps, he is right back into the gym 5 days a week! Nick is loyal to VCF and comes back again and again because he trusts and believes in our gym. Over the years his confidence has grown along with his lifting. I’ve also seen him gain a large amount of endurance. Nick is a great member. He is always open minded and receptive to feedback. He is always down to learn something new about his body, and this has allowed him to grow into a stronger athlete.
Behind the scenes (outside of the gym), Nick is pretty much a professional karaoke singer and absolutely crushes it on the mic. If you EVER get a chance to see this, you will not be disappointed. Nick is more involved in our community than ever. He is more chatty in classes and seen at more Vitality outings, including the Crescent City Classic runs with the crew. As I've got to know Nick on a more personal level over the years he has become one of my favorite people. He is the best person to discuss a new movie, tv show, or anything related to pop culture. He’s a great listener and I’m always cheering for him because you know he’s cheering for you. Nick just left to work on another film but we know he will be back when this one wraps.
Nick, you are a great member and friend. I am happy to get the message whenever you're ready to jump back into the gym. See you soon, buddy!