1. What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? Ed (a.k.a. “Hey Ed”) did. I’ve always been into fitness and was always looking for something better and more challenging. He knew I would love it, so he bugged me until I finally caved and came in. He was right….he usually...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “I came into CrossFit Renaissance significantly over weight. I wanted to gain strength and lose weight the correct way.” What was your first impression? “My first impression of the staff was one that, sadly, I haven’t come...

About me: My name is Marc Jackson, I’m 27 and I currently consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. I am an instrumental Music teacher with the Philadelphia School District. Percussion is my main instrument. I also have a great fondness of motorcycles. I love to ride, I...

1. What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “My closest friend, Mary Ann Tobin, had joined several months before I did. She raved about how much better she felt by getting involved with CrossFit Renaissance and I noticed physical changes in her, as well.  I thought:...

“Bill and I have a mutual friend, Matt Duffy. One day I looked at Matt and he just looked younger. He had lost weight before, but this was different. I asked him what he was doing and he told me about how Bill had started his own gym. A few weeks later, I saw Bill and...

“I started CrossFit on April 15th of 2013. I remember seeing it on the Fox 29 morning news program. Jennapher Fredericks was live from there, although Bill and Joyce have no recollection of it  I remember my father telling me to get over there and flip some tires. It...

I found Crossfit Renaissance totally by accident. I was working in a warehouse a couple doors down from CFR’s original location on Collins Street. When I showed up to work the first day my boss Lauren tells me to try to block out the noise from the gym two doors down,...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “When I was younger, I was always into sports. I was in pretty good shape all the way up into my mid-20’s. About a year ago, my friend asked me to run a 5k with him and I wasn’t able to complete it. I asked him to help me get...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “I was introduced to CrossFit by a friend. He thought I would be interested in watching a particular video. That video changed my life. Since that moment, I became obsessed with the training lifestyle.” What was your first...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “I don’t exactly remember the conversation I had with Carrot (Lauren Carotenuto), but I mentioned to her that CrossFit was something that I had been interested in trying for over a year and I was way too intimidated to give it...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? “Brigid asked me to go to the Intro class with her. I had just started back at a conventional gym doing a bootcamp-style conditioning program, so I didn’t join right away with her. After a while, I kept listening to the...

“I began one-on-one training with Bill at the end of February 2015. I remember calling with no intention of signing up for anything, but after hearing what CFR had to offer, I found myself with 10 personal training sessions that began the very next day. I hadn’t...

1. What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? I came to CFR looking for something different. I was bored with regular gym classes and running. 2. What was your first impression? My first impression was that although I was so sore, this was what I needed. 3. Has that...

“My first vivid memory of CrossFit was my very first intro session with Bill. It was a Sunday morning and as I walked into the gym, I saw two people doing their own workout. Bill mentioned to me that they were here on their own working on their weaknesses. Immediately...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? I went to high school with Bill, and I heard he opened his own gym in the neighborhood. My brother and sister joined and were going for a while. We would be at family functions and I all would hear about was “Crossfit,...

Get like Tony. After a friend told him a little about CrossFit Renaissance, Tony decided to come check out the gym. His goals were simple: lose weight and extend his life. So, he decided to sign up for personal training with Bill Shiffler. Tony has now been here for 4...

Member Profile: Mary Ann Tobin (member since January 2014) “I came to CrossFit Renaissance at the request of my daughter, Mary Ellen Stevens. I promised her that I would talk to Bill Shiffler (owner and head coach), but I put it off – I’m not sure why. Fear of the...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? A Groupon brought me in the door. I had no idea what CrossFit was. I had not even Googled it! I was in the habit of trying new Groupon exercise classes. What was your first impression? Tim, the coach who led the initial intro...

What brought you to CrossFit Renaissance? Around 4 years ago, my sister Denise, her husband Tom and I were watching YouTube videos of CrossFit workouts. They were sure that CrossFit was meant for me. A year later I found a Groupon for CFR and decided to give it a try....

So, a little about me: I’m 34 and a Structural Engineer. I have my professional engineering license in two states. I design highway bridges. I was a high school track and field and cross country runner. I was pretty good. I was recruited by some low Division 1...