Russell Berger
Age: 23
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 145
Date of Birth: Oct 25, 1985
Place of Birth: Groton, CT
Started CrossFit Nov 05
Lives in Huntsville, AL
Affiliate: CrossFit Huntsville
Fran: 2:31
Cindy: 28
Linda: 11:16
Helen: 6:58
Fight Gone Bad: 368
Filthy Fifty: 16 ish
Deadlift: 425
Press: 160
Back Squat: 345
Clean and Jerk: clean 245, jerk 235
Max Pull-ups: 56 (chest to bar)
Favorite WOD: anything with muscle-ups
Favorite Lift: Split jerk
Least Favorite WOD: Any time we have a new hero workout
Least Favorite Lift: Overhead Squat
2009 Dirty South Qualifiers Finish: 1st
18 comments on this entry.
1. Brandon wrote...
May 13, 2009 10:10 AM
This dude is a badass. At 145, he crushed those workouts. Good luck Russell
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2. Mariah wrote...
May 13, 2009 10:17 AM
An amazing competitor! Awesome displays of mental toughness! A great guy! Strange recovery WOD food choices though=)
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3. Brandon Phillips wrote...
May 13, 2009 11:04 AM
Mighty Mouse!!!! Russell your an amazing athlete and competitor...pound for pound one of the strongest I've seen. Glad to have you representing the dirty south!!
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4. Shane M. wrote...
May 13, 2009 11:14 AM
Another Speal perhaps? Just sayin...
Cool shoes btw, and what did you eat for recovery between wods?
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5. Alfie wrote...
May 13, 2009 11:15 AM
I would be surprised if this guy doesn't end up in the top 10 for the Crossfit Games in July.
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6. Zak F. wrote...
May 13, 2009 2:15 PM
Russell is truly a great athlete, and he's that good at 23. I'm positive that he will be in the top 10 as a minimum.
Shane M., he ate baby food directly after each WOD.
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7. KLowe wrote...
May 13, 2009 4:09 PM
Russell will do very well in California. Not only is he freakishly strong for his size he also has near perfect form that keeps him from fatiquing on lifts nearly as fast as those with not so great form. Running is also a "joke" for Russell.
The Dirty South was fun kept hearing this all weekend "who the hell is this Russell guy?"..."he is that guy (pointing)"...."NO WAY!!!...that little guy?!".....yep
Can't wait to see it all go down in Cali!
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8. YNC replied to comment from Alfie...
May 13, 2009 4:17 PM
Top 10? I think this guy is gonna give everyone a run for their money. Top 5 for sure. An 11:16 Linda?? Please tell me that's a typo. And a 6:58 Helen is also the fastest time I've ever heard of.
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9. Russell wrote...
May 13, 2009 5:15 PM
Yeah baby food was about the only thing I could get down without puking after every wod... and those little cups are easy to quantify and seem to get absorbed very quickly. (I only figured this out because I have an 8 month old daughter and occasionally run out of other food)
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10. Surrey Sterling wrote...
May 13, 2009 5:49 PM
As Recommended in the Paleo Diet for Athletes - Pre wod and I guess Post-Baby food (including animal products). Chopped or pureed baby food can be found anywhere and is easily digested by the human gut at any age. Good choices are fruits or vegetables,anong with chopped meats such as turkey, fish or chicken.
Rockstar's on to something!
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11. MB wrote...
May 13, 2009 6:19 PM
I have to say that Russell's stats are the most impressive I've seen here in quite some time. Obviously I'm not downplaying beasts like Speal and Josh Everett, but I've been desensitized to their freakish abilities. Russell's Linda and Filthy Fifty results...well I just don't have words to describe them.
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12. Daniel wrote...
May 13, 2009 6:44 PM
I have the absolute pleasure in working out with and being trained by Russell on a daily basis at Crossfit Huntsville. He is really that good! I was standing by and watched the 6:58 Helen. Turns out the course was also 6ft too long. Also, there is a video of his 11:16 Linda on www.crossfithuntsville.com. Also he got swine flu and kicked its ass in 3 days.
Keys to his success in my mind are
* Near Nazi like adherence to keeping perfect form. No slip-ups no matter how many reps hes turned out.
* Amazing stamina. He runs an extremely hilly, cross country 5K, through the woods in 18 minutes flat.
* Diet. He is a zone/paleo nazi as well. Don't let him catch you with a doughnut in your hand.
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13. Ninja wrote...
May 13, 2009 7:10 PM
Even though four qualified in the Dirty South from my box, Crossfit Hardcore, I have to give a scream out to a guy born in my hometown. Good Luck at the games.
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14. russell wrote...
May 14, 2009 5:13 AM
Thanks for the kind words Daniel... minus all of the Nazi compairisons... what's up with that!? :)
Also, my zone/paleo diet goes out the window at least once over the weekend. This past weekend it was Sushi rolls, chips and Salsa, and Ice cream.
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15. Wendy Shafranski wrote...
May 14, 2009 5:43 AM
There is no doubt that Russell will be a top contender. To watch this guy is to witness athleticism at it's finest - he's amazing! Plus, he's a really cool dude, too.
Good luck, Russell...make the Dirty South proud!
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16. Chris Russell wrote...
May 19, 2009 7:49 PM
Russ,
It was both an honor and pleasure competing with you that weekend. Good luck to you brother!
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17. Clint "Dirty" wrote...
May 21, 2009 5:39 AM
Russell is a superb athlete, he is Crossfit in the purest sense. When I am wretching in my own dispair it is his voice I hear over the loud music "Anyone can do 10 more reps...finish strong Clint 3,2,1..Go!"
Great job Russell keep insiring.
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18. Great Aunt Mary Lou/Bud wrote...
May 30, 2009 11:58 AM
We only wish we could be there to root you on in Cal. Real proud of you, keep up the good work.
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