Coaches

Ray Murphy:

Head Coach + CrossFit Football Certified + Movement & Mobility Certified + Big Cheese + Cat Herder

CrossFit Buckhead Trainer Fitness has been a key part of my life since my time serving in the US Marines. Staying in shape has allowed me to not suck at life. From BASE Jumping to surfing I have been able to find balance by keeping fitness a priority. My wife and I discovered CrossFit while looking for an alternate way to train to climb Mt. Rainier for the second year in a row. The year before, we spent countless, mind-numbing hours on cardio machines at a Globo-Gym…and we didn’t want to do another six months of that this time through. We were excited to find the intensity and fun atmosphere that CrossFit delivers…and, the best part was that we saw immediate results! We have been hooked ever since.

I enjoy pushing others to meet and exceed their goals. After obtaining my CrossFit Level 1 Certification I knew this was the path for me. As the Owner and Lead Trainer at CrossFit Peachtree I look forward to delivering a fun and exciting atmosphere for you to discover new levels of fitness and achieve goals you never thought possible!

Bridget Murphy:

Level 1 Coach + CrossFit Football Certified + Olympic Lifting Certified + CrossFit Nutrition Certified + Movement & Mobility Certified + Assistant Cat Herder

Bridget Murphy CrossFit Peachtree Like many girls, I never had the best body image or felt good about the way that I looked. For years I struggled with trying to get to my “ideal” weight…the endless battle to drop those last few pounds that just never seemed to go away.

Before CrossFit, I was pretty much the Globo-gym workouts, martial arts and yoga. What started as a dedicated 5-6 day per week, 2 hours per day, over time dwindled to maybe 3 days per week for an hour, if I could manage that. The gym became monotonous and boring…not to mention, no matter what I seemed to do, gym workouts just weren’t working for me anymore. I watched The Biggest Loser and used to think, “I wish I could find somebody to kick my butt like that!!”

Enter CrossFit…

In a very short amount of time, I saw dramatic changes. Not only am I leaner, have more muscle, am stronger, faster and doing things I never thought I would be able to do…but, almost most importantly, I feel better about myself.

I’ve always had a passion for fitness, nutrition and wellness and now, as a CrossFit Coach, am excited to be able to share that with you. I love helping people, love seeing people change their lives for the better and am truly inspired on how CrossFit impacts my life and others!

Liz Ojile:

Level 1 Coach + 1st Lieutenant

CrossFit Peachtree Liz Ojile Breaking a sweat has been part of my everyday routine for as long as I can remember. Whether it was playing soccer growing up or going for a run, I’ve never felt the day was complete without a workout. Like many people, I struggled to find the balance between work, exercising and eating right. I struggled to motivate myself and got tired of just being another member at the local gym. I needed something that was going to push me to the next level and give me the results that I was looking for.

Having been introduced to Crossfit in the Fall of 2008, I have pushed myself to my limit every time I walk into the gym. To me, it’s never been about the number on the scale, but about feeling good about myself and achieving a healthy lifestyle. I have found the balance that I’m looking for and enjoy helping others achieve their goals, whatever they may be.

Dan Waterson:

Level 1 Coach

Dan Waterson CrossFit Peachtree Atlanta Sports and fitness have always been a huge part of my life. From little league, pop warner and club soccer as a kid; all the way up to playing soccer at the collegiate level.

Like most, I conformed to society and joined a Globo-Gym once moving to Atlanta. After awhile it got boring and mondane, it was the same thing day in and day out. Finally I was introduced to CrossFit in October of 2008. My first Workout was “Fight Gone Bad” and it was exactly that. It kicked my butt for 15 minutes…I thought I was going to die, and I absolutely loved it. The adrenaline and emotional high after pushing myself like never before was amazing. I had found something new, fun and exciting in CrossFit.

I received my CrossFit Level 1 certification in June 2009 and am super excited about introducing as many people as possible to the CrossFit world. I want to help people push themselves further than they thought possible and achieve goals they thought were unachieveable. I love seeing the look on someones face when they accomplish something they didn’t think was possible only a short time ago!

Jenn McDonald:

Level 1 Coach + CrossFit Nutrition Certified

Jenn McDonald From early childhood to college to now…I’ve always had a soccer ball at my feet. To me, soccer is competition, team mentality, and personal drive all wrapped up into a great workout. What could be better than being passionate about something that keeps you in shape? However, after several injuries and birthdays, I’m slowly coming to terms that playing soccer isn’t going to be an option forever (unless they come out with an over-70 women’s soccer league).

This realization started a tedious quest for a fitness program encompassing all of the traits I loved about soccer while making me look and feel better in a bikini (of course!!). I tried everything from boot camps to running clubs to classes at the globo gyms which caused me to develop a bad case of “fitness ADD”. After two months or so, I would get bored with these repetitive workouts, dread doing them, quit, and move on to something else. It was a never ending circle until one morning in late September 2008, I walked through the doors of CFPT and did a 10 minute work-out. Despite being sore for a week after that workout, I finally found what I was looking for.

My motivation behind getting my Level I Certification is to help as many of you as I can achieve a “CrossFit moment”. It doesn’t matter if you are someone who has never worked out before or an elite CrossFitter … every CrossFitter has this moment. The moment where a work out is beating you down and you want to quit but you don’t… you keep going… you realize that you can do this. You start to eat better, get stronger and faster, lose weight, and feel better about yourself. It all just clicks, CrossFit becomes a part of you for life, and you begin a journey of pushing yourself to levels of health and fitness you never thought possible. I never could have had this moment or be on this journey with out the dedication of the coaches at CFPT. I’m so proud and excited to be a part of the coaching team so that I can help others make it happen like they have for me!

Khaki Person:

Level 1 Coach + CrossFit Kids Certified

Khaki Person From as far back as I can remember, sports and athletics at the YMCA were always a part of my life. From “peewee” soccer to year round swimming, I was constantly trying new things. I found my way to running in high school and continued my running career on treadmills, always avoiding the scary free weights, and finding comfort in the monotony of the Cybex machines. After discovering that I was not coordinated enough to do step aerobics and too loud for yoga, my best friend dragged me to CrossFit Peachtree.

On Day One, I was just as intimidated and freaked out as everyone else on their first visit to CrossFit Peachtree, but the sweat and adrenaline quickly kicked in as I attempted my first workout: “Deck of Doom”. While walking and sitting were not an easy task after the workout, I fell in love with the camaraderie and personalized attention that CFPT had to offer.

It is my goal to help others, like me, to live happier and healthier lives. Who doesn’t love the look on someone’s face he or she attains that seemingly impossible goal!?

Rebecca Rose:

Level 1 Coach + CrossFit Nutrition Certified + Olympic Lifting Certified

Rebecca Rose CrossFit Peachtree Like most CF addicts, I have the habit (OK, compulsion) of watching CF videos online instead of doing other, more productive things. This one inspired me to dig deep and ask myself, “What makes YOU CrossFit?”

The answer: I am CrossFit because I want to be my own action hero.

I’m in love with action movies. I mean, c’mon, what isn’t swoon-worthy about high-adrenaline car chases, excessive violence, explosions, shoot-outs, and the general over-the-top-ness that is the plot of all the best action flicks? Most enticing, though, is the action hero himself.
My Stallone-mania has been growing since I first discovered Rocky in high school. During college I was introduced to my second love, Indiana Jones. And I’ve been lusting after … uh, I mean admiring the acting skills of… Jason Statham for years.

Who doesn’t want to disarm a bomb in a high-pressure situation, be a government assassin or spy, drive a motorcycle in a high-speed chase or simply punch someone in the face after watching a movie featuring one of those badasses?

I ran track and cross country in high school, but abandoned my running habits once I started college. Instead, I ate fast food, drank too much and justified the title of “runner” with a 3-miler once every couple of months. After a while, unsurprisingly, instead of looking like a runner, I looked like a college student who ate junk food and enjoyed my weekends a little too much.

Enter CrossFit. Now, rather than just watching my heroes’ feats on television or in movies, CrossFit enables me to obtain my own.

I still can’t knock out a steroid-packed Russian beast or take on a gang of terrorists single-handedly (a la Rocky and John McClane, respectively) but … I CAN deadlift 163% of my bodyweight. I CAN increase my total each time I compete in an Olympic lifting meet. I CAN tackle my goats each day. And I CAN conquer, or at least face, my fear of heights by learning to rock climb.

My challenge for each of you? Be badass. Reach milestones you never even imagined setting. Try things you never thought you could do. Be your own action hero.

And in the words of John McClane, “Yippee-ki-yay, mother f****er!”

Sarah Noel:

Level 1 Coach

Sarah Noel From the young age of 3 up until high school, I was intensely trained in competitive gymnastics…consistently training 6 days a week. The discipline, dedication and focus I learned and developed through training in gymnastics I have carried with me throughout life. I learned that pushing yourself with that intense drive, focus and determination will always lead you in the direction of your goals. What you put into it, is what you are going to get out. There are no short cuts. During my high school years, I discovered competitive cheerleading. I had to adapt from the gymnastics state of mind which focused on individual success and goals, to a team environment…all working towards achieving a common goaI. I truly believe that CrossFit encompasses the best of both worlds…individual fitness and a strong sense of community.

I will never forget my first time entering the CrossFit gym…scanning the room, taking it all in, watching everyone work out with such extreme intensity, pushing themselves to their absolute limit. I walked over a few people laying on the ground, sweating profusely, and catching their breath…but they were all also congratulating each other. I remember thinking to myself, “Wow…what is “IT” that is making all of these athletes work so hard and put so much into their workouts? “. Even after being trained by some of the best gymnastics coaches in the world, I noticed the intensity and dedication at CrossFit was just as apparent. I quickly discovered that “IT” was simply that all of the individuals at the gym (at varying fitness levels) were in every respect passionately invested in their physical fitness and always striving to improve. Wanting to continuously climb up that hill of progression. I knew right then and there, that CrossFit was right for me.

Walking into my gymnastics competitions, I would always say to myself “Breathe. Do your best. Give it your all and do not waiver. You have worked hard for this and will continue to work hard for this.” I now walk onto the floor at CrossFit and find myself thinking the same thing before I start my WOD.

Since walking through the doors of CFPT, I have accomplished things I never thought possible, improved my quality of life, and found an outlet to unleash my inner athlete again. I truly look forward to helping others obtain their “unobtainable” goals and live a healthier life through the CrossFit program. Seeing others achieve what they never thought would be possible is just as rewarding as achieving a goal I have set individually. It’s not just a fitness program, it’s a way to better your life.

Jenny Tribuzio:

Level 1 Coach

I wish I could say I was one of those people who have been athletic my whole life, but that’s not the case. I’ve always been competitive but never quite had the coordination and was often picked last for kickball. When I was 13, I discovered I could run. I could run far, fast and for a very long time. I discovered my passion for fitness and it felt good to have a fitness related hobby that I was actually pretty good at. I was on the varsity track and cross country teams for four years and actually helped to win a state title. I was a running machine.

Sadly, I was a running machine with some bad parts and after 5 years of competitive running, I was told to stop due to not one, but two bad knees. In college, I worked out at the gym and ran a mile here or there and my metabolism took care of the rest. After college, I struggled to find a fitness regimen and my metabolism decided it had put up with enough. I joined and quit several big chain gyms and even hired a trainer at one point. Nothing kept my interest and fitness was yet another chore in my life rather than a joy.

After I got engaged and realized I not only had a dress to fit into, but a week in Hawaii that I wanted to take full advantage of, my husband (fiancé at the time) heard about Crossfit from his Jujitsu buddies. We came to CFPT together the Friday before the opening. After 5 minutes, I needed to take a breather outside and turned a little green. I went back in. Another 5 minutes and I was done. That was it, I was hooked! I knew when I couldn’t walk the next two days that Crossfit was for me and I was about to go on the most amazing personal fitness journey imaginable.

Along the way I have improved mental focus, greatly changed the fuel I put into my body, I sleep better, I look better, I feel better and most amazingly to me…I have gained some coordination! The impossible is possible. For me, Crossfit isn’t just a fitness program or regimen. It’s an improved way of life. It’s getting back to the basics and challenging myself every day. I know that there will never be a day like the one before. There will always be more weight, more reps, more rounds, better time, better nutrition or perfect form to go after. It’s definitely a journey of self discovery and with the family I’ve found at Crossfit Peachtree, I’ve found I like myself inside and out much more than I ever thought possible.

Taylor Smith:

Level 1 Coach

taylor smith I am your typical mid 20’s, run of the mill kind of guy. I crave junk food 24/7, love to watch football, and have a competitive side that would rival only crazy people. I’ve always found ways to stay active, getting into just about any and every sport, primarily tennis is which I played all the way through the collegiate level.

After college I fell in the “9 to 5” routine and became a bicep curling, tricep pressing, globo gym rat who had literally stopped exercising. I was so fed up and unsatisfied with my workouts and the lack of results; In other words, I hit “the wall”. By the grace of god, my gym at the time closed down and I was forced to find something new. CrossFit changed my view of what REAL fitness is and I have never looked back. I believe that my dedication to the sport of CrossFit has allowed me to develop the skills necessary to teach you how to become the fittest “you”…

Lisa Bond:

Level 1 Coach, Nutrition Certified, + CrossFit Nutrition Certified + Movement & Mobility Certified

I wasn’t your typical athlete. I grew up a complete girly girl, played no sports growing up…my hobby was shopping. That all changed at 18 when my best friend Hippy Mike took me camping, from then on I was hooked on adventure. I started by spending the summer backpacking and hiking through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Muir Valley, and the Tetons. Soon after I moved to a little town called Crested Butte, Co in the middle of the rockies and spent my free time snowboarding and mountain biking. After shattering both my wrists snowboarding, I decided returned to Georgia to get my nursing degree and of course cause more injury to myself by pursuing rock climbing. I spent every waking hour at the climbing gym, and outside. Bouldering in places like Alabama, to lead climbing in the Red River Gorge, Ky, and my biggest accomplishment of aid climbing up the side of West face leaning tower in Yosemite National Park, a 700 foot 2-day climb. It was out on this trip to Yosemite 4 years ago that I first heard about this mystical sport called “CrossFit” from the local Cali climbers. I looked into it when I got back to Atlanta, but being a nursing student I couldn’t afford it and attempted to do a few routines at my local climbing gym. Of course not knowing what half the crap meant, I gave it a rest. Soon after, I took on jiu jitsu and broke a hand yet again. While on the sidelines healing up from this injury, bored with nothing to do, I started working on my squat at a CrossFit gym where a friend coached. Soon enough, I too drank the Kool-Aid and became a CrossFit addict and am excited to help you drink the Kool-Aid too!

Veronica Case:

Level 1 Coach

I have always been active, spending much of my adult life distance running. After 10 years of it and after running a marathon, I came to the realization that I was not getting the results I once was and began searching for an alternative. I had never been a fan of the globo gym, but I joined one yet again and boredom ensued. A friend suggested I try CrossFit in 2007. I took her up on the offer, and after my first WOD, I knew I had discovered something special (even though I could barely walk for three days)! Two years later and completely hooked, I am in the best shape of my life! I look forward to sharing the benefits and rewards of CrossFit with others!