⭐️ Member Spotlight: Tom Nguyen ⭐️

❓What’s your name and how old are you? 

Thong Nguyen.  I kept the spelling just to honor my family, but I’ve pronounced it Tom since elementary school because people couldn’t pronounce Thong properly.  At work, I write my real name, Thong, but then put Tom in parentheses.  And I turn 54 in April.

❓Married?  Kids?  

I’m married to Khanh, who’s also at the gym.  Three kids, Josiah, Sarah-Joy, and Elijah, ages 24, 21, and 17.  

❓Where did you grow up and what’s your opinion of the place?  

I grew up in SE Portland, right in this area.  I went to Woodstock Elementary, and now I live right across the street from it.  I travel a ton for work, and always love coming back to SE Portland.

❓What do you do for a living?  

I work for Farmers Insurance.  I think my title is Instructional Designer.  Basically, I write training material.

❓Any cool jobs in your past?  

My first career was as a social worker.  I worked with juvenile sex offenders at a place called the Morrison Center here in Portland.  But as soon as we had kids, I decided I needed to get away from that energy.

❓How long have you been a member at the gym?  

Five years, I think.  Three or four months shorter than Khanh.  I joined because of her.  I told her, “If you stick with this from August to December, I’ll join the gym with you.”  And she did.  Thankfully, she did.

❓What class or classes do you usually attend?  

I do the 1:30 and 4:30 Crossfit classes.  Occasionally other classes here and there, even on the weekend.

❓Where in Portland has the best breakfast?  

I’m sorry to all the hipsters out there, but my go-to place is Denny’s.  It’s consistent.  No matter where you are in the world – and I travel a lot – you know what you’re getting.  

❓If I want a great Vietnamese meal, where should I go and what should I order?  

I like a good bowl of pho.  Even though Khanh makes great pho, I will still go to restaurants to see what’s cooking.  I judge Vietnamese restaurants by their pho.  If I were recommending one place, I’d go with Pho Hung.  It’s on Powell and 47^th.  It’s really quality.

❓What’s your favorite workout/movement?  

I’d say back squats are my favorite move.  It’s like the least chance of injury right now.

❓What’s your least favorite workout/movement?  

I hate snatches.  Basically, anything where the weight is above my head with arms extended.

❓What are some things you do in your free time?   

I sleep.  I’m a power napper.  I nap… more days than I don’t nap, that’s for sure.  

❓How long are these naps?  

A nap should be anywhere between two and three hours.  Less than two, you’re cheating yourself.  More than three, that counts as a full night’s sleep.

❓If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

 Flight. I’d fly all the time. I wouldn’t be shy.

❓Where’s your next vacation?  

In April, Khanh and I are going to London, Paris, and Venice. Three nights London, five nights Paris, and three in Venice.

❓What’s your current gym goal?  

Survive the WODs.  Bench 150, deadlift 315, and get 10 consecutive double-unders. Oh, and, of course, be like Tom FS. 

❓What’s your advice for new members of the gym?  

Introduce yourself to everyone and allow yourself to have fun while you’re exercising. You’re here and you’re alive. You’ve already hit my first goal. Lift heavier every week if that’s your goal; otherwise, just keep coming back. It’ll get better and you’re still getting to meet some really good people.