Athlete of the Month: April 2015
John "Rowdy" Ruzich
Member Since: May 2011
Occupation: Photographer/Photo Assistant
Web: http://www.johnruzich.com
Rowdy had a quiet start at Windy City, but has evolved into one our community's favorite athletes and personalities. The more we have gotten to know him, the more we have come to realize that he is living a life that exemplifies what it means to live BIG!
"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?" —Steve Jobs
Rowdy: Training at Windy City has made it easier for me to be active in many different aspects of my life. At work, I’m moving around photo equipment all day. I’m able to lift the heavy gear and prevent injury. Because of my training, I’m able to make it through an active work day without being too worn out at the end of it. When I’m traveling, I don’t have to worry about being too out-of-shape to do something adventurous. If we find out about a great hike that’s going to take 6 hours, I know I’m able to do it. I’ve also found ways to really push what I thought were my limits as an athlete. In October I ran my first, but hopefully not my last, marathon. Ultimately, working out at Windy City has lifted restrictions that I’ve either mentally or physically had for myself.
Recent Adventures
In February, I went on a photo excursion with my friend and fellow photographer, Andrew Johnston, to Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and Big Sur. We spent 5 days hiking and taking photos from sunrise to sunset. Last year, my wife and I travelled to Slovenia, Croatia, and Venice. We hiked in the Julian Alps, swam in the Adriatic Sea, and drank espresso. We try to plan trips with a good balance of active time and relaxation time because neither of us is very good at sitting on a beach for too long.
Future Adventures
This summer my wife and I will be traveling to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Personal Goals
At the Gym / Athletics: Participating in the Ragnar Run; Improve my performance in the CrossFit Open next year; Run another marathon
Professional: Continue to build my career as a photographer so I can keep doing what I love to do for as long as possible
Personal: Keep living a happy life by doing everything I can to remain mentally and physically healthy
Words to live by:
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”
—Steve Jobs