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Trainers

Founder, Co-Owner and Coach:

Craig McDonald

Craig founded Always Forward CrossFit in late 2009, training friends and family out of his garage. Coaching his aging parents back to health, he began to understand the power of the CrossFit program to change lives by helping people become whole again.  Coaching CrossFit for Craig has always been about this transformation… helping people move forward; showing them what is possible and helping them get there.  If he had a specialty in coaching it would be helping those with special needs and disabilities learn how to move again and be fit. He loves coaching the young, old, new to fitness, and those with impaired mobility.

Training, Teaching and Coaching Experience:

• 14 years of continuous CrossFit training with over thirteen years of CrossFit coaching experience
• Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer (CF-L3)
• CrossFit Kids Trainer
• CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer
• CrossFit Judges Certificate (2017-2022)
• Classroom teacher for 15 years (8th Grade Science! :))
• Awarded Granville Schools prestigious “Salute to Excellence” award for excellence in teaching
• Soccer coach for 10 years; 6 years at the High School level; coached two teams to undefeated seasons. Youth soccer coach.

Craig uses CrossFit as his base training and conditioning system for getting ready for adventures in the mountains!

Athletic Interests

• Extensive endurance sport experience; running at the marathon (Columbus 2000, Earth Day 2007) and ultra-marathon distances (Promise Land 50k++ 2010, 2012, Great Eastern Endurance Run 2010, gravel grinding (cycling) (Gravel Worlds, 2017 {154 gravel miles in a day}, Hilly Billy Roubaix 2015, 2017, Gravel Grovel 2016, Barry Roubaix, 2018), long trail and multi-day hikes and climbs including the John Muir Trail (2008), Presidential Traverse-White Mountains, NH (2010)
• 20 years of Climbing: Bouldering, Sport, Trad, Ice, Mountaineering
  • Summits include towers, volcanos, and alpine peaks in the Cascades, Rockies, Sierras, Appalachians, Coast Range (BC).
• Over 30 years of backcountry experience (backpacking and hiking) in the Cascades, Rockies, Sierras, Appalachians
• Skiing experience (piste and off-piste) in Sierras, Cascades, Appalachians, Rockies

Co-Owner and Coach:

Dennis Kaps

Training, Teaching and Coaching Experience:

• Crossfit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
• 5 Years of experience coaching CrossFit
• Power Lifting Coach, Special Olympics (8 years)
• Regional Competition Judge, 2012 Crossfit Central East Regionals
• Extensive personal training experience across all age groups and abilities
• CrossFit Judge’s Certificate

Athletic Achievements

• Extensive HS and Collegiate Athletic Involvement
• Collegiate Boxing
• Competitive Muay Thai Kickboxing
• College Intramural Bench Press Champion
• First Place, Great Ohioan Triatholon (Age Group)
• Second Place, “Strongest on the hill” Strongman competition (Light Weight Division)
• Wendy’s International Triathlon Finisher
• Tough Mudder, Colorado, Finisher
• 20 years of snowboarding experience including many trips in the rocky mountains

Coach:

Dianne McDonald

Training, Teaching and Coaching Experience

• CrossFit Level One Trainer (CF-L1)
• Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche skills training
• Dublin Coffman Varsity Girls’ Tennis, 3 years

Athletic Achievements

• 1st female overall Oak Openings Stampede, 2016
• 1st female overall Hell Hath No Hurry 30k, 2017
• Promise Land 50k++ 2012, 2015
• Mohican Trifecta (Three races over three days; 4 mi, 25k, half-marathon) 2014 1st place female
• Columbus Marathon 1999
• Tiger Tri(athlon) 2015; 2nd place female age group
• Earthday Marathon, 2007; 3rd female overall
• The Great Eastern Endurance Run 50k; 1st place age group; 4th female overall
• Mountain Climbs: Mount Adams, Mount Shasta, Mount Baker, and Sahale Peak
• Hiked the John Muir Trail from Yosemite to the top of Mount Whitney, CA.
• Traverse of the Presidential Range, NH

Head Coach and Manager:

Traci Palmer

Coach:

John Schroeder

John Schroeder is a Level 1 and L2 Certified Crossfit trainer.

John started Crossfit in early 2011 because he was approaching 40, wanted to get in better physical shape and found the “group workout” setting to be motivating and supportive. He has found all of those and more in Crossfit. “Crossfit has been a life changer. Not only have I completed unimaginable physical challenges but it has really given me the healthy work-life balance that I was lacking. The bonus has been all of the great new friends I have made at Always Forward Crossfit”.

In addition to training and WODing with his wife Zoe and two children (Haley and Tyler) John enjoys playing hockey, traveling and cooking. John’s motto is “I WOD to Eat”.

Training, Teaching, & Coaching Experience:

• Crossfit Level 1 and Level 2 trainer

Coach:

Bill Eggert

Even though his motto was “only run if being chased”, Bill decided in 2010 to make a huge lifestyle change and lost over 50 pounds. He found CrossFit in early 2011 and hasn’t stopped since. The constantly varied workouts and close-knit community made it possible for this “former couch potato” to stay the course and maintain and improve his general physical fitness. He quickly found that he was able to do things in his 40s that he could ever do in his 20s. “CrossFit saved my life”.

When not training or working, Bill enjoys spending time with his wife Maura and his 6 children.

Coach:

Sally Heckman

Sally started CrossFit in August of 2012 and has never looked back.  She went from being in the worst shape of her life to the best, and continues to improve every year.  She loves the competitive nature of the workouts, how she never feels “done”, and the Always Forward community.

She has competed in the CrossFit Open since 2012, and is particularly proud that she continued her CrossFit training throughout her entire third pregnancy.  Sally loves the opportunity to share her passion and knowledge of CrossFit with athletes of all levels, and is a firm believer in the old adage, “You can’t out-train a bad diet.”

Coach:

Kathy Patton

Kathy Patton in (almost) 100 Words: Eats mostly vegetables, but sometimes pizza and tacos. Keeps intake to a level that supports 1 husband, 2 kids, and 2 dogs. Really good at presses, but still needs to practice and train: squatting, deadlifting, cleaning and snatching. Similarly, in love with gymnastics: handstands, cartwheels, rolls with flare-finish, and the occasional round-off. Bikes, runs, swims, and rows long and slow. Enjoys interjecting creativity in the programming, in the playlists, and on your birthday. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts fun and functional. Five o’clock rocks.

• Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer (CF-L3)

Coach:

Amy Albery

Growing up, Amy was active in Cheerleading and Track.  Fitness has always been a focus, but as Amy began having children, she realized she needed to find something that gave her the best results in a condensed time period.  While trying out many different fitness options, Amy found CrossFit.  Since then, she has truly enjoyed the variation of the CrossFit workouts and also enjoyed the community at Always Forward CrossFit. The combination of those two aspects has taken her to places athletically that she never would have imagined she would achieve.

Training, Teaching & Coaching Experience:

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
• Crossfit Gymnastics Trainer
• Cheerleading Coach – Northridge Middle School, 3 years
• Crossfit Judge’s Certificate

Athletic Achievements:

• Former College Cheerleader – Ashland University
• Completed 13 half marathons
• Completed two triathlons
• Placed in numerous CrossFit competitions

Coach:

Megan West

Megan started CrossFit in 2013. After having her second daughter, she was ready to get back in shape, and challenge herself physically again. CrossFit has been a game changer. It checks all the boxes, while having a blast with friends. Helping others and setting a good example for her kids is what it’s all about!

Training, Teaching, & Coaching Experience:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Kids Trainer

Coach:

Tara Lamb

Tara started Crossfit in August 2014 and has been hooked ever since. She loves the wonderful Always Forward community and the amazing workouts. Tara enjoys watching people make the commitment to the training and seeing people’s lives change because of it. She enjoys training others, working out and in her free time trail running, hiking, camping, kayaking, and spending time with her husband, Travis.

Training, Teaching, and Coaching Experience:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Judges Certificate

Athletic Achievements:

• Warrior Dash
• Indian Mud Run
• Rugged Maniac
• Forget the PR 25k
• Conquer The Castle 25k
• Fuzzy Fandango 5k, 9 miler, & 25k
• Mohican Marathon
• Various 5ks & Half Marathon Trail & Road Races
• CrossFit Competitions