Coaches
Joe “500 Anything for Time” Talmadge
Coach
Keeping fitness in the family for over 20 years, Joe Talmadge has been in the fitness business his entire life. The Talmage family has owned and operated World Gym, the home of CrossFit Potrero Hill, since 1989. As the son of an amateur bodybuilder and gymnast, Joe’s knowledge of nutrition and committed training gave him accomplishments in running, lacrosse and football. After organized sports Joe practiced a fitness regimen that would seemingly optimize “functional fitness” with a combination of track, plyometrics, resistance training and yoga. Joe thought he was “fit” until he was finally introduced to CrossFit by a friend in the San Francisco Police Department, the introductory workout he was challenged to was called “Murph.” (run a mile, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, run a mile) Joe recorded a time of 1 Hr. and 4 minutes and felt awakened when comparing his effort to others’ 28 minute efforts. Immediately, he started a new quest to understand the science that resulted in such superior performance.
The answer, CrossFit.
Since then, Joe has been committed to Crossfit and it’s application to sport, competition and life. He has a Level 1 CrossFit Certification. Outside of CrossFit, Joe is a commercial insurance broker, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and likes to cook for them. He surfs, hikes and welcomes any other outdoor adventure. He believes in a balanced life, physically, socially, spiritually, mentally and professionally, and works to apply the principles of optimum fitness to daily living.
David “D-Train” Tran
Coach
D-Train comes to CFPH from the south bay and formerly trained with Austin Begiebing who also coached 2008 Crossfit Games champion Jason Khalipa. In between exercising his mental game with Jedi mind tricks David also uses his super human strength to fight city crime in his spare time. For breakfast David eats burning hot coals to work on his jaw strength and then builds shelters for homeless families — daily.
David is most famous for lifting heavier things than you. All of you.
Regardless of when you read this message, David is breaking a PR.
Marvin “The Enforcer” Lam
Coach
Marvin is just an average guy with a huge chip on his shoulder. Having been raised by a former naval officer he is accustomed to kneeling on cold marble floors for hours on end and cleaning kitchen floors with his toothbrush. His mantra is “You’ll never be the best” as was told to him by his father. A true sop story turned American crossfit dream. An obsession to become the best is what drives this all around nice guy.
Marvin is currently on the brink of becoming an above average athlete. He’ll soon be squatting bodyweight and could quite possibly achieve the ever so elusive 3 unbroken pullups.
His favorite quote is “Lead, follow, or get the f*** out of the way.”
Alexis “Hollywood” Garrod
Coach
Alexis is no cowgirl to joke about. With 15 year experience as an Equestrian Vaulter, she can do handstands on a moving horse — don’t try this at home even if you have a horse (this makes her a great person to get some extra coaching on your handstands). She moved to San Francisco to study exercise science at SFSU, and received her B.S. in Kinesiology in 2010. Also a personal trainer for World Gym, she discovered CrossFit as Eric Wittenberg was erecting the “cage” in the back of the gym. Constantly peering in, and wanting to try, Joe Talmadge took her in and introduced her to her first WOD. Hooked by the high intensity and community aspect, CrossFit makes her happy by feeling as if she is playing a sport and is part of a team again. As our CFPH mission statement states we train to become better at life and this is her motivation to keep pushing and stay CrossFitting!
Certifications:
- World Gym “Elite” Level Personal Trainer
- B.S. Kinesiology
- ACSM Certified
- CrossFit Level 1 (CF- L1)
Leticia “Mighty” Monelli
Coach
Leticia Monelli is a Bay Area native whose athletic drive was sparked at an early age. She participated actively in high school and college sports
and was determined to find a career through which she could capitalize on and continue to develop her passion for health and fitness. In 2008, Leticia discovered CrossFit and was immediately drawn into the community and lifestyle it promotes. She has taken her personal fitness to another level and feels stronger and fitter than she ever has.
Leticia is eager to share her experiences with others and especially enjoys coaching private elements sessions, where she gets to connect individually with, and inspire, newcomers to CrossFit as they prepare for classes. Leticia is CrossFit Level I certified, Movement and Mobility certified and plans on continuing her CrossFit education through increasing levels of certification and by continuing her personal pursuit of being CrossFit.
Chris Monroe
Coach
Born and raised in San Francisco, Chris found solace in athletics from a very early age. In grammar school he excelled in soccer, basketball, and baseball, while remaining active with skateboarding, snowboarding, and mountain biking. In high school his focus shifted primarily to football, lacrosse, and weight training. Then “college” happened. Sports were replaced with television and video games, and nutrition became beer and pizza. The sedentary lifestyle left Chris with a waist that had its own orbit. This went on until he was in his late twenties.
Fat, unmotivated, and approaching thirty, Chris knew he had to change. Taking small steps, he slowly began to improve his life. Lifting weights a few days a week was the first step; then it became five to six days a week. Soon he added cardio to his weight training. The biggest step was a diet change and the reintroduction of mountain biking. The Paleo diet and long rides dropped his weight by 30+ pounds within three months.
However, Chris eventually plateaued with his physical progress. So after months of disregarding the suggestions of Coach Talmadge, he decided to give CrossFit a try. Chris was hooked from day one and has not turned back since.
Chris is a coach who has been there, and who knows what it’s like to be out of shape. He believes that anyone can change his or her life for the better, and making a physical change is one of the most rewarding ways to do so.
Certifications:
- L1 CrossFit certified
- L1 CrossFit Olympic lifting certified
“Pain is weakness leaving the body”
“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”
Alison “That’s Not Paleo” Boden
Nutritionist
Alison isn’t your typical dietitian. After years of believing in the popular low-fat/ high carb lifestyle and even a brief period as a vegan, she realized that this way of eating was not providing ideal health for her or her clients. That’s when she started looking into alternative nutrition theories, and experimenting with her own diet. Through research and personal experience, Alison has found that a Paleo style of eating, focusing on fresh “real food” to be extremely effective at maintaining health and energy.
Alison earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of California, Davis. From there, she studied Nutrition and Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where she earned an MPH along with the credentials to become a registered dietitian. She takes a whole body approach to nutrition counseling, and believes that the foundation for optimal health, healing and fitness begins with a health promoting diet.
In addition to helping people achieve ideal health through dietary changes, she is also skilled in Medical Nutrition Therapy, a therapeutic approach to treating medical conditions and their symptoms through a specially tailored diet. Alison has experience providing nutrition services to acutely ill patients in a hospital in-patient setting, on the state government level in nutrition communications, individual nutrition counseling with adolescents and adults, and designing nutrition classes and outreach programs. She has helped patients and clients through a number of diet related issues from chronic disease management to digestive disorders.
