About Us | Meet Your Coaches

Tom Farrell, Owner/Trainer I have been a certified personal trainer since 2005 when I worked at and managed a gym in Long Island. I really enjoyed helping people work towards their fitness goals and to make a positive change in their lifestyle. My biggest task was to get the point across that fitness is not just something that we do because the calendar reads January 1st. This should be a way of life, not a phase.

I left my job in Long Island to join the New York State Police. I have been a New York State Trooper for 6 years now and I feel like it is extremely important for anyone in law enforcement to have a high level of fitness. I think about the possibility of being in a life and death scenario and the result could come down to my fitness level. This is motivation enough for me to put in the time and effort at the gym. I am also currently a defensive tactics instructor and have been so for 4 years.

This is actually where I was introduced to CrossFit for the first time. Many of the troopers I train with were doing it and I saw how it really benefited them. CrossFit has become the way we train at the academy because of how effective it is. Gone are the days of thousands of push-ups and squat thrusts that lead to over-training and injuries. Using the CrossFit method helps lead us to a higher level of fitness without overtraining.
 
I have my job as a motivating factor regarding my training. Even if I was not in law enforcement I do not think much would change as far as how I workout. A long healthy life where we are free of disease, obesity, tendinitis, and a laundry list of other health issues should be incentive enough for everyone.

I started doing CrossFit a year and a half ago and it has completely changed my training methods and the way I look at fitness. I have been working out since I was 16 years old and have tried every type of routine under the sun. At times I would see results but soon I would start to plateau and become frustrated. This all changed when I started doing CrossFit.

For all of us who do it we know that there is no routine and your body is constantly being shocked which yields great results. The routine helps us avoid becoming bored with the same old pattern of exercises. In a year and a half my strength has gone through the roof, my endurance has greatly improved and my flexibility is to a point that I never thought I could get to.

I decided that I wanted to bring this training methodology to the Kingston area in hopes of helping others gain the benefits I have experienced. There was nothing around and sometimes it is tough to do CrossFit in a gym that is not set up for it. I went to Brooklyn to take the level 1 trainers course in November and have not looked back. I teamed up with Sean and together we are hoping to provide great CrossFit training with a real sense of community among our members.
 

To contact Tom, use the form below

 
 

Sean Weeks, Owner/Trainer   In my earlier years, I was always active. When I was ten years old, I picked up skateboarding. I guess this is where my initial battle with athleticism and coordination started. After suffering a ligament tear in my left ankle, I was forced to slow down a bit.

 
This is when some friends introduced me to freestyle BMX riding. The thrill of going fast and hitting big jumps had me hooked instantly. This is another sport that was both physically demanding and crucial to my early development as an athlete. I continued to ride until my early twenties.

At twenty-three, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. After completing Basic Training, I headed to San Antonio, Texas for Combat Medic School. This is where I was re-introduced to high levels of physical demand and a passion for competition. Following medic school, I was swimming five days a week with other military style fitness occasionally.

At this point, my friend Jeff invited me to tag along to a Crossfit gym he had been training at. Within a few days, I was convinced that this was a training method that could rapidly enhance my fitness and decided to give it a shot.

In January of 2010, I received my Crossfit Level 1 Trainer Certification and in the Fall of that same year I attended the Crossfit Nutrition Certification.

These certifications helped give me the tools to better my health and fitness and eventually present the idea of opening a gym. I have known for the better part of a decade, so it only made sense that Tom and I introduce Crossfit into our community together.
 

To contact Sean, use the form below

 
 

Laura Cadden Farrell, Trainer   I have been a part of CrossFit Ulster since January 2012. CrossFit has changed my lifestyle, which has made me want to share the positive lifestyle change with others. As a child, sports were a big part of my life. In sixth grade I started to play on a travel basketball team in AAU until my senior year of high school, while also playing on the high school basketball and soccer teams. After high school, I played basketball in college. During my time on these teams, there were always practices 5-6 days a week and a lifting program was included in college.

As I look back now, I know my dad and mom would have signed me up for CrossFit Kids in elementary and high school because of the athletic and social benefits.

When I finished college, my workouts consisted of running or walking a mile or two on the treadmill (sometimes) and lifting at the gym. My workouts lasted thirty minutes to two hours depending on how I was feeling that day. Not playing a sport and starting a new career played a role in feeling out of shape.

Since starting CrossFit, I have seen a huge change in how I feel about myself, my motivation, and an improvement in my cardio and strength. After being a part of CrossFit, I do not want to go back to my old workout regime. I was bored and needed a change; CrossFit recharged me.

Another reason why I promote CrossFit is due to the kids program. As a teacher and coach, I’ve seen the importance of being fit and part of a community in our youth. I am a New York State certified teacher in Childhood Education (grades 1-6) and Students with Disabilities (grades 1-6). From 2006-2011, I coached girls’ JV and modified basketball in Kingston and Saugerties.

From teaching and coaching students of different age and ability levels, I have seen the importance of being part of a community. They feel belonging and significance. It is an essential part of their confidence. This is where CrossFit can help kids of all abilities to grow physically, socially, and emotionally.

I am thrilled to be a part of CrossFit Ulster and CrossFit Kids because of the opportunity youth and adults have to create a healthy and fit lifestyle.
 

To contact Laura, use the form below

 
 

Melinda Woolsey, Trainer I have been doing Crossfit for 3 plus years and I’ve been a Crossfit Level 1 trainer since December of 2011. Seeing the benefits that Crossfit gave me and the people around me, I wanted to become a trainer and help others get stronger, better and healthier.

When I was a child, I was active in gymnastics, softball, skiing, swimming and I rode my bike when I wasn’t playing those sports. When I was 12, I was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to stop playing sports and I became very inactive. That set the path for the next 15 years with a lot less activity and a whole bunch of major medical problems.

When I found Crossfit and a healthy diet it changed all of that for me. I became healthier, felt better and got rid of some major medical issues. I want to show people that they can change their lives for the better just by moving and eating healthy. That’s really all it takes!

Crossfit has not only changed my health but I have become very active in it as a sport as well. I have competed in state competitions and I’m always striving to get better. You can always improve yourself and make gains to your fitness or any goal you have in Crossfit.

In that respect, it is a fitness regimen that is always peaking my interest. I continuously set goals and when I reach them, there is no greater feeling. I want to help everyone around me see what they are great at and see what needs improvement in order to be the best that they can be.
 

To contact Melinda, use the form below

 

Grant Weeks, Trainer I have been doing Crossfit for a little over a year now. I received my Crossfit level 1 Certification in May 2012. When I was younger, even though I was active in sports I was overweight. When I joined the military I needed to lose weight so I started going to the gym. Although this worked at the time, I would grow tired of the same routine and lose interest. My brother Sean invited me to tag along and see what Crossfit was all about in May 2011. I was hooked. It was motivating to work out with and be encouraged by others.

The great part about Crossfit is that you are constantly learning new things. Better ways of accomplishing your fitness goals. I finally had the opportunity this year to get my level 1 certification and I hope to continue my education so that I can help not only myself but others reach their health and fitness goals.

 

To contact Grant, use the form below