FitHAUS Featured Athlete Dean Buckner
For those of you who don’t know Dean Buckner very well, you can come to nearly any class at FitHAUS and find him there. Dean participates in CrossFit, Strength & Conditioning, Yoga & Barre, The Phoenix Minneapolis, and nearly every event FitHAUS is a part of. Aside from being an active member in the FitHAUS community, Dean always makes his fitness/wellness and health a priority of his by dropping in to CrossFit gyms all over the US and Canada as he travels for work.
Dean, we are so excited to celebrate you this month as our February FitHAUS Featured Athlete. Your dedication to being the best version of yourself is evident in everything you do, as an athlete as well as a human being in general. We are so proud of you for all of the goals you have achieved thus far, and there is no doubt, you’ve put in the work to make even more progress in the coming year. Your positive attitude, willingness to try new challenging things and the amount of cheer and support you offer to fellow FitHAUS never goes unnoticed. Thank you for choosing FitHAUS and for being a part of this great community!
“Dean brings hard work and energy to each and every workout. He is always positive adn encouraging to other athletes. Dean is passionate about crossfit and an involved member of our community in and outside of the gym - always in for a friendly competition and always willing to help out with events. Dean is also active in the Phoenix group - it’s awesome to see him there on Sunday mornings working hard and having fun.”—Coach Emily
“Dean is such a positive person and encourages everyone in class. He always makes a point to acknowledge everyone’s hard work by giving them a fist bump in class.”— Coach Kate
Please check out the bio below to learn a little more about your fellow FitHAUS Member Dean Buckner.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself (something that we may not know...kids, job, college, other hobbies or interests, fav vacation spot or movies). It can be all random facts!;)
I am both a Canadian and American Citizen
I am the Director of Quality, Food Safety & Continuous Improvement at Packaging Corporation of America. But I am quitting very soon after 14 years with the company to take some time off and work on some business ideas
Have 2 girls, Stella (10) and Harper (9) that go to Breck. They are both American and Canadian citizens.
I went to Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas for my Bachelors in Entrepreneurship and my M.B.A. a few years later.
I almost bought a Whitewater Rafting Company in Colorado (on the Colorado River) about 15 years ago but wasn't the right business decision
I completed a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in 2005 in Washington state where I didn't shower for 28 days and only saw 5 other people the entire month besides my group.
2. What made you decide to join FitHAUS? What were you doing prior to coming to FH?
Was at MyTown in Medina prior to COVID. Worked out in my garage for a year during COVID and knew I was moving to Wayzata so switched to FitHaus in early 2021. I had heard such amazing things from so many folks ( Kenny Munn especially) that used to be at My Town so had to try it out and haven't left since.
I started CrossFit back when I lived in Cincinnati, OH at Crossfit Ironside back in 2014.
3. What is your favorite thing about FitHAUS?
Definitely the people and that Yoga/Barre are included in my Unlimited membership. Also love that they support The Phoenix as I have been sober for a year now (Feb. 7) and attending the Sunday Phoenix sessions.
4. What are some of the accomplishments related to physical fitness that you are most proud of. Do you have any fitness goals moving forward?
It keeps me motivated to keep working out. I used to travel alot for work and knew I could drop in at any CrossFit box (I have been to at least 50 CrossFit boxes around the US and Canada).
I remember doing Murph my first time in 2016 and did ring rows and knee pushups. I did it in a vest last year which was a huge goal for me.
I did 4 CrossFit competitions in 2021 and had an amazing time with great partners.
My goals for 2022 are a bar muscle up and improving my vested Murph time.
5. How has being physically active bettered your life outside of the gym?
I want to show my kids how important it is to stay active and that it gives me the ability to stay active with and for them.
I have dealt with mental health issues in the past and exercise simply makes me feel better. I have never felt worse after completing a workout, it may not be the most amazing thing while doing it but I always feel better and accomplished afterwards.
6. What is your favorite class or movement/skill? What is your least favorite movement...like the one that causes the biggest eye roll when your coach says we are doing "X" today;)
I am really enjoying the Strength & Conditioning classes.
I am trying to be more positive in 2022 with myself and not say that I don't like anything. So, all movements are great and practice simply makes us better! There are some movements that I "don't like" when they are part of a WOD but I am telling myself to like them and speak positively about them!
7. What advice would you give to someone looking to join FITHAUS?
Just show up and then keep coming. The great thing about FITHAUS and CrossFit is that all ages/levels can workout together through scaling and you only need to compete against yourself.
Thanks for this privilege of sharing my story and thank you for all that the FITHAUS does, it is a magical community and I am glad to be part of it.
Dean Buckner