COACHES
GREG RYAN, Owner
Greg received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology. He is a CrossFit Level II Trainer, CrossFit Running and Endurance Trainer, a CrossFit Kids Trainer, CrossFit Barbell Certified, and a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer.
Greg competed athletically at the NCAA level and is now an avid ultra-endurance athlete. Through years of experimenting with different methods he has discovered how the CrossFit program can increase fitness, athleticism and performance regardless of your chosen sport or activity.
As a former federal agent and a current officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Greg understands the requirements of those performing at the elite level. Conversely, he is also a parent of a three-year-old and, with respect to youth fitness, recognizes that developing healthy fitness habits in children starts with fun, encouragement and participation.
DAVE RUBIN, Owner
Dave received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from The George Washington University. He is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USA Weightlifting Club Coach, CrossFit Level I Trainer, CrossFit Kettlebell Trainer, CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified, CrossFit Barbell Certified, and CrossFit Nutrition Certified.
Dave competed on a nationally-ranked co-ed cheerleading squad during college, but has since traded partner stunts and pyramids for cleans, snatches, and pullups….lots and lots of pullups. After nearly 20 years of weight training, CrossFit has showed him what fitness is really all about.
After spending nearly 15 years in the traditional commercial fitness industry in major markets like New York and Washington, DC, 11 of those with the biggest “big box” gym there is, Dave is excited to share his passion for CrossFit and the real fitness it brings to anyone who wants to listen.
ALLISON BETOF
Allison received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell University and is currently pursuing her MD and PhD at Duke University. As an undergraduate, she wrote her honors thesis on the relationship between sport-specific training, balance, and muscle control in athletes. Her PhD research focuses on the effects of exercise on cancer growth and progression.
Allison began gymnastics at age 3, and competed as a Junior Olympic Level 10 and NCAA Division I gymnast. After graduating from college and beginning medical school, she began looking for new athletic challenges. She completed her first marathon (the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco) in October 2008. She has since completed two full marathons and two half marathons. She found CrossFit in March 2009 while training for her first triathlon, after realizing that endurance training had significantly diminished her strength.
After showing up at CrossFit Durham and quickly knocking out some pullups, Allison earned the nickname “KipMaster B”. She drank the CrossFit Kool-Aid on Day 1 and never looked back. She will often be found walking on her hands around the gym, doing burpees in bars, and talking about CrossFit to literally anyone who will listen. After more than 10 years of coaching experience in gymnastics, she is now a Level I certified CrossFit trainer. She is excited about bringing her knowledge of gymnastics movements and love of CrossFit to the awesome community at CrossFit Durham.
PATRICK CURTIS
Patrick received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Washington College. He is a CrossFit Level I trainer, CrossFit Nutrition Certified, and was formerly the lead instructor of a military style bootcamp program in Chicago.
Patrick grew up very active in athletics. He was on a Gymnastics Olympic Development Team until the age of 14, played on State Champion football and lacrosse teams in high school, while also finishing 3rd in the Maryland State Wrestling Championships. In college he played Div. III Lacrosse and upon graduation in 2001, completed United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, graduating #33 out of a class of 250.
While searching for ways to improve his weightlifting and overall fitness, Patrick discovered CrossFit and knew it was the key to continued athletic success. He ambition is to use his knowledge and training to improve the fitness and athleticism of every person at CrossFit Durham.
ASHLEY DENTON
Ashley received her Bachelors of Business Administration and Marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is currently pursuing a Masters of Sports Science in Sports Fitness and Sport Studies. She is a Level I CrossFit Trainer and CrossFit Movement and Mobility certified.
Ashley played basketball and ran track in high school, was the captain of a nationally-ranked NCA all-girls cheerleading squad in college, and has been actively training Muay Thai for over a year. She was introduced to CrossFit in May 2008 and quickly drank the “kool-aid”. She has been promoting CrossFit to her family, friends, and random strangers ever since.
Ashley loves seeing the physical and mental transformation people go through after they start CrossFit. She says, “We often sell ourselves short and convince ourselves that we’re not capable of things. CrossFit changes that….we’re not designed to be fragile beings.”
COURTNEY FAISON
Courtney is a native of North Carolina and a stuntwoman/fight choreographer for film and television. She is a Master of Chinese Goju Karate, in which she holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt, and holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Aikijitsu. She was named the Martial Arts Hall of Fame Outstanding Instructor in 1998 and Woman of the Year in 2005. Courtney is a CrossFit Level I trainer and CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified. She has been a coach/trainer for both fitness and martial arts over the course of ten years in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Courtney was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005.
SHANE FINISON
Shane received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from The Citadel. He is a CrossFit Level I trainer, an active duty U.S. Army Aviator and currently an Army ROTC instructor at Duke University.
In high school, Shane played football, wrestled in the 275 pound weight class and was on the track team, competing in the shotput, discus, pole vault and two mile run. He has completed five marathons and loves pickup basketball games. Shane discovered CrossFit in a military unit, while serving overseas, and was intrigued with the concept of training strength and “cardio” at the same time. Not only did these highly intense measured workouts always challenge him to improve all fitness components, it also enabled him to pursue elite fitness while still having time to devote to family and work.
Shane’s focus as a trainer is to pass on his continuous quest for virtuosity, performing the fundamental movements uncommonly well. He loves the fact that there is always more to learn and improve on with CrossFit, and, most of all, that you have to “bring it” every day.
MITCHELL OSBOURNE
Mitchell is a native of Hickory, North Carolina and a full-time student at UNC Chapel Hill. He is a CrossFit Level I trainer and has been coaching at CrossFit Durham since August 2008. Mitchell competed in the CrossFit Games Midwest Regional Qualifier in April 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. He defines the term “CrossFit Firebreather”.
DR. STEWART PETERS, D.C.
Stew received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from James Madison University in Health Science specifically Rehabilitation Biomechanics and Occupational Therapy. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic for graduate school & is now a Chiropractic Physician and is licensed to practice Physical Therapy in North Carolina. Stew is a CrossFit Level I trainer and has been coaching Kettlebell classes in Chapel Hill for the past year.
Stew served as a U.S. Marine for 8 years where he had his first experience with functional fitness. He competed in and won the 220lb weight class in the Annual Marine Corp Camp Lejeune Power Lifting competition in 1996. Stew uses his Marine and educational experiences, including CrossFit, to hone his own skills in weightlifting, gymnastics, and monostructural exercise as well as coach others with their skills. Stew also has his first degree black belt in Kempo Karate under Professor Martin Buell with Universal Kempo-Karate Schools Hawaii.
