Coaches

 

Mike Kelley

Co-Owner/Head Coach

Qualifications
– BS, biological sciences
– Minor in health promotion
– ACE-CPT, 5+ years
– CrossFit Level 1
– CrossFit Kettlebell
– CrossFit Movement and Mobility
- CrossFit Powerlifting
- CrossFit Gymnastics
– USAW Level 1 Sports Performance Coach
– Certified in Kettlebell Pump
- Attended Strength Clinic with Rick Scarpulla of Ultimate Advantage

A Note From Mike
“I moved to the Raleigh area in 2003 to attend college at North Carolina State. I began with a degree in biochemistry hoping to to one day become a doctor. As I progressed through college I changed my focus over to Biology and took on the minor of health promotion. It was still my desire to help others, but I wanted to take a different approach. I believe that proper diet, exercise, and rest is THE BEST preventative medicine out there. CrossFit has changed the way I look at fitness and completely changed the way I train. I have seen some amazing tranformations in my clients through the use of CrossFit and I want to provide the same results to others. It is my passion to help others grab hold of their health and fitness that provoked me to open CrossFit Zeal. I hope that all those reading this will stop in and give us a try, so that you too can experience how great CrossFit truly is.”

Email Coach Mike at mike@crossfitzeal.com

Thomas Lyens

Co-Owner/Coach

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Qualifications
– CrossFit Level 1

I am a co-owner here at CrossFit Zeal along with Mike Kelley. I met Mike almost two years ago while I was working out and he was training a girl in the trainer area of the globo-gym we were at. The young lady was doing walking lunges holding a weighted barbell over her head. She didn’t look big and muscular, just fit and lean. All I could think was that I wish I was that fit. I spoke to Mike that day and started training with him soon after. The methods he used were all based in CrossFit style, even though I didn’t know what that meant yet.

Mike and CrossFit have transformed the way I exercise. I have become much stronger and increased my flexibility also. Mike has a great ability to train athletes of every size and shape. From elite athletes to couch potatoes that are trying to get back into shape. One day, when I heard Mike talking about wanting to open his own CrossFit box, it made me start thinking about the possibility of taking my training and focus to a higher level. I told Mike that I might be interested in helping him finance and run a gym. We started talking about what-if’s and eventually that has developed into a partnership that we are both very excited about.

I have recently retired as an Air Traffic Controller, after 31 years of federal service. In anticipation of that I have been trying to become more fit and healthy over the last few years. I hope this new venture will be just the thing to satisfy that desire while allowing me to share my good fortunes in training with others. Mike and I both have a strong desire to help others achieve their fitness goals and we also believe CrossFit is a great vehicle to use.

Email Coach Tom at tom@crossfitzeal.com

Lauren Gregory

Coach

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Qualifications
– CrossFit Level 1
– Les Mills RPM Certified

I am a reformed group fitness instructor turned CrossFit junkie! I was crazy active as a kid and soccer was my favorite sport. I got to play travel and Olympic Development-level soccer until I tore my ACL and MCL. The rehab after my surgery is when my love affair with working out began. I managed to forgo the Freshman Fifteen in college by following my own programming and teaching spin classes. I quickly fell in love with the intensity of the spin classes and found I truly enjoyed coaching others to attain their personal fitness goals. But doing the same class over and over again was not cutting it.

One day Coach Mike caught me doing bicep curls (a CF no-no), encouraged me to train with him, and led me to the greatest fitness program out there. I was immediately hooked on CrossFit and knew I wanted to coach others to this next level of fitness.  I now have the knowledge, certification, and most importantly, the passion to do just that.  I love what CrossFit has done for me and feel strongly that everyone can benefit from it!  Learning how the body moves and how we can move it more efficiently during each workout is empowering and exciting. If you’ve watched the CrossFit Games and thought ‘no way that’s not for me,’ don’t fret! Number One: We are not world class athletes here! Number Two: Everything we do can be modified based on your ability. If my already-in-great-shape-52-year-old mom can lose 17lbs and transform her body in a matter of months (after much coaxing by me to get her to come because she thought she couldn’t do it), so can you!

All of the coaches at CrossFit Zeal are continuously educated through seminars and trainings because we want to become better athletes in order to make you a better athlete! The community here is unlike any other gym you have gone to. I have made so many friends here and look forward to seeing their smiling faces when I walk through the door (even at 5:45am)! See you all at the box…3, 2, 1, go!

Eric “EJ” Johnson

Coach

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Qualifications
– B.A. Health Communications
– CrossFit Level 1
– NSCA – CSCS
– NASM – CPT
– USSF – National D and C
– OYSAN – Youth Coaching
– NSCAA – State and Regional
– Spinning – Instructor 

“Everyone has an inner athlete with the ability to do great things. With proper training, nutrition and mental strength there comes an individual with endless opportunity. No matter your age, current ability or genetic make-up all of us coaches are here to help you get to where you want to be.”

Eric, most recently a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Princeton University came to North Carolina to serve as a staff coach for Campbell University’s soccer program.

Eric’s coaching background consists of Club, High School and Olympic Development Programs (ODP). Additionally Eric holds 6 nationally recognized soccer licenses including the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National “C” license. His playing background is of Division I college soccer with the University at Buffalo, Professional Development League (PDL) with Kalamazoo Outrage and professionally in the U.S. for Real Salt Lake, in Turkey for Galatasaray and in Bulgaria for Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Other than soccer Eric competed in the following sports, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Track and Field, Boxing and Kickboxing. He was heavily recruited in Football and Track and field. Eric currently competes as a CrossFit Athlete.

Eric’s strength and conditioning/personal training background is with High School, Division 1 collegiate programs as well as a wide variety of individual clients. Currently, he is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), CrossFit Level 1 Certified as well as a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Eric earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo in Health Communications.

Heather “HAUS” Austin

Coach

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Qualifications
– CrossFit Level 1

Bio coming soon.