Athlete Spotlight - Pat Clendenen
"Start small and keep having fun. Try new things until you find the right mix."
If you are a 6am regular or attend a morning Hyrox classes, it is impossible to not know who Pat is. For Pat, fitness has always been part of life. A longtime athlete who played sports through high school and college, Pat understands the value of movement, discipline, and staying active. As Pat and his kids got older, his goals have shifted to focus on maintaining and building strength for overall health and to build a good base for outdoor pursuits.
In 2016, Pat started CrossFit in Boston, and joined CrossFit New Haven when he moved to the area in 2018. He has explored every fitness style from CrossFit to Olympic Weightlifting to Powerlifting and, more recently, Hyrox.
As an attorney, Pat's days can be long and demanding but the gym is a regular part of his daily routine. He was one of the first members at Strength Haven when we opened our doors in 2023, sticking with the crew from CrossFit New Haven and District Athletic Club.
What has kept him here is more than the workouts. Pat describes Strength Haven as a warm, fun, and welcoming place with a diverse community of athletes and coaches. He appreciates the variety of classes, the expertise of the coaching staff, and being surrounded by people who continually challenge themselves both inside and outside the gym. He says, "Many of the athletes and coaches compete, which I admire."
After settling into Powerlifting for the past five years, Pat recently added Personal Training and Hyrox to his routine. The combination of strength work and conditioning has proven to be a sustainable and rewarding balance. Pay also completed his first Hyrox race in Boston last month! He says it was intense but fun!
Through the years, Pat has seen improvements in his overall strength, mobility, health, and mindset. Just as importantly, Pay says he values the fellowship of the athletes and coaches.
His advice for anyone considering taking the first step?
"Start small and keep having fun. Try new things and find the right mix. Prioritize good food, mobility, and rest!"
We're grateful to have Pat as part of the Strength Haven community and can't wait to see what's next on his journey (maybe even showing up to class on time regularly)!
