A huge congratulations to our December 2025 Athlete of the Month, Fred Gutierrez! Way to go Fred!
Fred has seen Tradewinds grow throughout the years and vice versa! He always brings strong positive energy into any space he enters and a willingness to challenge himself. Fred is an impressive athlete for many reasons but especially as of lately his commitment to consistency has stood out to us. Whether it is 5:30am, 11:30am or 5pm, Fred is in the gym getting his workouts done. He displays a level of discipline towards fitting his fitness in around his schedule that is both impressive and admirable. We also always appreciate Fred’s kind nature and amusing sense of humor in any class and appreciate what he brings to our community more than anything. Thank you for your dedication Fred- you deserve this!
TW: Where are you from?
Fred: I grew up in Gainesville, Florida, and moved to Boston to go to school at MIT in 1994 with my partner Stephanie. I studied architecture there.
TW:What do you do for work?
Fred:I’m a licensed architect, but I’ve been working as a construction manager and builder for most of my career. Currently, I consult with owners helping them build, and my new passion is building saunas. If anybody’s building a home, I have a podcast for owners on how they should work with architects and builders to make the process tolerable, if not pleasant.
TW:How long have you been at TradeWinds?
Fred:I was originally at Trade Winds pre-COVID, then during COVID I dropped off. I signed back up once after COVID, but that fell off due to a hernia. I recently signed up again about six months ago and have been loving it.
TW:What classes do you usually attend?
Fred:I try to mix it up—I’m kind of all over the place. The funny thing is I am super consistent at inconsistency.
TW:If you could program your own dream WOD, what would it be?
Fred:If I knew what WOD was, I might have an idea. I may have to look that up.
OK, I looked up WOD, so my workout of the day: I like the EMOM format, and I typically like lift days, but I don’t mind slipping in a little bit of movement like the rowing machine, jump ropes, etc. I’d like to see some more upper body—I could swap that for some of these squats and lunges—but I know those are good for me in the long run. I’m gonna trust the pros with scheduling the WODs and try not to complain when there’s a burpee.
TW:What would your dream meal be?
Fred:I usually like a kale Caesar salad with ahi tuna cooked medium rare. That’s a nice meal.
TW:What’s your proudest accomplishment since joining TradeWinds?
Fred:Well, I’m looking forward to doing a pull-up, so I’m holding out for that to be my proudest accomplishment.
TW:How has TradeWinds helped you in everyday life?
Fred:In general, going to the gym just makes me sleep better, feel better, and eat better. It’s pretty simple.
TW:What do you do outside of the gym?
Fred:I like to walk my dogs on the beach in the morning. I like to play pickleball. I like the cold plunge with the shivers, please come out and join us. I have a house in western Massachusetts that I like to work on—it’s actually part of a wedding venue complex. If anybody’s looking to get married, it’s a wonderful area and place. It’s in Ashfield, and the wedding venue is called Gloriosia. Yep
TW:What’s one thing you’d tell someone who is curious about trying TradeWinds but not sure if they could do it?
Fred: It’s hard not to imagine being able to do TradeWinds—it’s such a supportive environment. I guess I’d tell the story that working out with others is the key to success, and the community is really rewarding to be a part of.
AOM Closing Thoughts…
I’ve been on and off with Trade Winds since 2019. Back when I first started, Trade Winds was more aligned with CrossFit, and I believe the exercise was, in my opinion, a little more aggressive. Though the community was great, the workout was maybe set up for a younger crowd than I was. However, they were very responsive to helping me whenever I needed it.
The owners would have to confirm this—Andrew and Mary—but CrossFit had some issues, so they chose to move away from that organization and start something fresh. This new approach I find far better and aligned with healthy exercise and longevity.
I’ve realized that asking for help or alternate exercises when your body’s just not inclined to do what’s scheduled has been well received and supported. I would recommend everyone speak up about how they’re feeling, and the staff at Trade Winds is super helpful in finding alternative exercises.
I’m really enjoying the community and the exercise, and I’m feeling really good about my health with Trade Winds’ support. Thank you all for your help.
