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Bradley Hilliard

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March 16, 2025

Coach Spotlight: Bradley

I’m beyond excited to officially introduce myself as one of your new coaches! My name is Bradley, and I can’t wait to sweat, struggle, and celebrate all the PRs with you. Before we start throwing barbells around together, I’d love to share a little bit about my journey and what brought me here.

I grew up in Virginia Beach with two younger brothers, and from a young age, I was always moving—whether it was running, playing sports, or just chasing my brothers around. Athletics have always been a huge part of my life, but my interests go far beyond just fitness. I love any board sport—surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding—you name it. Music is also a huge passion of mine; I play the drum kit for my church and even work as a wedding DJ on the side. When I’m not coaching or working out, you can probably find me enjoying a craft beer, sipping on a great cup of coffee, or dominating a game of cornhole (a crucial skill in campus ministry, of course). While I definitely miss living by the ocean, I’ve loved getting into wake surfing and hanging out at Barton Springs here in Austin.

Academically, I studied medicine at the University of Virginia and graduated in 2020. While I initially thought my path would be in the medical field, I felt a strong pull toward ministry and made the decision to step into full-time campus ministry. That season of life taught me so much about community, leadership, and caring for the whole person—values that I now bring into coaching.

How I Found CrossFit

In early high school, I was diagnosed with brain cancer. While that season of life was incredibly challenging, it led me to my faith in Jesus, and I found a strong community through a ministry called Young Life. I’m grateful to say I’ve been fully cancer-free since then, and that experience continues to shape the way I approach life, fitness, and relationships. Through reading the Bible and being mentored in Young Life, I developed a deep passion for discipleship—not just within Young Life but in every area of my life. Walking alongside others in their journey of faith and growth has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

After years of running cross country and track in high school (and logging more miles than I care to count), I was looking for something new. Enter: my brothers. They were captains of the CrossFit team at the U.S. Naval Academy, and I quickly fell in love with the way CrossFit combined strength, endurance, and skill in a way that constantly kept me on my toes. It wasn’t just about getting stronger; it was about pushing limits, embracing the grind, and doing it all alongside an incredible community.

In college, I started diving deeper into lifting and functional fitness, using CrossFit-style training to stay active while also working in campus ministry at the University of Virginia for the past four years. During that time, I saw firsthand how movement, faith, and community could intersect in powerful ways. I believe in caring for the whole person—body, mind, and soul—and I’ve found that CrossFit is about so much more than just physical strength.

Why I Love Coaching

There’s nothing quite like seeing a class come alive—people pushing themselves harder than they thought possible, cheering each other on, and walking away a little stronger (and sweatier) than when they walked in. Coaching isn’t just about cueing movements or programming workouts—it’s about helping people grow, both inside and outside the gym. Whether it’s your first time picking up a barbell or your hundredth time hitting a WOD, I want you to leave each class feeling challenged, encouraged, and ready to tackle whatever life throws your way.

CrossFit is a beautiful blend of grit and joy. It builds confidence, unites people from all walks of life, and teaches us to embrace discomfort because we know that’s where growth happens. One of my biggest dreams is to one day open my own CrossFit box internationally and bring this same sense of strength, resilience, and community to people in another part of the world. But for now, I’m right here, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this Renew family.

So, whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, I can’t wait to meet you, coach you, and celebrate all the small (and big) victories with you. See you on the floor—let’s get after it!

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Sweet & Spicy Korean Turkey Spring Roll Bowls

serving of meat makes 8 servings: Calories — 565⁣ Protein — 40g⁣ Fat — 21g⁣ Carbs — 33g⁣ ⁣ 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐲⁣ 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥: ⁣ ⁣ 3 lbs lean ground turkey⁣ 9 tsp garlic, minced about 9 cloves⁣ 34 cup brown sugar, packed⁣ 34 cup low-sodium soy saucetamaricoconut aminos⁣ 6 tsp sesame oil⁣ 1 tsp ground ginger or 2-3 tsp minced⁣ 1 tsp crushed red pepper⁣ 1 tsp black pepper⁣ Sliced green onions for garnish⁣ 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞⁣ 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥:⁣ ⁣ 10oz bag of shredded cabbage⁣ 10oz bag of julienned carrots⁣ 10oz bag of broccoli slaw⁣ 12oz bag of sea kelp noodles ⁣ 5oz greens of your choice, roughly chopped⁣ 5-10 mini cucumbers, sliced⁣ 1 bunch each of cilantro, mint, and Thai basil, roughly chopped⁣ 13-12 cup peanuts, chopped⁣ Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish⁣ ⁣𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠⁣ 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥:⁣ ⁣ 12 cup olive oil⁣ 6 tbsp rice vinegar⁣ 4 tsp honey ⁣ 2 tsp minced garlic⁣ Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste⁣ ⁣ To prepare: ⁣ — Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.