March 2026 Member of the Month: Bob Horan

When Bob Horan walked into Kanna in March 2024, he’ll admit he was intimidated. Barbells? CrossFit? He had plenty of preconceived notions about what that world might look like, and none of them felt like a good fit. But his college buddy (Marc Buono) is a very effective peer pressurer, and what Marc described about Kanna didn’t match any of those stereotypes. So Bob decided to give it a shot.

Two years later, Bob is celebrating his anniversary as our March Member of the Month. As a consistent fixture in our mid-morning classes, Bob has shown up with grit and patience, even while working through a recent leg strain. He seeks out coaching, puts in the work on heavy squats and deadlifts, and somehow manages not to take himself too seriously. Just ask anyone who has seen his Intramural Open costumes or whiteboard art.

What started as two workouts a week has turned into three. What began as intimidation has become steady progress, PRs, and a newfound appreciation for movements he once avoided. For Bob, it’s not about any single lift. It’s about showing up consistently, getting stronger, and being a better version of himself for his kids and his life.

Check out Bob’s bio to learn more about his journey from beer pong champion to barbell lifter, his fun fact about meeting one of the most famous couples in the world, and his one request for his Member of the Month workout: please, no wall balls.

Name

Bob Horan

Occupation

Marketing and brand creative at a SaaS company

When did you start at Kanna?

March 2024

What are your favorite numbers and why?

I’ve always liked the number 14 — no real reason, it just feels right. In the gym, I’m drawn to single max lifts.

What movements do you like?

I like box jumps (within reason) and rope climbs are fun. Heavy squats and deadlifts are my comfort zone. I was intimidated by cleans at first but I’m starting to enjoy them. I prefer heavy, low-rep strength work over long cycular workouts. Conditioning is my biggest weakness — I’m not a runner, but I do like short sprints. If I’m doing cardio, I’ll take the bike.

What movements do you dislike?

Wall balls and thrusters are at the top of the list. I also hate long runs — though I wish I didn’t. Burpees and I have a complicated relationship. I used to hate them more, and as I’ve gotten stronger they’ve become slightly more tolerable…but we’re far from friends.

What sports or fitness things did you do before Kanna?

I played baseball and soccer growing up. In college, my focus shifted more toward sports like beer pong and flip cup. In my 20s I played in a few adult coed soccer leagues — more social than competitive. I’ve always liked biking and used to bike commute in the city. I still love long rides, even if I don’t do them much anymore. The past few years I’ve been trying to improve at golf. I’ve definitely gotten better. I’m also definitely still not good.

How did you find Kanna? How did you feel when you first walked in?

Marc Buono is my buddy from college and he is a very effective peer pressurer, so checking out Kanna was probably inevitable once he joined. With that said, I was very much so intimidated by barbells and CrossFit in general. I’d never really lifted heavy before, and I had plenty of preconceived ideas about what a CrossFit gym might be like. But none of that matched how Marc described Kanna. What he described sounded like a good fit, so I decided to give it a shot.

What’s your “why” for working out? 

My kids are a big part of it. I want to be able to lift them for as long as I can. But once I built the habit, I realized working out just makes me better. In my body, in my head, and as a parent. It carries into everything else.

What’s your favorite thing about Kanna?

I love the functional focus of the workouts, but also how accessible everything is at different levels. It feels like there’s always a clear path for growth if that’s what you want. The overall attitude of the coaches and members is what really stands out, though. It’s not bro-y or cliquey. It’s just real people. I never feel too young or too old or too inexperienced or too different. Just welcomed. And stronger.

What are your hobbies?

Mostly dad life. I try to squeeze in books when I can, catch a Phillies game here and there, and if you twist my arm enough, I might do a karaoke song.

What’s something most people don’t know about you or a fun fact?

I once met Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

What PRs or accomplishments (fitness-related) are you most proud of?

Every PR and new movement unlocked feels great, but I’m most proud of the consistency. Going from two days a week to three days a week this year felt like a real shift. The steady progress means more to me than any single lift.

What’s on your fitness bucket list?

Longevity is the real goal. I want to keep getting stronger and stay healthy for the long haul. More PRs and new skills would be great along the way. Maybe I’ll even learn to tolerate running someday. But I have PLENTY of room to grow, so I’m not too worried about what’s next.

What’s on your general bucket list?

See my kids grow up.

What advice do you have for people new to Kanna?

Show up, be consistent, ask questions, and don’t worry about being judged. Everyone’s genuinely just rooting for you. We’re all just getting stronger together.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

Please don’t put wall balls in my MOTM workout. *Kanna Clap*

Kanna members: The MOTM custom workout date is TBD

How does one become Member of the Month? By embodying the Kanna ideals of Learning, Working Hard, and Having Fun. By contributing to the community and supporting others in and out of the workout. By being open to coaching and improving oneself for the sake of being better, not to “win” the workout. By just generally being a good person and having a positive attitude. And a lot more, but you get the idea!