200611 - Soapbox Thursday - What is CrossFit?
What is CrossFit?
(as told by a an owner of an affiliate and an athlete of 7 years)
CrossFit is fitness. This form of exercise has humbled and challenged me more than any other activity I’ve ever done. I had run marathons before and 26.2 meant nothing to me if I could lift a moving box or open a stubborn spaghetti sauce jar. I wanted more and CrossFit gave me more. Even after all of this time, I learn and I grow with each WOD. I still get stronger and I PR because it consistently pushes me and meets me where I am.
CrossFit is strength, especially for for women. I no longer ask men to help me carry things or lift something up. My entire life, I believed the falsehood that women were just inherently weaker, that we couldn’t develop the strength to survive without needing men to do the heavy lifting. CrossFit proved me wrong and made me the strong independent woman I am today. Not only that but the grit and mental fortitude created by this type of brutal fitness develops us all into people that can handle so much more out there in life with the will power it gives us.
CrossFit is confidence. My ex-husband believed that CrossFit was a cult. He didn’t believe it was worth while and didn’t believe the muscular body I was developing was attractive. I proved his ass wrong. I grew into a proud person that loved how I looked in the mirror and admired the value it helped me see in myself. I knew I deserved better and with my head held high, I left the man that didn’t accept this gorgeous, determined, confident person CrossFit helped me become.
CrossFit is community. I can’t even remember the countless times my people have gone above and beyond for each other. Raising money, coming to the aid of an emergency, loving on kiddos, emotional support, social outings, accepting each other, helping everyone, loaning one another cars in a pinch, connecting people for new jobs, and bountiful amounts of love. This community may not be as diverse as I would like, but in predominantly white Fort Collins, that’s a challenge but also something that I would love to see change. I know though, that in the depths of my soul, this community has the biggest welcome mat out for EVERYONE. Regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, background, career choice, or experience ANYONE would be welcomed into the Fit Fam with loving open arms and big smiles.
CrossFit is health. I know what we do each day in the gym prevents injuries and sickness out there. Aging and decrepitude is coming for us all and we are building the weapons to fight it off. Healthier bodies make happier lives. It’s beautiful that CrossFit comes in many sizes and no matter what you look like, your goals to do what you want out there and build a healthy, capable body to do so, is the most important part.
CrossFit is fun! There’s a reason we have a beer fridge and why we smile as we’re dying on the ground post workout. While it is type-3 fun, this is fun. We wouldn’t come back each day to have our ass handed to us if it wasn’t. The competitive nature and the community building that comes with suffering together makes it exciting. We work hard so we can play hard. We earn our good times! :)
CrossFit is sanity. I was on multiple medications and seeing my psychiatrist often but after doing CrossFit for over a year, I had stopped taking my pills and minimized my time with my psych. The hour long classes and the brutal workouts gave my brain something else to focus on. It dissolved a lot of the issues I had made bigger in my mind. I keep myself in check by keeping myself doing this sport of fitness. I don’t want to be a zombie on meds, I want to happy on my own and CrossFit has given that to me. I hear all the time that what we do keeps people sane and is the only hour of the day were they find zen.
CrossFit is bigger than us.
I was a young woman in the middle of Kansas and CrossFit changed the entire course of my life for the better. How many amazing humans would I have missed meeting in my life without it? How miserable would I be with my ex had it not pushed me to see who he was and leave? How many thousands of lives has CrossFit reached? How many could still reach? How many owners around the world have built their livelihood on the idea to bring their passion of CrossFit (and everything above) to others?
CrossFit is NOT Greg Glassman.
CrossFit is NOT one man.
CrossFit is NOT defined by him or HQ.
CrossFit will NOT be Dave Castro.
QOTD - What does CrossFit mean to you?
WARM UP - 200m Run
12 Plate Ground to Overhead
12 Around the Worlds
12 Overhead Lunges
MOBILIZE - 4 Stretch Booty Roll
Barbell Delt Roll
COACH PREP - PVC Snatch Prep
- Pass Thrus
- High Pulls (Hang/Floor)
- Behind the Neck Snatch Balance
- Snatch (Hang/Floor)
(Again with EB)
STRENGTH - EMOM 8:
Snatch + Hang Snatch
WOD -
(A: Competitor)
10 Rounds - Wearing a weight Vest
8 Jump Lunges
6 Hand Release Push Ups
4 Hang Snatches 115/75
(B: Performance)
10 Rounds
8 Jump Lunges
6 Hand Release Push Ups
4 Hang Snatches 95/65
(C: Fitness)
10 Rounds
8 Jump Lunges
6 Hand Release Push Ups (from knees)
4 Hang Snatches 75/55