Becoming an elite CrossFitter

This article for Again Faster focuses on how to become an elite athlete. But really, these are all goals for every one who CrossFits to strive toward.

Almost all of this is common sense, really. Clean diet, rest days, decrease stress, sleep enough, etc. Dion has blogged in the past about virtuosity and getting outside of your comfort level before, too.

Virtuosity means making sure you are doing every rep correctly with the right form. This will eventually lead you to better performance. Don’t try to skip virtuosity in your WODs – it makes a huge difference if you are doing every movement correctly! This may mean you have to decrease your weight. THAT IS OK! Unsure if you are not correct on a particular movement? Don’t wait to be told, just ask your trainer – that is what they are there for. They will guide you to perfect form.

Stepping outside of your comfort level quite simply is trying to doing something you couldn’t do before and continuing to work at it until you can. For many beginners, that can be as simple as jumping onto a 12 inch box vs. stepping up. Or it can mean getting your first couple double unders without a break. For more advanced, it can be the holy grail (to many) of CrossFit movements – the muscle up.  Or reaching an elusive PR on an Olympic Lift. The point is, if you don’t step outside your comfort zone, you won’t grow!

The article is a good read, check it out.

 

Why do you CrossFit?

Why I CrossFit…

So today I was totally drained – both body and spirit. I was tired mentally and physically. And it would have been easy to lay on the couch after work and take a nap.

But I knew if I went to CrossFit Lewes, it would be better. I would find a source of energy buried under this load of crap weighing me down right now and it would pull me out of my funk.  I just had to get my butt there.

So I jumped in my car and during the 5-mile drive I was still thinking “I still might not do the WOD. Maybe I’d just stretch a bit and maybe just do some skill work.”  Afterall I was tired. Hell, I ran 4 miles this morning anyway, I should take a break.

But as soon as I walked through the door, my attitude started to change. The earlier class was in the middle of the WOD and as soon as I saw people going for it,  a little spark ignited in me. Hmm, maybe I’d do the WOD after all, but I’d take it easy, maybe scale the weight or do some leisurely squats vs. tearing it up.

Then we started our warmup, and the energy that comes from everyone – our CrossFit Lewes community – really started to kick in. I had found that source of power hidden somewhere inside and it was starting to pump through my body. OK,  I could do this WOD, it might be painful, but I could do it.

And before you know it, it was 3,2,1…GO! And when that happened, nothing else mattered. Just me and the WOD and the clock. And when it was over, it felt pretty damn good. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard and it sucked – but when it was done I was renewed. By the time I left the box,  I was laughing, my blood was pumping and I felt totally awake and ready for the rest of the evening. And I walked into my house later with a smile on my face and in a great mood.

That’s why I CrossFit.

Why do you CrossFit?

 

10 more things!

Ever wonder why these lists are always 10? Seems like a convenient number. Are there never nine or maybe 11?

Here is another one from the folks at Again Faster. My personal fav is #9. Declaring your goals to others. I think that’s a must for anything you want to achieve. If you can’t say it out loud to other people, how do you think you are you gonna make it happen?

 

10 Things

10 things that will happen when you join CrossFit!

WORD! Can you add any others to the list?