WOD:
4 Rounds each for time:
40yd Shuttle Run x 4
15 Box Jumps 24"/20"
15 Kb Swings 70#/44#
Rest 3:00 minutes between rounds
I often find myself thinking why are we all so obsessed with CrossFit? I have met so many of my great friends through this gym alone and to tell you the truth, I know more about their PR's and benchmark numbers then I know about what they do for a living! I may not know what they do outside of the box but I have seen them scream, cry, laugh and bleed inside these walls and for that I know them all so very well.
Have you found yourself in situations time and time again talking about CrossFit and wondering how the conversation even started? I have even tried not bringing CrossFit up at all and even with all the effort soon enough we are talking about it and I'm cool with it. What is the charm of CrossFit and why is it so consuming? I am constantly thinking and talking about CrossFit despite the fact that I have a very full life outside of the box. Obviously it is something of great size that allows it to be such a presence in our lives.
Maybe its because Crossfitting with intensity and consistency requires a huge emotional commitment and for most of us it is too big of a commitment to take on casually. It continually makes us vulnerable and pushes us past our levels of comfort. We are always thinking of ways to be more "fit" or better at certain movements that we adopt new healthier eating and sleeping habits. It gets our competitive needs and wants met through daily competition and events. It allows us to set goals for ourselves bigger than we ever thought imaginable and it gives us confidence not only in our bodies but our capabilities. That my friend is not for the light hearted.
We might just be able to dream bigger dreams and become more self assured individuals. So my question is, why wouldn't we talk about CrossFit all the time?
Roger Salameh
Awesome Pic! Even better post Brooke!
Jennifer R.
“Something of great size” indeed, Brooke. Lovely photo (really, that needs to be published elsewhere too–more people need to see it) and lovelier post: genuine, graceful, and strong.
Roger Salameh
What’s wrong with this picture?
http://crossfitexcel.com/Masters/?p=386
Liz
Damn I want an ass like that.. Just saying…
Thanks Brooke for the post you are such a great asset to the gym…
Sabrina
Well said, Brooke!
Cherie
Nice post Brooke! Although Justin does an amazing job with these, its really great to hear what you, Trav and Lene have to say. Thank you!
I’ll go next…
Hi. My name is Cherie and I am a CrossFit addict. I have been coming to this group for 2 years, 6 months, and 3 days. The first words out of my mouth almost every morning is “what’s the WOD?”. I have the CrossFit blog up on my 2nd screen while I work and refresh 20+ times a day. I often find myself daydreaming about muscle ups or stupid human tricks. I pray to the CrossFit Goddesses Fran, Cindy and Helen. When I miss consecutive WOD’s I go into withdrawals. I’m just as obsessed with tracking my progress of WODs, food, weight, sleep and stretching. Of the 2 years, 6 months and 3 days, I know what day of the week I perform my best, what week of the month and what month of the year. I have to hide my addiction from my family as they have expressed concern. My husband is of no help as he too has this addiction. I have no desire for a cure.
And I think the above picture should be framed.
Crystal B.
CrossFit isn’t just a gym, it becomes a lifestyle! Great post Brooke!
Sean T.
Fantastic post! Kudos to you all for the great reading material you provide day in and day out. Keep it coming!
Justin Riley
Brooke, great post. Why are we all so obsessed? I think it’s because CF makes us all want to strive to do our best. This stimulus then transcends our workouts and infiltrates the rest of our lives. At the end of the day our new found confidence and determination stems from a gym, a community of like-minded individuals, and the satisfaction from realizing physical goals.
Roger. Ha! I saw that picture yesterday and had to slap my own hand from leaving a comment on the masters site. When the arms bend, the power ends! That buffalo should be able to hoist over 3 bills. 225 will probably be the limit until he learns the proper technique.
Ron Gates
Thanks Brookie, you add a great deal to our crossfit experience. You have helped me through a lot difficult workouts by just being the same Brooke day in and day out. Excellence is clearly your standard. Your Pal T-REX
Ashley D
Great post Brooke. In the gym and on the blog, inspirational as always; I to feel feel proud, not ashamed, of my obsession. I’ve only scratched the surface in 6 months, but can already say that CrossFit/CFES has not only brought my fitness to a level I never imagined possible, but also my mental preparedness for any challenge life throws my way.
Crossfit develops strength, mental and physical, and the coaches and members of this community do a phenomenal job at pushing and supporting when it feels like that strength is waning.
Thanks Brooke and the whole CFES fam!
brother mike
Roger- besides the early arm pull, the problem with that picture is that he is Scottish and his tribal tattoos all over his back lookin’ bro (Mack Lethal song reference).
Good post Brooke. Look at envirnments differently lately, wondering whether that branch or water pipe would make a good pull up bar, guess the height of objects for a box jump, etc.
So we had Trav, Chris and Brooke do posts, when will we get the Big Rob blog?
Matt P
Justin- we need a Team Bio for the Open. It’s blank. I think we should open it up to the creative crew here and see what kind of bio we can get in 100 characters or less (that limit is set for everyone whose name rhymes with “Rother Ike”).
Broke- well said.
Liz- well said.
Roger Salameh
One thing I will say about CF is that it brings a great vulnerability but at the same time strength. It’s a weird cycle because in most places and situations most people do not want to be that open or vulnerable, but the CF community provides a forum for people to be honest an exposed and in turn we grow from that experience.
Ashley D
Question on the Push Jerks from yesterday:
what tips do ya’ll have for making the negatives feel less painful? I feel like I didn’t lift to my potential because I was intimidated to bring the weight down to my shoulders afterward.
Advice greatly appreciated.
brother mike
Any bio for the open should contain no less than three (3) Charlie Sheen quotes or paraphrases. For example:
This group of warlocks was formed in the cauldron of awesomeness that is CFES. They do not simply cook paleo, they will it.
Sean V.
My addiction to CrossFit is so overwhelming, it ended my last relationship… What a relief, now I have no one to nag at me about my obsession. CrossFit, it is now you that is my love… Never let go, CrossFit… Never let go…
Scott Charles
Well Brooke, nice post. I admit that CF has become the highlight of my day. Vulnerable? Sure, but I’d rather be last at CF then first at nothing. Thanks for helping me get through On Ramp.
Justin: HA! I stopped reading after Roger’s post so I could study the picture before the answer got posted. Took me a few minutes. Most common problem — early arms! Travis talked about it the other day.
Cheers!
Edgar
Great post Brooke! Puts things in perspective. The thing I appreciate most about CF is that there is never a workout that I am not at least somewhat intimidated by! Sounds weird to say, but it is that bit of fear that I actually learned to love. Conquering that bit of apprehension prior to a big lift or a tough WOD is the daily battle.
I guess when you do one of these workouts (especially at 6am), it makes most of the other daily challenges look pale in comparision.
Edgar
BTW, Travis- I finally read your Sunday post (sorry-I was up in the mountains this weekend).
I usually pride my self on not being “that guy”. I dont have much shame in almost being outlifted by some of the elite females in some of our classes.
Having said that, I had no business picking up that 70# kettlebell this morning. Haha. I am glad you called me out or I would been experiencing a little more than fear during that workout!
Harlan Karnofsky
Brooke, you are a great ass-ette to the gym.
Harlan Karnofsky
Seriously, you are an excellent coach who knows her shit, and is as foul mouthed as the rest of us, I always look forward to doing work @ CFES
John Carey
Right on great post Brooke. It makes me reflect on what Travis wrote the other day, in that it is possible to get too-keen too-early on the way towards excellence in this sport. So while I agree CrossFit is uber-exciting and it’s one of my favorite subjects (even on hiatus from the box), for a newbie like me it’s kind of like chewing with my mouth full. Or perhaps not chewing the food well enough, overworking the digestive system, and then farting out the gas caused partially digested thoughts/knowledge about what CrossFit is. Does this analogy make sense!? Lol.
All I’m trying to say is that there’s virtue in NOT talking about CrossFit all the time for newcomers like myself, and to focus more on learning the ropes and doing the work… so that when we finally speak up, it comes from experience and not having read every article on CrossFit journal (just got my subscription — information junkie!!)
Olga B
Brooke, amen…
If only after 1 hour with Travis my staff is showing their families how to do proper squats and push ups and overall feel inspired to exercise, then what is there to say for the rest of us. I only pray that I am able to do Crossfit for the rest of my life.
I know why it’s an addiction for so many. Because the moment after I think I am going to die I feel the most alive. Everyone who’s been through this gets it.
Justin Riley
Matt, I have scoured the site and cannot find where to upload team photos or bios. I figured they just hadn’t gotten that far and were already slammed with email questions, so I refrained from bugging the CF Gods on the issue. Maybe it’s time for an email.
Ash, lowering the weight sucks, but it is part of the exercise on 5 or 3 rep sets. Having a solid front rack really helps. You want to absorb the force into your shoulders. You kind of lower the weight half way under tension, then its a controlled drop onto the shoulders and a little knee bend to absorb the shock. Its crucial to maintain control of your breathing and midsection activation when receiving the bar on your body from overhead. It’s also one of those things you just get good at with practice, but no matter how good you get, it still is going to suck.
Tashnelson
Today I also read this quote “Curiosity becomes interest, interest becomes hobby, hobby becomes passion, passion becomes life’s work and even spiritual pursuit – the stuff of the heart.” I think all of us blogging today may go through this cycle at CFES. Brooke and the other trainers are now on “life’s work”, and I fully support that since she is an inspiration. Great pic.
Hollis
Can you feel the love? Nice job Brooke!
I obviously love this place or I wouldn’t keep coming back, or telling everyone and there mother about it. And my mother. I do find much of my day is consumed by either thinking about it, refreshing the blog, checking BTW to get an indication of how much slower on the WOD I can go than everyone else, yapping about it to my boyfriend for the rest of the night, thinking about what Tomorrow’s WOD will be as I try to sleep, then waking up in the morning and the very first thing checking the WOD before I even get out of bed or open my right eye (seriously, I read the blog with only one eye in the morning because the other one is still sleeping). Then I repeat it all over again. And I love it!
Matt P
First, dearest apologies for my Brooke/Broke typo above.
B: Justin, I assumed that you could add a pic and bio for the team when you log in as the team (and not as the individual).
Penultimately: “Team CFES, AKA “the 24th (make that 23rd) Fittest Team on the Planet” returns to dominate all comers in the NorCal Region in 2011. Excellence is Earned.”
Further: Super Jacked about The Open.
brother mike
Hollis, why isn’t your mother a member? Mine is.
Speaking of BTWB- there are 8 posts for the WOD today and I know at least 10 people did that WOD at 6 am (I am betting another 20+ did the WOD at 8 am and noon). It would be nice if we could all sign up for it. Including Travis and Justin. Trav- it might be easier for people to ‘not be that guy’ when they see that their Rx time is triple the time of the guy the WOD was designed for- or even better, us mere mortals can get a little friendly competition with Travis on the rower . . .
angela
Hey Brooke, I forgot to tell you today that I love the above picture! I nominate you CFES Sweetheart (think we are supposed to have a party in your honor). Bikers and Babes or Italian Wedding? I don’t know why those themes are coming to mind.
Carol Penney
Brooke – Fabulous picture and post! I’ll be honest, I get a high from CrossFit. Endorphins, seratonin, make me happy, best drugs ever, from someone who never worked out of their comfort zone, except maybe I hated being bored to death, and always shied away from competition even from a board game much less an athletic competition.
cort
Matt P – the team bio should be a link to a CF in the future episode… get on it! 🙂
Eileen
Absolutely beautiful, Brooke – the picture and the post!