CrossFit: Where Navy SEALs and Pregnant Soccer Moms Help Each Other Get Ripped – Fast Company, August 2, 2011
Every few weeks, the trainers at Crossfit Minnesota get to talking about the Crossfit Community: How CFMN fits in, is our programming working, where is the community heading. These chats range across a borad range of subjects and recently the topic of culture came up. As CrossFit hits double-digit Twin City affiliates and may approach 3,000 worldwide this year, we wonder if the culture of CrossFit is getting too extreme, too fad-ish. Yes, there are examples of this (vulgar t-shirts slogans, bragging about ripped hands and “Fran” times while bashing every other fitness program). However, the more I think about it, read what Affiliate blogs are saying, and review what other “brands” of fitness are promoting, CrossFit is right where we want it to be: Promoting a life-style of good eating, great exercise, and fun living.
Several of our staff are seasoned competitive athletes who worry about the “sport of fitness” label whereby CrossFit competitions are just about winning at exercise (paraphrasing Kenny Powers here). Whereas CrossFit is one of best, if the best, general conditioning programs for sport in the fitness world today, it is certainly creating a new avenue for athletes to compete. My thoughts are this: I am still a competitor. And I may not be able to compete at the higher levels of my chosen sport (Rugby) any longer. However, fitness competitions allow me the opportunity to commit to a training plan, experience the thrill of competition, and still prepare me to live my daily life as an active husband, father, and friend.
Several great examples of communities that are upholding the many pillars of the CrossFit lifestyle are Sicfit.com, the affiliates of Santa Cruz, CA, home of Crossfit (CF Santa Cruz, CF West, CF Santa Cruz Central), and Crossfit Balboa/SoCal S&C. Each of these affiliates are building great athletes who are going back to compete in their chosen sport: water polo, football, surfing, sailing, endurance sports, weightlifting, etc, as well as creating the next CF Games monsters. These affiliates are building elite communities which will stand the test of any “fitness fad” and remain dedicated devotees of constantly varied high intensity functional movement.
The lesson here is to help any athlete, train for whichever competition he/she chooses to attempt and build a group of like-minded people who will support those endeavors. Check out CrossFit Chronicles “First 50 Days of CrossFit” article.
CrossFit is not just for the elite Games competitor.
It is for the parents who want to downhill ski with their kids for many years to come.
It is for martial artist who needs a good S&C program.
It is for the triathlete who competes for podium-finishes at local races.
It is for the football player preparing for the rigors of the season.
It is for anyone who will make the commitment to themselves to be the best human they want to become.
The values that each CrossFit affiliate uses to forge elite fitness will forge the community they will be proud to call their own.
I am proud to call Crossfit Minnesota and the whole Crossfit movement, my own.
Ryan McDowell
He Went from Flab to Fit – Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 12, 2011
“With a family history of diabetes on both sides, Kevin Oie decided to get fit. He goes to CrossFit three or four times a week and is closing in on benching 300 pounds and deadlifting 470.”
US Army Ranger Chris Giesking has his CrossFit
Mother of four Ame Goldsmith has her CrossFit
Minneapolis SWAT officer Chad Fuchs has his CrossFit
Pregnant Liz Burke has her CrossFit
Triathlete Darcy Franklin has her CrossFit
59 year old artificial hip recipient Terry Gruggen has his CrossFit
Every person has their own reasons for doing CrossFit. It truly is for every individual.
Different athletes….all with the same CrossFit.
