CrossFit Curious at Midlife – On Ramp Introduction

At the end of my last blog post, I mentioned that I was heading to my local CrossFit box (i.e., gym) to check it out. Yes, I’m familiar with the horror stories: the ridiculous workouts, the crazy injuries, and mid-workout visits from “Pukey the Clown.” Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I’ve been intrigued for a while and finally decided to give it a try.

The CrossFit box closest to me is about a ten-minute drive. It’s in an industrial area of town buried among several warehouse buildings. The entrance is nondescript and hidden in the back of a long driveway. I liked the feel before I even got out of the car.

I loved the inside even more – stripped down, orderly, and geared for hard work, but with a supportive and friendly vibe. I was welcomed by everyone I met, especially the co-owners, who interviewed me carefully to make sure I would be a good fit for the community they worked so hard to create. I appreciated the discernment, as a communal feel of support topped my list of what I was looking for in a new workout regime.

I signed up for a 90-day trial. My five session On-Ramp Introduction on the fundamentals started this week.

For those unfamiliar with CrossFit, here’s a high-level overview:

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that involves high intensity training. It was created in Santa Cruz, California in 1996 by an ex-gymnast turned trainer named Greg Glassman, who wanted to replicate the intensity of gymnastic routines in the gym. There are now over 13,000 CrossFit affiliate boxes around the world.
Workouts span ten fitness domains of: cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.
The workouts are designed to be short and intense, mixing weightlifting, kettlebells, gymnastics, plyometrics, calisthenics, biking and rowing, to name a few.
The load and intensity can be scaled to align with any fitness level but designed to challenge. All workouts are logged to track improvement.
Consistency, variety of movement and diet play important roles in its fitness philosophy.

It’s been said that CrossFit is not for everybody but it’s for anybody. Time will tell if it’s right for me. But I have a pretty good feeling so far. Keep you posted.

Journal Reflections: What physical activity you been scared to try? Is there any true basis behind the fear? How might you take a small step towards it this month?

CrossFit articles can be found at journal.crossfit.com.