Boom. Here we go. 6pm class is rocking at CrossFit Southie. You’re out there getting your overhead squats ON! And I mean O to the N… ON. Hip crease is below parallel. Chest is up. Arm pits are facing forward. You are straight killing this workout. But do you ever leave the gym and think, what am I really doing here 3-4 times a week, putting myself through such torment. Of course we feel great afterwards. We feel we’ve accomplished some sort of feat. And you should. These workouts are tough. We’ve put ourselves out there at CrossFit Southie, almost like that first date. But the large majority of us are out there working our butts off with the understanding that we’ll probably never be in California in July competing against the likes of the famous CrossFit athletes. That’s fine. Day in and day out, we hit the WODs, we get in better shape, meet new people, learn new skills, and found out how to make those delicious Paleo muffins.
The very foundation of CrossFit is to prepare the human body for the unknown. So I ask you, outside of the WODs at CrossFit Southie, what unknown have you put your body through? Maybe a 5k road race? Tough mudder? Dare I say, our first competition? I will just come right out and say it. CrossFit is a tool to keep us in peak physical shape and we can come in to Southie and see where we stand against that name on the wall, but there’s more to it than that.
In the army we have to take a physical fitness test on an annual basis and for the past several years I have consciously neglected train specifically for that test. I came in to Southie, banged out a few WODs a week and would measure my ability to complete that test against everyone else. Typically I faired well, but it was a testament to the programming and fundamentals of CrossFit.
So what are you saying, Ham? I’m saying, you need to continue to jot down your times and PRs, but let’s find other ways to test ourselves, our intestinal fortitude and our fitness. For those of you in military, police, fire, corrections, and other physically demanding jobs, you probably see the benefits of CrossFit on a day to day basis. I encourage, no…no…I challenge everyone, regardless of occupation, to test yourselves outside of CrossFit. Sign yourself up for a triathlon or a 5k. Start with a game of pickup basketball or join a softball team. We are prepared for the unknown, but what really is that unknown? Coach Glassman encourages us to learn and play new sports, so take that peak physical fitness you have accrued in your time here at CrossFit Southie and test it further. Race your friends in a 5k or a Spartan race. See where you stand against others who aren’t CrossFitting. Then once you smoke them, remind them of all the times you tried to get them to come to CrossFit with you.
Skill
Arm-bar Stretch
WOD
Row 1000m
30 Burpees
30 Kettlebell Swings (2/1.5)
Rest 3 Minutes
Row 750m
25 Burpees
25 Kettlebell Swings
Rest 2 minutes
Row 500m
20 Burpees
20 Kettlebell Swings
Rest 1 minutes
Row 250m
15 Burpees
15 Kettlebell Swings
Level 2 (1.5,1)
Level 1 – (1,0.75)