CrossFit Zone is a gym that is home to regular people, like you and me. Sure, we all aspire to be true CrossFit “firebreathers”, but really that’s just more of a lofty goal to guide our training. I am 30 years old, have been CrossFitting for a little over a year and a half, have a handful of nagging injuries that always creep up, am a full time student and hold down 2 jobs. Despite my best efforts, I won’t be officially making it to the “firebreather level” any time soon. But I’m OK with that. For those 20 minutes during the daily WOD, I feel that I AM a “firebreather”. I’m pushing very hard. Harder than last time. Faster than last time. Better form than last time. More consecutive reps than last time. When I’m done, and the clock stops, …. I’m back to being plain old me. And I’m okay with that. But that’s not “why” I CrossFit. Why do I CrossFit?
My real reasons are pretty basic, and I’ll bet they are right in line with most other CrossFitter’s “whys”. First, and probably foremost, I CrossFit for health. That may sound obvious, but it goes deeper than that for me. I know that CrossFit has changed my body composition more than anything I’ve ever done in my life. I was fit before…but certainly not like this.
Secondly, I CrossFit because I want to be an example to others. I CrossFit for myself, for my family, for my friends and co-workers, and for complete strangers. As far as I’m concerned, if I can do it, anybody can do it! CrossFit is so completely scalable that nobody is left out because of their abilities.
Third, CrossFit is fun. I mean, really, really FUN. I love the community. I love the workouts. I love the competition. It’s all just good, clean, fun. Sure, laying face down in a puddle of your own sweat praying that you don’t vomit might not sound like fun, but it is. I don’t mean roller-coaster fun, or family-day-at-the-movies fun. It’s the kind of fun you have in competitive sports. The thrill of victory. It’s fun knowing you gave it your all, even if your “all” wasn’t a mind-blowing Fran time. Lastly, and certainly not the most important, I CrossFit because it’s cool. There, I said it! CrossFit is cool. When I Crossfit, I have the sense that I’m doing something out of the ordinary, or cutting edge. Of course doing it because it’s cool is no reason to do anything, but on top of all the right reasons, there IS the coolness. Folks I talk to about CrossFit think I’m crazy at first, but then begin to understand my “whys” and then they think it’s sort of cool, too.
So why do YOU CrossFit? Post your story to the comments, and let’s share our passion for the amazing CrossFit phenomenon!
Today’s Workout:
Buy-In: Tire Flipping Relay
WOD:
Elite – Max double unders in 10 minutes
Zone 3 – Max double unders in 7.5 minutes
Zone 2 – Max single skips in 7.5 minutes
Zone 1 – Max single skips in 5 minutes
Cash-Out: Towel Pullups, alternating grips – 3 sets of 10 reps
Nice blog post Bonez! I’d have to agree with a lot of your reasons… I love pushing my body to the limit and using the physical gifts that I have been given. There’s nothing like competing with oneself or your crossfit buds and seeing who comes out on top. It’s also a great feeling to show up to a workout and see all your friends there and united towards one purpose: increased health and fitness!
really glad I found the Zone and I’m looking forward to what’s coming up down the road 🙂
Nice post Bonesy.
Hmmm, towel pullups after all those double unders? That’s going to be rough. Too bad I have to miss this one. I’ll see everyone tomorrow, bright and early.
great post bones!! really like this one!
i have reasons why i crossfit.
most of the zoners know i broke my back in august 2007. two broken transverse processes and a whole load of soft tissue damage. of course i did this falling off my bike (seems like something i am very good at). at the point i did it i was in the best shape of my life. 5’8” 128lbs. recovery was tough, i did well for a couple of months, then in january i reinjured while in hawaii and basically couldn’t do anything for a year or so. i ballooned to 175lb. this wasn’t my major concern. it came last fall when some people from work were at wild play in nanaimo. we were on the ropes course and i couldn’t pull myself up a cargo net. as someone who was a competitive swimmer for 12 yrs, upper body strength was never my problem. it was humbling and a little scary. i started searching for something to get me going, my physio gave me exercises but i have problems with self-motivation. my bros friend was doing crossfit so i searched it out and found the zone-and here i am.
my last, newest and biggest reason for crossfit is that i love it! i love the support of everyone-coaches, other athletes… it is something i look forward to every day and i miss it when i am away. thanks to all of you! crossfit zone rocks!
This is the best post yet, Bones! Great job!
Why do I CrossFit?
I crossfit because it’s hard, because it’s rewarding, because I believe that today’s society is so obsessed with the quick fix and immediate results, that we have forgotten the importance of working hard to achieve our goals. Although the immediate effects associated with crossfit are remarkable, it’s the individuals who stay committed, day in and day out, that really the real benefits. These benefits go beyond the ten elements of fitness. They are more psychological in nature. The bar is constantly set higher and higher, and as you accomplish these seemingly impossible goals, the confidence you have in yourself and in what you are doing grows exponentially.
The best part is that it transfers into the rest of your life. If you can do a “Filthy Fifty”, then putting in that extra hour of work, or studying, or family time seems pretty easy.
The late Jim Valvano said this:
“We all have two options in our lives.
You can get up in the morning and either you’re going to work hard or you’re not going to work hard.
It’s as simple as that.
If you don’t work hard, I guarantee what will happen. We’re going to lose.
If you work hard I can’t guarantee you anything other than that our chances are better.”
And that says it all for me: I choose to get up in the morning and work hard so that my chances are better. Crossfit makes me work hard, it makes my chances better. It is unrelenting and unforgiving…and that is why I CrossFit.
Being relatively new to CrossFit, and Str/Con training in general, I’m finding the challenges and rewards of CrossFit very exciting. For me the experience of a CrossFit workout is very similar to running an ultra or multi day event – they are finished with pure willpower and mental fortitude.
Also having met a few of the other Crossfit Zone members another reason I CrossFit is to find inspiration (and hopefully provide) from you all… I’ve been blown away by the camaraderie and good-natured competitiveness at the Zone – Thank you!
Here’s mine.
I’ve been running seriously for 4 years and have trained up to 100 miles+ (160) per week for races. Running is great but I am a huge believer in strength to weight ratio and I haven’t experienced anything like this before.
Two fantastic Canadian ultra runners, Jen Segger (9th at the toughest ultramarathon in the world – Badwater 135) and Nicola Gildersleeve (national 100k team member) rave about the benefits of Crossfit – and that is what tipped the scales for us contacting Deanna.
I keep saying it but the workouts are addictive. Even if I wasn’t training for races, I’d make it my core workout. All levels of fitness can come out with the Zones ‘Levels’ approach and the Crossfit community is supportive and encouraging.
Awesome stuff, all around.
WOW these are some amazing reasons why people CrossFit!
Why do I CrossFit? Well it starts out from when I first started CF. I used to always focus on my physical body when I was training, I want a 6 pack, I want a 6 pack…. well that never came 🙁
I Didn’t really understand how important all 10 elements of fitness are. I worked out because it made me look good, it was cool and honestly, the guys dug it 😉
Then, I found CF and my training focus changed to more fun goals like trying to do a pullup, a handstand pushup and increase my deadlift. I was so inspired by the girls at CFHQ and what they could do. That is when I became addicted! Then my body, my results, and my attitude changed. The way I look at life has changed. I know how far I can really push my self in the gym and in life.
People really don’t understand when we tell them in the intro that this program and community can change your life for the better, you don’t know it until you try it!
I love CF and I love the community that we have developed. True CrossFitters have an amazing energy and you can feel it when you walk into the gym.
I love CF because it brings together so many people that have the same passion and drive.
Also, I was always into sports when I was younger and through my 20’s I was always having to work evenings and not able to be a part of a team and CF fills that void for me. I am part of a team, I compete daily and have a blast. CF is the Sport of Fitness!
The feeling of pushing yourself to the limit just to get your name number one on the leaderboard and setting the bar is such an amazing feeling 😉
I also love to teach CF so that I can change people’s lives and get them to do things that they never thought possible.
Thanks for being a par to CrossFit Zone, I couldn’t do it without you guys 🙂
Man, we have some great peeps.
Mtrain, waxing lyrical OPT-style with that post. nice one budday.
Good to have some insight from our ultraguys who have done things we can only think about.
B, you rock and it’s always good to see you and pester you in workouts.
And coach D, heart and soul of CFZ, we’d all be lost without ya!
I’m so glad to be able to hear everyone’s stories and have the rare chance to glimpse that unique inner ‘drive’ that brings each one of you out to Crossfit! We’re so lucky to have a bunch of truly dedicated, passionate people at our gym. I count myself lucky to be amongst this crowd! Much love, y’all!
Hey All,
I find the hardest thing about Crossfit is never done in the gym… the most difficult thing… the biggest challenge… the hardest exercise is… explaining Crossfit to a NON Crossfitter.
I know why I CF.
You all know why I CF.
All those reasons stated above and more!
How does one explain to friends and coworkers why one would rub their hands raw trying to do pullups? How does one explain the logic of 150 wall balls for time? How does one explain why it is worth being sore two days after a 6 minute workout?
It is those of us that have actually reached that moment of doubt when lifting a heavy weight over our heads and wondered “oh lord, should I just ditch?”… it is those of us that have thought “I’ve only finished 3 burpees of 21 burpees of 3 sets…I should just quit”… it is those of us that have felt like crying or laughing after a ridiculous workout… that can understand.
It’s nice to know a great group of people who understand why I CF.