I can't count the number of times somebody has asked me what CrossFit is or what is is about. I could talk all day about CrossFit and what it has done for me, Tony, our family, but, I almost hate this question because I don't think you can explain it and have a person really understand it. I always say, "You have to try it." You have to experience the sense of accomplishment when you have completed a hard workout or when you have moved a crazy amount of weight. You have to experience the sense of community that you will never find at a typical gym. You have to experience the encouragement of your coach especially when he knows just when you need it and what you need to hear. You have to experience your coach never letting you give up even when a skill or workout has reduced you to tears (yes, I speak from experience. . . cleans, rowing, muscle ups and clean and jerks have all made me cry on occasion). You have to experience the mass pain and misery of "Fran". You have to experience the encouragement and cheers from your fellow athletes when you are struggling to finish a workout or when you are pushing yourself to reach a new PR. You have to experience a fellow athlete demolish a benchmark workout or get a PR. You just have to experience CrossFit to understand.
Today I came across a link to Practice CrossFit's website and an entry from June 17. I am borrowing this and reposting here for all to read. Each and every one of these reasons is why I train . . . why I train at CrossFit Flathead.
QUOTED WORD FOR WORD FROM PRACTICE CROSSFIT
-I train in a box. It has walls...sometimes. Sometimes we go outside. Sometimes we meet elsewhere. Its not the location I value, its the people.
-I train in an open space, because bars and my training partners fly everywhere. There is not equipment in the way, only my friends near me as we all struggle together, and are rewarded all the same.
-I train in a warehouse with no air conditioning and big garage doors. If you didn't know where it was, you would never find it. There is no sign outside. The signs of training are all inside, working, or helping one another.
-I train where advertising is sacrilege. I train where I am a walking advertisement.
-I train with people I truly enjoy, and would do anything for, not where I need to put ear phones in to block out all the annoying banter. When we go, we hear yells, trainers instructing, or loud ass music making us go even harder...not elevator bullshit. Real music.
-I train in a place where if I am negative, I will be addressed by at least one person about my stupid ass attitude, and if I am unlucky enough on that day, I may be asked to leave, and come back when Im better, because I am effecting the core by my stupid ass baggage that is meant to be burned at the door.
-I train where if I want to keep my shirt on I can....but there are no rules saying I have to. Where I train if someone disrobes to any level, wears short ass shorts, or is quasi naked after a WOD thats fine...no attention will be paid, because its all about the training, not about meat markets. If you want a pick up joint, look elsewhere.
-I train where Im valued and truly appreciate for showing up and putting forth true, real, demanding effort.
-I train where I am judged on my movements and attitude everyday. Not because my friends are assholes, because they truly want to make me better at life, and want success for me not injury. A piss poor performance means someone will care enough to help me make it better, and find out why it happened to begin with.
-I train in a place void of gossip. Rumors are unwelcome at all times and if I was stupid enough to ever spout anything negative, or even just not positive about one of my training partners, or any other training location for that matter, I would be crucified on the spot, by any and all in ear shot. Drama queens are eaten alive where I train.
-I train where everyone applauds when I do well, and I applaud for them.
-I train where justification is lucifer, and honesty is gospel. For if I lie, I only fail myself.
-I train where I am confronted everyday by food Nazis who wont allow me to eat shit and call it gold. Where I train we call bad, bad, quality, quality and everything in between sub-par. Where I train life happens, the difference is, here I have to confront my downfalls and improve not hide them away for tomorrow.
-I train to be better at life. The unknown and unknowable. To one day be able to help someone less fortunate than I. To be able to be moving on my own when I'm old and gray, not being moved.
-I train because I want the mirror to be an outward reflection of how I feel inside, which is pretty damn good, and I want it to stay that way.
-I train because laziness sickens me, and preventable disease is exactly that...preventable through effort, not medication.
-I train to be different than those before me. To go out swinging, not resting. To live valiantly, not cowardly.
-I train where the floor could double as a pool at times because people actually work hard. I don't care, that's how it should be.
-I train with football players, grandmas, kids, housewives, doctors.
-I train with people of every walk of life, and if I cared about status...someone would make me leave.
-I train where education daily is paramount, and if I'm not a constant student, I will fail quickly.
-I train where we are all equal, because we truly are. The only thing that separates people is the attitude to believe this is true or not. The ones who believe they are better than others, are so much better....they aren't allowed to train with me.
-I train with people that make my day better.
-I train in a place where I want to be, not a place I feel I have to be.
-I train under expectations. Expectations to be better than yesterday.
-I train in a community dedicated to the whole. The success of the many. this is the reason we all change and progress so fast. Where I train its not about "I"....its about "us"
I train....what the hell do you do?
Thank you Practice CrossFit for putting all the right words in my mouth. I couldn't have said it better.
