I haven’t been writing about crossfit much since the competition, not because I haven’t been going, but because I’m just not sure documenting my workouts is all that interesting. I sometimes post pictures of what my workouts are on instagram and then call it a day. While crossfit is actually more prevalent in my routine than running right now, it feels kind of just like a regular thing I do, which I really like. It’s no longer a big accomplishment for every WOD, or even every Rx workout, I complete. I can be the kind of person who just puts their head down and works.

(anyone watch Rob and Big? No? just me?)

The thing I love most about crossfit is the constant variation. I haven’t gotten bored of it in the 2+ years that I’ve been going, but I feel like writing about it each day has become boring for me. I used to log every single workout, detailing how I felt after each WOD and what my goals were for improving each and every workout. Then I realizes, woah, that’s a lot of goals, and then I have these other running goals that I’m also going after (running a marathon, rehab for ITBS, etc) and it was overwhelming.

I wanted to share that while I really love crossfit, I’m not this crazy intense, balls to the wall on EVERY single WOD type of crossfitter. There are plenty of people like that, and I commend their efforts, but I don’t know what their goals are.

My running brain tells me that there are times when it’s appropriate to train yourself hard so that you can give your all at a competition. Then you compete, and then you relax. And you start that cycle over again when you’re ready.

I am very cognoscente of burn-out. And I’ll fully admit, I’m scared of it. After experiencing it in running, I don’t want crossfit to be ruined for me. It took a long time for me to bounce back from running fatigue. I enjoy crossfit and what it gives me on a regular basis, I don’t want to jeopardize that by throwing every ounce of myself into every workout 3-4 times a week.

I think people get this idea that crossfit is only for the hardcore. The thing is, when you do crossfit, you automatically feel hardcore. You are walking into a place where you are asked to push your limits. I still do that, with the proper weight scheme for where I currently am in my training. For example, This was yesterday’s workout:

With an Rx of 95# (which is possible for me, since my max on the clean is 100) I could have really struggled through that to make half Rx (I don’t have ring dips yet). Instead I chose 65#, even though I competed with 75# two weeks ago. I did this because I decided that yesterday was an effort in ring dips, and I used the dip stand with the 1/2 in band. I fought hard for full range of motion, my muscles are telling me about it today.

There is rarely a workout that I say, wow, that was easy. I am constantly getting stronger. I listen to my body and because I have running to balance me, I’m not solely focused on crossfit.

I’ve heard theories that if you don’t put your max 100% effort into every crossfit workout that you’re doing it wrong. That you’re not benefitting and that you should instead take a rest day. And then there’s people like Rich Froning who said ”I feel awful after a complete rest day so I quit doing that.” (source) That seems absurd to me, but then again, I’m not a 2 time Games Champion.

What are your thoughts? What type of crossfitter are you? Should there be different types of crossfitting? And if you are a coach how do you program for people who want to maintain fitness and not compete?

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