Monday 05.21.12

The McCook Athletic & Expo Center all geared up for the CrossFit Games North Central Regionals

We're back from an exciting weekend in Chicago where we watched some elite CrossFitters show us just what it takes to make it to L.A. where the CrossFit Games Finals are held. Next weekend, the last few regional competitions will happen, with the finals happening on July 13-15 - a perfect warm-up to the Olympics!

The competitors at the North Central Regionals were an impressive lot of athletes. They made the workouts look so much easier than what you and I know them to feel like. The speed with which these elite athletes could pop out several muscle ups in a row, or snatch a ridiculous amount of weight, or kip through 120 pullups was awe inspiring. Not to say that these athletes did not look spent by the end of the day where they completed 2 grueling workouts. Over the course of the 3 days of the competition, each individual and team completed 6 workouts - none of them easy. It was amazing to catch a glimpse of the cream of the crop that will compete in July, including a team from our neighboring Quad City CrossFit in Davenport.

I worry when people watch only The CrossFit Games as a representation of what we do here at WCFM or any other box around the world. What these athletes can do is amazing and is beyond the scope of what many of us will do within the realm of CrossFit. I worry because by only seeing The CrossFit Games, many will perceive CrossFit as intimidating and unattainable. It would seem that no normal human being would be able to do CrossFit, and nothing would be further from the truth.

The Games represent the elite athletes in the sport of fitness - the very expression of the ideal of virtuosity. And virtuosity is performing the common uncommonly well. The Games are there to inspire each of to strive for the ideal; and the achievement (at the mortal level) is in the trying. These elite athletes make every squat their deepest squat because otherwise it would not count. We mortals may not have a deep squat (yet) but we strive with every rep to get a little deeper. Without the elite athletes as an example, as a representation of what is possible, would any of know what could be possible? Would we be inspired to push ourselves harder to get better at all that our bodies are capable? Our bodies are made to move, and The CrossFit Games is pure poetry in motion.

WOD

Warmie Uppie:

3 Rounds

5 kipping pullups

10 pushups

15 goblet squats

instep stretch

pigeon pose

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20 min AMRAP

25 m bear crawl

10 front squats (135/95)

10 box jumps (24"/20")

10 KB Swings (53/35)