Not Our Usual CrossFit “Test”
If you’ve been with us for awhile, you’ve likely partook in one or more of our standard fitness “tests.” We use a variety of these to measure and track different elements of our strength, our aerobic capacity, our endurance, etc. But today I’d like to talk about a different kind of “test.” One that is more about character and community. One that happens almost every single day we’re in the gym (at least every day the workout isn’t an AMRAP)…
What do you do when the workout is over?
Do you immediately begin cleaning up your equipment? Maybe after lying on the floor or catching your breath for a minute? Get a drink? Do you check your phone since you’ve likely got a little bit of time before everyone else is done? Or chat with friends who have also finished?
Or…
Maybe you still lie on the floor or catch your breath for a minute; but then… move on to someone still working to offer encouragement? Do you cheer them on? Clap for them? Try to include everyone (whether you know them or not)? Do you give high fives or fist bumps as people finish?
There are a variety of reasons CrossFit has exploded in popularity. It’s simplicity, it’s varied and fun workouts, it’s universal scalability, it’s ability to provide trackable results, etc. – but also it’s community. There’s a reason people choose not to workout on their own in a standard gym or at home – we’re social creatures. We become our best selves when we’re pushed and encouraged, and when we’re surrounded by others who believe in us.
Why did you initially choose Five Alarm? If group training, accountability, friends, or a like-minded community are part of your answer, then consider this – the workout isn’t over when you’re finished, it’s over when everyone is finished.
Challenge
When you’re in a class, the members of that class are now your tribe. You should take personal satisfaction in that every member of your tribe feels supported and that no one “finishes alone.” It doesn’t matter if you’re a 10-year CrossFit veteran or if you’re fresh out of Academy. It doesn’t matter how the workout or exercises might have been modified for different people. For that hour we are one group with a common goal – self improvement through shared suffering. Make sure no one suffers alone.
– Coach Joshua
