My Experience With CrossFit
Hey friends! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind these last few weeks yet we’ve only just started February. Pandemic time sure feels weird doesn’t it? Well, I’ve been doing what I can to keep getting in my workouts and sticking to my routine. At this point, it’s been three months since I’ve officially started doing CrossFit. Today’s post gives a little bit of my experience and some advice for new athletes!
Before the pandemic, I did weightlifting that was different from CrossFit and the gym was not an affiliate. I absolutely loved it but due to the pandemic, the owner decided to shut down. That being said, I wasn’t a complete beginner to CrossFit as I knew a majority of the movement standards and had been around heavy weights before.
Even though I had some background, I chose to take the On Ramp Classes which were a set of 5 classes with one on one instruction. If you’re joining a new gym (also referred to as a “box” in the CF community) this will be an option. This personal instruction allowed me to get my questions out of the way and take it at my own pace. My coach figured out quickly that I had enough background to breeze through some of the small points and load up on the heavier weights. This is also a good time to see if this gym is truly a good fit for you and your goals. My coach and I got along instantly and I knew that I made the right decision in joining the gym.
Prior to the pandemic, my strength training was only two days a week. However without any races in the horizon, I decided to go to CrossFit classes four days a week. It was a great way to work on my strength training and it served as my social outlet since most things are still wonky here because of COVID. If you’re a beginner, I would suggest taking 2-3 classes a week with plenty of active rest during the week.
CrossFit classes keep you moving and will throw in different forms of cardio/endurance workouts as well as strength workouts. As someone who was in “decent” shape going into class, I can say that there’s been times I’ve gotten my butt kicked. Endurance workouts tend to be my strong point as running has helped keep me strong with that. However, you add in weights and that fatigue sets in. Some workouts were challenging but I loved having that.
One of my favorite parts of joining a CrossFit gym is the community. I clicked instantly with members of the coaching staff and other athletes. The friendly competition in class pushes me to try harder. Plus it’s nice to know that I will see some friendly faces when I show up to the class at 5am. I’ve become one of the regulars in the early classes and I’m always there to cheer new athletes on.
I would say that joining a CrossFit gym was one of the things that has kept me sane during the pandemic. I am still not signed up for any races so I’ve lessened my miles and I’m working continuing to get stronger. This March, I plan to compete in the CrossFit Open as that will give me something to train for and look forward to. Plus, it gives me a milestone to build upon as the year goes on.
Depending on the situation near you and if you feel comfortable doing so, I’d recommend giving CrossFit a try. There are many affiliates worldwide and there are athletes from many backgrounds. Whether you are an absolute beginner athlete or you are looking for a new challenge, you never know unless you give it a try! I’d start by searching for affiliates near you on the CrossFit website and go from there. As always, I’m here to answer any questions!
Are you a member of a CrossFit gym? Have you ever given CrossFit a try?
