A friend/member and I were chatting this week, and he was telling me that he feels he is struggling to keep his gains in one area (weightlifting), while making the time to improve in other modalities (in this case, gymnastics). My first thought was "Of course. You're in Year Three." The Dreaded Year Three of CrossFit, where it all seems like hard work even to stand still. Gone are the glorious days of Years One and Two, when every day was a first, and every lift was a PB. In my head, the trials of Year Three are as natural as Autumn following Summer, as night follows day. The next step in the Life Cycle of the CrossFitter. Year One : Day 1 You hear about CrossFit, probably from a friend who does it and won't shut up about it. Maybe you're curious. Maybe you're giving it a try to humour them. Whatever it takes, you find yourself in a warehouse that smells like old tyres, devoid of even a single treadmill, and laden with terrifying piles of weights. Everybody seems to know everybody else, and everybody seems fitter than you. You've been shown how to use a kettlebell and how to throw a "wallball". You are convinced that everyone is looking at you. "This will be GREAT." someone says. Maybe it's the Coach, all smiles and encouragement. You remain unconvinced. 3,2,1...GO. Sometime later, you find yourself on your back, staring at the joists of an industrial ceiling. Maybe steam is rising off your face. Your heart sounds like its about to make an appearance through your skull. Everyone is sweating and smiling. And you're smiling too. Year One: Months 1-2 You complete your Fundamentals Course/On Ramp/Induction. The people you did it with were strangers when you started, but now you stick together because you feel as clueless as each other. You are convinced you will never learn which one is the power clean and which is the push jerk, and that kipping pullups are something that happen to other people. You've destroyed the towel rack in your bathroom trying to sit on the toilet after thrusters. You can't understand how burpees and running in the same workout can even be legal. You feel like you've been hit by a bus after every WOD, but you kinda like it. You've made some friends in the 6pm class, and your Coach tells you your squat is SO MUCH better than it was when you started. You start to look forward to certain movements, and dread others. You can't go to sleep until the WOD is posted.
You share your first CrossFit post on Facebook. It has begun. Year One - Months 2-6 Coming soon... Did I miss something? Add it in the comments! |
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