Bill and Karen let loose with the sledgehammers during Fight Gone Bad (Strongman Style).
I’m not always sure people understand what we do. Not even within our own global community, sometimes. CrossFit here is not the same as CrossFit over there, or in that other place, or down that way.
Huh? How can that be? If it’s CrossFit, it should be all the same, right? A barbell is a barbell. Sprinting and squats are sprinting and squats. A muscle-up is a muscle-up. Sort of like an egg is an egg is an egg. A shell with stuff inside.
That’s right — in theory. CrossFit is constantly varied, functional movements performed at high intensity. What we do as CrossFit should be similar to what CrossFit XYZ Anywhere does as CrossFit, or what Joe Gym does as CrossFit.
But it’s not. That’s just simply not how the world works.
In our McDonald’s society, we’ve become accustomed to the idea that we can get the exact same product everywhere if it has the same name on it. A hamburger here should taste the same as a hamburger there.
In reality, though, CrossFit affiliates are more like the egg once you crack it open. You’ve got the egg in a bowl and you’ve got choices now to make. Fry it? Poach it? Whip it and turn it into an omelette? Add some veggies or some ham or bacon? (Mmmmm, bacon.) Then, into the pan. Cook it with butter? Or some nasty kind of oleo? Undercook it and it’s runny. Overcook it and it’s dry. Burn it and throw it out. So many options. So many outcomes. So much depends on choices made and the skill level of the chef. But the fact of the matter is the same in CrossFit as it is in so much of life — skill matters. Immensely.
CrossFit is the egg. Look for a skilled chef. Talk to him or her. See if you share a similar outlook. Taste the omelette — for free. If you like it, come back and order again. If you don’t, keep looking. Don’t let a bad chef turn you off of eggs.
And, if you LOVE the omelette? Tell all your friends, just like you would if you found a great restaurant. Life’s too short to put up with nasty eggs or boring/bad exercise. Chase what thrills you and scares you and makes you feel alive. Chase what makes your life better. Don’t just exist, chase.
(Words by Lisbeth Darsh/CrossFit Watertown.)
July 12th, 2010 at 10:04 am
All paleo aside, I was comparing CF affiliates to Sourdough bread. Counting on where you make the bread, it’s a very different flavor. Still bread, still tasty, just different!
July 12th, 2010 at 10:05 am
First of all…SHAZAMMMMM!
I love a skilled chef…
July 12th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Amber stole my thunder…dang it!
July 12th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Amber — out of the blue! Sneaking in and taking first post — wow! CrossFit Watertown-ites — I think you just got owned!
July 12th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Well said Lis!
July 12th, 2010 at 11:08 am
CF Soccer was awesome yesterday, although I realize today that I spent all of yesterday outside in the sun with no sunblock and last night I couldn’t figure out why my face was on fire and I was falling asleep at 7:30. This warm weather stuff is great but as soon as we get into those cold New England days this winter, we should run a CF Beer Pong clinic (Gluten-free of course).
PS. That’s a great picture of Bill. I bet he could twist someone’s head off with those arms.
July 12th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Great post and I think what we have here at CFW are some of the best damn eggs I’ve ever tasted! Hopefully that line wasn’t too cheesy. MMMM….cheesy eggs. Anyway, I might as well say it before Viv does……Bill looks damn sexy in that photo!
July 12th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Kirk u scare me sometimes
July 12th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Im with Kirk lol
July 12th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Bill eats alot of Spinach
July 12th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
but seriously.. you have to find an affliate that works for you… some boxes have programing that I just can’t get behind long term, others have what I think is cool stuff to add in (MAA, BJJ type stuff)… every person is diff, every Coach is diff..newbies should try afew diff boxes out n see what works best for them I think..that said- I happen to LOVE it here!!!
July 12th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
We had a guest from Pittsburgh today at the noon class and she rocked the house. She seemed pretty experienced at Crossfit but Mikey had to teach her how to do a Clean. Once she got it she was off and running and didn’t look back. I tried my best to catch up to her but she closed the door on me.
I have a lot of friends across the country doing Crossfit and all of the workouts seem a little different. The one thing they all have in common is the people who attend just seem to kick ass a little better than the rest of the world!
FYI: I really like CFW!!!
July 12th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Hey CFW women! The Farmington Wonen’s Tri on Sept 12 is almost full! Get those teams set up and registered!
July 13th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Yeah — what she said!