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The Wrong Carrot

Quick: which is more likely to kill you: a shark, or a deer?

In an average year, Bambi outscores Jaws by a huge margin: 130 to 1.

The reason most people guess, "shark!" is because immediacy trumps common sense.  People are more scared of tornadoes than lung cancer or car crashes, because they can relate to the overwhelming fear they would feel when faced with imminent danger.

Statistically speaking, statistics don't work.  Since people generally can't visualize groupings larger than about 50, or 100 at the outside, saying things like "twenty thousand people will die of lung cancer this year!" or "we'll spend $3 Billion fighting diabetes in 2012!" doesn't have the impact that one good story will.  We can't relate to the million, but we can relate to the one.  Consider donations to testicular cancer research pre- and post-Lance Armstrong.  It's not that people aren't aware of lung cancer; of course they're aware.  They may even know the statistics.  But until you've heard a story, well.......you can't internalize the fear.

  Talking on the phone to a reporter from the Sault Star two weeks ago, I was asked why we push such an elite perspective on fitness.  My answer? We don't.  But we DO show what's possible.  We tell stories, we show movies, we celebrate success. We talk about Connor Martin, the original CrossFit Kid, overhead squatting 250lbs at age 16 (and 165lbs bodyweight.)  We talk about Everett and Burgener and Khalipa and Salo.  We talk about Tanya Wagner.  We talk about Carolle.

Talk about something serious, like diabetes, which I may or may not have earned, 30 years from now?  I'll walk tomorrow.  Today is for cupcakes.  McDonald's will always be more convenient than pullups.

Hold a stick over our heads, and we'll jump for it.  It's animal nature.  Talk about walking more, or 'taking the stairs,' or incorporating more 'whole grains'........meh.  Post a notice that we're doing "Murph" on March 6th?  Anxiety.  Stress.  Nightmares.  Self-doubt.  And strict preparation.  No missed workouts.  Intensity in the gym.

Make no mistake: what we're doing here, anyone can do it.  CrossFit grabs you and pulls you up from above.  It's NOT a walk in the park, dog on your leash.  It ain't easy. 

What it is, is fulfilling.  It demands a lifestyle change.  It doesn't beg; it compels.  Get to bed early, or else.  Don't eat junk, or you'll suffer for it.  Measure your progress against the clock; the bar; the board; not the scale.  Hold yourself against something higher.  Give yourself a reason.

Are You Fitter Than A Fifth-Grader?

If you're over 25, and were born in Canada, I'm betting you can sing along to this:

In the 1970s and 1980s, Canadian students were pushed through a needle-eye called the Canada Fitness Test.  The test consisted of pushups, situps, a paused pullup ("flexed-arm hang") some sprints, a shuttle run, and a longer run.  Students were awarded Levels, based on their achievement in each event: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or the coveted "Award of Excellence."

The standards were a bit odd.  For instance, consider the times necessary to achieve an "Award of Excellence" in the 1-mile (1600m) Run.  As a twelve-year-old, you'd have to run the mile in 7:41.  As a 13-year-old?  11:31.  That's almost an extra 4 minutes, or 50% longer! 

Here are the original standards (labeled as 'Air Cadets Fitness Testing', but the same as the original ParticipACTION tests.)

Download Fitness_test

Why is it gone?  Well, like all tests, it was meant to be a tool for guiding teachers toward the pursuit of their students' weakest points of understanding.  Unfortunately, many teachers embraced the 'test' concept without using the resulting data to change the direction of their instruction.   No one in Grade Five can do more than 9 pushups?  Well, back to our regularly-scheduled floor hockey game.....

Also, the tests seemed very divisive.  The stigma attached to a Bronze continues to haunt many (as evidenced on various discussion boards,) and these days, it's not kosher to promote anything other than sameness.  In our lockstep march to mediocrity, the pace is driven by our desire to ignore individual strengths and weaknesses.  Failure must be avoided at all costs, right?  Kids will only be successful if they never experience losing.......right???  Instead of being great at some things and bad at others, it's better if we're all just kinda average at everything, maybe.

Above: the Tragically Hip, “Next to your comrades in the national fitness program/ Caught in some eternal flexed arm hang/ Dropping to the mat in a fit of laughter” - Fireworks

Many 30somethings will remember their scores on these tests (mine were all Silvers and Bronzes, I'm sure.)  I was probably reading a book while trying to do pushups.  The point: can you match - or better your scores today?  On Thursday, you'll get a chance to find out!

Bring your shorty-shorts.  If you can fit into your Amazing Spider-Man, E.T., or Michael Jackson "Bad" t-shirt, wear it.  Pigtails optional.  Let's revisit our youth.

Coach's prediction: CrossFitters will kill this test.

Heroes Week: "Randy"

Randy


In honor of Randy Simmons, 51, a 27 year LAPD veteran and SWAT team member who was killed February 6 in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Simmons' wife and two children.

75# power snatch, 75 reps For time This was the first CrossFit WOD done in our initial experiment by Tyler. He, uh, didn't like it.

HEROES WEEK MEMORIAL WORKOUT SCHEDULE:

Saturday: "DreamTeam" in honour of Sara Fryia.  Catalyst Family Potluck at the Park!  Grain-free!  For details on facebook, join this event!   CrossFit Games 2009 movie at night!

Some of these WODs  are scary, it's true. All of these folks, despite their valour, were scared. They acted anyway. Do the right thing.Entry daily by punch card. Heroism earned after the "GO!" command at the user's discretion.KNOW A LOCAL FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICER, OR SOLDIER?  INVITE THEM!  CROSSFIT GROUPS ARE FREE FOR *HEROES!* ALL WEEK! THE SCHEDULE IS HERE.

The Ringer

She thought she was a beginner. 

She believed that, as a novice, she was starting from ground zero.  That she'd have to learn everything from scratch.

But she's been doing "from scratch" for a long time already.  Jessica King, non-exerciser, already had all the habits of the elite: dedication despite boredom.  An expectation of hard work, not perfection.  The ability to shrug off the previous day's win or loss, and focus on the task at hand.

Jess had to follow the "specific carbohydrate" diet for over a year. Visiting friends for dinner, she'd pre-cook her own meal and carry it along.  While others dove headfirst into the Carbohydrate Culture of Sault Ste. Marie, she settled for spaghetti squash. 

We didn't turn Jess into an athlete; the pump was already primed.  The lid was loosened.  The engine was revved.  Rather than give a push, we just released the clutch.  In her own words:

1) when you started, was it your intention to gradually ramp up into CrossFit groups?

Honestly, I can’t say I really had any intentions when I started. I’ve always been pretty low energy and I was tired of feeling tired.  Since I was already very diligent about my diet, the only thing left to try was exercise.  I had no desire to join any of the other fitness clubs and Bryan was already a member, so I ended up at Catalyst.  

2) what's the hardest part?

The hardest part for me is breathing! I also really struggle with kips and I hate the blisters I get. I have a really hard time with pullups (prone rows). I also find it difficult to organize my schedule to make sure I fit in all my homework. Whether or not I fit my workouts in depends on the night before. I need to be in bed early and I have to get everything ready before the morning or I won’t make it.

3) where have you excelled (for instance, what came easy to you?) Since I am new, I don’t feel that anything came easy to me.  Some things were definitely harder than others.  The squats killed me at the beginning but they are definitely getting easier. I don’t really know if I excelled at anything in particular.

4) What skill would you like to spend more time on? I would like to practice kipping more.  I really don’t like it because I find it hard. The only way to like it is to get better.

5) any events you'd like to do in 2010 (Murph, Baseline Week, Heroes Week, FranFest, Fight On Friday, Catalyst Games, midnight 5k?)
I should be able to try Murph and I would like to try Fight On Friday but it all depends on what else is going on.

...what else would you like to add?

I would like to add that I never thought I would enjoy my workouts so much.  They are my favorite part of the day.  It is something I do for just for me.  They benefit no one else. During the 20 minutes or so that I am there, I can’t worry about anything except my next breath.  I find it truly relaxing. (I bet no one else told you your workouts are relaxing!) I can’t wait to see what else I can learn to do.

Heroes Week: "Nate"

Nate In honor of Chief Petty Officer Nate Hardy, who was killed Sunday February 4th during combat operations in Iraq. Nate is survived by his wife, Mindi, and his infant son Parker. First posted 12 February 2008

2 Muscle-ups 4 Handstand Push-ups 8 2-Pood Kettlebell swings

As many rounds as possible in 20 min

HEROES WEEK MEMORIAL WORKOUT SCHEDULE:

Friday: "Randy" - first CrossFit WOD we ever did at Catalyst.

Saturday: "DreamTeam" in honour of Sara Fryia.  Catalyst Family Potluck at the Park!  Grain-free!  For details on facebook, join this event!   CrossFit Games 2009 movie at night!


Some of these WODs  are scary, it's true. All of these folks, despite their valour, were scared. They acted anyway. Do the right thing.Entry daily by punch card. Heroism earned after the "GO!" command at the user's discretion.KNOW A LOCAL FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICER, OR SOLDIER?  INVITE THEM!  CROSSFIT GROUPS ARE FREE FOR *HEROES!* ALL WEEK! THE SCHEDULE IS HERE.

Sebastien 2.0

Nearly a year ago, Sebastien Wetzel was the feature of an article in the CrossFit Journal.  The essay was a good insight into the training of a high-level athlete who faces a different learning process than most. 

But the essay also got Sebastien a lot of fans. 

And so, when 'Baba' - to his family and friends - showed absolute glee at a bench press PR in the below video, you could hear the cheering all the way downtown.  Kids with autism aren't supposed to care, right?  This video shows the pride that can come only from accomplishment.  We all feel it; kids with autism aren't supposed to be able to demonstrate emotion  Right?

These days, Baba's set some goals.  For one, he'd like to compete in the Special Olympics. He's been training with Coach Tyler to that end, but he's gone from "let's play catch!" to "move your elbows quicker!  Kip harder!  Get your hips down!"  His technique is the envy of most.  His progress is always upward-bound.   When he achieves a goal, the next is immediately set.  It's an instructional lesson for the rest of us.

Heroes Week: "Tillman"

Tillman
7 Rounds for time:

7 Deadlifts 315 lbs
1 Full Gasser (sub 300m row OR 50 double-unders, whichever you're worse at)
15 Pull Ups

*Rest 45 seconds between rounds

Post times to comments. Patrick Daniel Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was a professional football player who left the National Football League and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002. He joined the Army Rangers and served multiple tours in combat before he was killed in the mountains of Afghanistan. He was a recipient of the Silver Star, the third highest honor in the military, and a Purple Heart. Pat is survived by his wife Marie. He is also remembered through the foundation named in his honor; the mission being to inspire people to make positive changes in themselves and in the world around them.

The Pat Tillman Story on T-Nation  

HEROES WEEK MEMORIAL WORKOUT SCHEDULE:

Thursday: "Nate" - a local favourite. Get your muscle-ups on!

Friday: "Randy" - first CrossFit WOD we ever did at Catalyst.

Saturday: "DreamTeam" in honour of Sara Fryia.  Catalyst Family Potluck at the Park!  Grain-free!  For details on facebook, join this event!   CrossFit Games 2009 movie at night!


Some of these WODs  are scary, it's true. All of these folks, despite their valour, were scared. They acted anyway. Do the right thing.Entry daily by punch card. Heroism earned after the "GO!" command at the user's discretion.KNOW A LOCAL FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICER, OR SOLDIER?  INVITE THEM!  CROSSFIT GROUPS ARE FREE FOR *HEROES!* ALL WEEK! THE SCHEDULE IS HERE.