The 99.99

Written by admin in Training,LIFESTYLE,The WOD Life,Uncategorized,

11 min read

The 99.99

With the rapidly expanding popularity of CrossFit, there are now over 10,000 Affiliates across the globe and that number is growly daily. More and more people are being exposed to CrossFit whether it’s through word of mouth from family and friends or by watching ESPN’s live coverage of the CrossFit Games. Undoubtedly it’s hugely entertaining and awe inspiring to watch the best athletes in CrossFit compete for the title of “The World’s Fittest.” The sport of fitness has truly become a phenomenon. Beginning in 2007, the CrossFit Games began as a fairly small group of garage athletes who came together to battle it out at during a 1 day competition held at a private ranch. Every year the games become bigger and harder. In 2015, the CrossFit Games was held over 4 days of gruelling competition in the heat of California, testing the athlete’s capacity to endure a massive amount of work and prove their fitness over 12 individual events.

For many people, watching the Games or any other high level CrossFit competition, this is their first impression of what CrossFit is about. This can be a double edged sword in many aspects. Admittedly, watching the Games athletes perform is an incredible spectacle and can be very inspiring for those that see it, for others I’m sure it could be intimidating. These Games athletes are 0.01 percent of those who participant in CrossFit as a strength and conditioning program. The other 99.99 percent of those that do CrossFit are those who collectively make the CrossFit community what it is. They are the stay at home mother, the local fire fighter, the retired couple, the netball player and the 16 year old High School student. This is the diversity of the CrossFit community.

There is a gigantic difference between CrossFit “The Sport of Fitness” and CrossFit as a training methodology. CrossFit Games athletes and those who compete have chosen CrossFit as their sport. It’s not uncommon that competitors will train twice a day, 5-6 days a week, often for hours at a time. They need to become highly proficient at Gymnastics movements like pull ups, muscle ups and handstands. They need to be as strong and powerful as possible, while possessing a huge aerobic capacity and the ability to work efficiently across multiple time domains. They literally eat, sleep and breathe CrossFit.

The other 99.99% of the community simply don’t need this amount of training to see results and live a healthier lifestyle. They are the ones who want to be stronger so their backs don’t ache. The ones who want to live long enough to play with their grandchildren. The ones who want to stay active, have fun with their fitness and learn new things.They don’t want to be out of breath when they walk up the stairs. They want to carry the grocery bags in a single trip!

These are the people who make up the 99.99%
This is the difference between “The training methodology” and “The Sport of Fitness.”