This past weekend was the 2014 CrossFit Games in Carson, CA. As a Crossfitter this is the most anticipated sports event I watch all year long. Again this year the athletes showed up and showed out. And again, I come away from the Games with a few takeaways. Usually, I blog about marriage and family life issues, but occasionally I like to offer something related to fitness since it is such a big part of my life. Hope you enjoy. 

 

1. Hard work is rewarded. 
Rich Froning, @richfroning (pictured above) has proven again that he is the undisputed fittest man in the world. It is hard to fathom that one person can maintain this title 4 years in a row. For all the haters out there, yes, CrossFit does do drug testing, and Rich is human! Froning is the real deal, which also goes for the 2014 fittest woman in the world, Cammile LeBlanc-Bazzinet @CamilleLbaz, and the rest of the men and women who competed in the 2014 CrossFit Games. They got to that stage because they worked extremely hard to be the best of the best. Hard work pays off not only in the gym but in life. Those who lack a decent work ethic should consider doing CrossFit for the simple fact that it would help you develop a work ethic that will enhance every other area of their life along the way.

2. Community is powerful. 
When you know people are pulling for you, you can absolutely go farther and faster to accomplish what may otherwise been impossible. It was inspiring to watch how the athletes at the CrossFit Games were motivated by the community of fellow CrossFitters that surrounded them in the arena. Competitors absorbed the energy of the crowd and found greater strength. Why? One of the unique qualities to CrossFit is the simple fact that the amateurs do the same exact movements and workouts that the professionals do, granted the scale is different, but the experience is very similar. Very few professional sports offer this kind of shared experience. This is part of what makes the community of CrossFit such a powerful thing. As we watch the pros do their thing, we know their pain. It raises our respect for them and causes us to pull, not just for our favorite athlete, but for the whole field. This is also why  you see competitors cheering each other on - you definitely don’t see that in other sports. It’s a community and a snapshot of what we all want in our lives.

3. Constantly varied, Highly intense, functional movement.
This is the mantra that defines CrossFit. CrossFit demands a broad and general approach to fitness. Literally Crossfiters, do any and every movement to leverage it for fitness. People may ask, “Can’t you “get in shape” doing other things besides CrossFit?” Sure you can! That’s the part so many people miss when they think about CF. CrossFit is not something different from other exercises - CrossFit includes all forms of exercise. When you watch the CF Games you see everything from Olympic lifting to open water swimming to gymnastic movements, running and crazy odd object movements. Watching the Games reminds me that when my fitness approach is constantly varied, highly intense, functional movement I will get more fit. I am more motivated than ever to continue to grow and develop my fitness. I hope you are too! 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."