Hey everyone,

Don’t forget to come on in and support the athletes and your hopeful Affiliate Team as they perform the third 2011 CrossFit Games Open Sectional workout.  This Thur night at 6pm.

We have some very nice, and some slightly ferocious rivalries going on for the ALL GYM Team Challenge.  I’ve [...]]]>

Hey everyone,

Don’t forget to come on in and support the athletes and your hopeful Affiliate Team as they perform the third 2011 CrossFit Games Open Sectional workout.  This Thur night at 6pm.

We have some very nice, and some slightly ferocious rivalries going on for the ALL GYM Team Challenge.  I’ve got a mailbox full of food journals, we’ve got team cheers.  Everything is ON!!  There are 8 teams participating in this 5 week challenge.  We could take bets…

It is time to have fun.  It is time to engender a little in-house challenge.  A little, family reunion-style throw down.  What?  You have no relatives training here?  or the ones that you do have drive you crazy (no mentioning names Chavez kids)?  We’ll give you a little CrossFit Works family of your [...]]]>

It is time to have fun.  It is time to engender a little in-house challenge.  A little, family reunion-style throw down.  What?  You have no relatives training here?  or the ones that you do have drive you crazy (no mentioning names Chavez kids)?  We’ll give you a little CrossFit Works family of your very own.  Here is how it will work:

Carl and I have chosen the team captains.  These are folks who have been around the CrossFit block a few times.  They’ve got style, verve, chutzpah and compelling personalities.  Not to mention their stunning good looks, duh.

On Saturday April 2 at 8:30am all teams will convene in a nearby park and participate in a super fun, relay style challenge.  The Challenge will be 100% completely doable for everyone, young and old, new and experienced.  Your time to the completion of the Challenge will be recorded.  Your team then has five weeks to improve performance.  On Saturday afternoon, April 16 we will all convene in the park for a family-reunion and Game Day where you will engage in some fun and games designed to improve your final performance.  Many points awarded for awesome performances here (not all related to fitness).  After playing in the park we will head over to Paul and Sarah’s for a Paleo Potluck to wish them well on their move back east.  Finally, on Saturday May 2 at 8:30am we will repeat the initial Challenge.  The largest chunk of points awarded during the Challenge will go to the team that shows the most improvement, however there are tons of other ways to earn points for your team including keeping a food journal, and consistent class attendance. There will be mini challenges in the gym during the week as well.  Of course there are prizes.  Prizes for best Team Captain and best Team Spirit too.  There will be a $5 fee to join a team and the fee will be used to enhance the prizes.  Recap: the only days on which you have to be present are Saturday April 2 from about 8:30am to 10:00am, Saturday April 16 from about 2:30 to 5:30, and Saturday May 7 from about 8:30 to 10:00.  All for fun.  Well, OK, someone wins.  I’ve already heard a little smack talking from the team captains.  There is a sign-up sheet in the gym.  Get  your name on it!

Starting January 10, 2011 will be the second CrossFit Works Ladies Only Boot camp. This boot camp will [...]]]> OK-not really Ladies night.  How about Ladies 7:15, 2:30 and 4:00?  Check it out:

CrossFit Works Congratulates the members of the first Ladies Only Bootcamp Series!!!

AND ANNOUNCES THE NEXT LADIES ONLY BOOTCAMPS

Starting January 10, 2011 will be the second CrossFit Works Ladies Only Boot camp. This boot camp will run for four months ending on April 29, not only helping you commit to your New Year’s Resolution, but also helping you get ready for the summer season.

The focus will be on developing strength, balance, coordination while learning about nutrition and losing body fat and weight.

What you can expect:

• Weight loss
• Decreased body fat
• Increased strength
• A fun supportive environment
• The chance to learn more about CrossFit

Classes will be 7:15 am, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm. The 4:00 pm class will also coincide with CrossFit Works Kid’s Class—so bring your kids and you both can get a great workout and have fun.  If you are interested or have questions please contact jschae@crossfitworks.com or call 520.623.6200.

This is a little handful of the cool sisters in the 6am class.  I bet they could beat all the boys in their class in the President’s Physical Fitness test and throw down for Prom Queen.  I heart the 6am class!!

Seriously.  Weighted pullups just seem funny to me.  I like figuring out how to attach the weights.  It was like a weighted pullup fashion show in here this morning.  Bryon’s 7am class had the metal plates roped around their weights in various styles that looked like belt buckles.  How is it not cool [...]]]>

Seriously.  Weighted pullups just seem funny to me.  I like figuring out how to attach the weights.  It was like a weighted pullup fashion show in here this morning.  Bryon’s 7am class had the metal plates roped around their weights in various styles that looked like belt buckles.  How is it not cool watching Mike H.  hang 2 45lb plates with a couple of metal plates around his waist?  I saw a few kettle bell clumps that looked like a Giant’s earring.  And Kate reported that the women in her class were not shy about certain innuendos with regard to the whole kettle bells dangling off a weight belt situation.  I think weighted pullups are fun because it isn’t scary or intimidating to try one even if you think it will end in failure.  It takes a certain amount of courage to attempt a heavy split jerk or back squat since there is a heavy barbell over your head or on your back, but a weighted pullup?  The most that happens is your chin doesn’t go over the bar.  We had a bunch of women realize that they can actually do a dead hang pullup!  And when Mateo says he didn’t help you, he means it.  You all need to have more confidence in yourselves and don’t be afraid to look completely unglamorous shaking and eye-popping trying to get that last inch.  Fight.  For.  It.  It looks like Mike G. takes the cake this time with a 114.5lb pullup.  Sweet!

We here at CrossFit Works like to see what you are made of every now and then.  What happens when you are asked to do something unusual with the potential to make you look silly, fall down or gasp!…lose?  Without getting too philosophical, CrossFit done properly with a team/group component can strengthen you [...]]]>

We here at CrossFit Works like to see what you are made of every now and then.  What happens when you are asked to do something unusual with the potential to make you look silly, fall down or gasp!…lose?  Without getting too philosophical, CrossFit done properly with a team/group component can strengthen you for life in the real world.  We can give you practice with things way outside your comfort zone.  We can put you on the spot and have everyone watch you.  We can ask you to do something you really don’t want to do.  What better place to be put in one of those uncomfortable, challenging situations than in your group class with all its accompanying camaraderie.  I’m pretty sure the definition of camaraderie involves sometimes making fun of your comrades.  Check out what happened (by clicking on the word “happened”) to Miranda O., one of CrossFit Headquarter’s staff members during the Utah, Nevada sectionals last week.  How cool is that she was laughing at herself.  That is CrossFit.  Not to mention Miranda’s unbelievable performance.  Enjoy the ridiculous.  It seems that Wheelbarrow Champions of the 6pm class are Jordan and Dietrich with Crandall and Mike G. close on their wheels, I mean heels-haha.

The older I get the more I contemplate the balance between serious and silly.  In my younger days I was damn serious: worked super hard, studied hard, practised ecological living etc…  Not to say I couldn’t appreciate a fun time, but I was serious.  Once two small boys [...]]]> Wes Kimball, CrossFit Austin

The older I get the more I contemplate the balance between serious and silly.  In my younger days I was damn serious: worked super hard, studied hard, practised ecological living etc…  Not to say I couldn’t appreciate a fun time, but I was serious.  Once two small boys entered my life there were MANY reminders to not take myself too seriously.  No matter how hard I try, for example, I cannot get them to be serious except about the absolute unwavering truth that a fart joke is hilarious every time.  I try to remember to apply this to my CrossFit training as well and I hope that here at CrossFit Works we all try to strike a balance between serious training and training awesomeness.  Man-in-charge at CrossFit Austin, Wes Kimball, is perhaps CrossFit’s authority on not getting too serious about yourself while becoming insanely strong, fast and powerful.  Check this out from his bio:

“My goal for our gym is to be a place where good times and hard work collide head on, forging fun-loving folks into elite health and condition.   Join me in the Circle of Awesomeness: Feel Good, Look Good, Play Good.”

We had a chance to meet Wes and workout with him at the Black Box Summit in Texas last fall, and when all the posturing and “I-know-more-than-you” got started amongst the lead minds in CrossFit, Wes and his “Training Awesomeness” motto was a good check on the scene.  If you are up for a really good laugh, courtesy of Wes, look in the archives of Dutch Lowy’s blog for a  little essay Wes wrote about the importance of training shirtless.

Also check your very own Dave Smith for some CrossFit-related amusement including Dave’s pants falling off.  (my son was there, so I think it is family-safe although the long term effects remain to be determined) and Mike G. and Chauncey taking their resistance sprints totally straight-laced.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Never forget to have fun while you CrossFit.  It is the only way you will ever become more Awesome.