The Growth of CrossFit & Growing Pains
It's no secret that CrossFit is growing like crazy. CFVB has been open two-and-a-half years and we are the 725th affiliate - now there are 2741. And CrossFit HQ receives an average of 100 affiliate applications per month. Crazy!
If you look at the main site each Monday, you see photos of the people going through the Level 1 trainer courses. There are usually at least five seminars with an average of 60 people in each. So, that's roughly 300 people getting their L1 certification each weekend (over 15,000 per year)! Many of these people attend the L1 for their own knowledge, others to be trainers and/or to open a box.
We love that CrossFit is becoming more accepted. It means people are getting healthier and are having fun doing so. It also means there is more attention for the sport, as evidenced in Reebok ponying up $1 million in prize money at this year's Games.
However, all CrossFit trainers and CrossFit gyms are not created equal. We've already seen some come and go in our community. Like in any industry, there are good and bad - there are great lawyers and not-so-great ones; wonderful teachers and mediocre ones; and there are knowledgeable trainers and pretty lame ones, too.
Attending a weekend seminar doesn't make you a great CrossFit trainer. In fact, it doesn't even make you a good one. Like in all professions, experience breeds excellence. Different people move differently and you can't coach effectively with a one-size-fits-all approach. Furthermore, you can't program a successful fitness regimen by simply prescribing cardio beat-downs day after day.
The best trainers I know are the ones that started at another affiliate in the role of an athlete. Because of their love of CrossFit, they decided to become certified. After being certified, they shadowed more experienced trainers to hone their skills. And that's how we roll at CFVB!
So, time to toot our own horn. I'm proud to say that our crew - Elliott, Rob, Diane, Joe, Charlie, Sue, Rachel, Brooks - is top-notch!
And at the end of the day, it's the people that make the "soul" of a CrossFit box. And we've got the best!
Greg's Rx Fran time (PS - he's 53 years old!)
Workout of the Day:
Snatch Balance 1-1-1-1-1-1-1
Overhead squats 3-3-3-3-3
"Bonus"
Three rounds:
30-second L-sit (choose: hanging from bar, on rings or parallelettes)
60-second handstand holds (against wall)
True.
Posted by: Margaret A. | June 20, 2011 at 08:26 PM
nicely done Greg!
Posted by: el | June 20, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Damn Greg! I hope you never get your double unders. Haha!!
And Tiney didn't even finish... ;) jk
Posted by: Debbie Deb | June 20, 2011 at 08:40 PM
2012 CrossFit Masters division World Champion!
Posted by: joe PT | June 20, 2011 at 08:52 PM
A shout out to all the other Level 1 certified trainers/ athletes in our box: Jim A, Neil, Lonnie, Frankie (forgive me if I'm leaving anyone out). *Greg spanked Fran's ass today and this was his first time ever to dance with the bitch.
Posted by: joe PT | June 20, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Great job sledghammer... You make momma proud
Posted by: Jennifer Budde | June 20, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Wendy, you are correct. Just being an affiliate does not a good trainer make? My only beef about Crossfit is that they market themselves by poking fun at other programs. One that comes to mind is P90X. For some people, P90X is the answer to their fitness needs. It can be tailored to fit their schedule. For others, it is Crossfit. I am not personally criticizing Crossfit. But the fact of the matter is that people got in shape prior to Crossfit, and will get in shape after Crossfit becomes something else. Keep on growing.
http://bit.ly/jqpA74
Posted by: Bernie | June 20, 2011 at 09:20 PM
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie....please, please stop. Crossfit is 'elite' as it has been designed and adopted for top tier athletes as well as the nation's military including but not restricted to the navy seals. If you don't like crossfit or cannot do crossfit (which is infinitely scalable so that your great grandma could do it) then why?...why keep shooting it down? I have 20 years in the healthcare business and I fully endorse crossfit because it addresses all of mankind's mobility issues. We did not evolve this far to do biceps curls or do yoga or pilates. If your issue is losing weight then lose weight. If you have issues about workout intensity then don't blame crossfit as it is infinitely scalable. If you want to do P90X then go ahead. A mediocre attitude will get mediocre results every time. Crossfit is more than just lifting weights...it addresses ALL mobility issues, proper and effective nutrition and fosters community. I want to compare my progress to the next guy and there is no better venue than a crossfit box to do this. Do yourself a favor and see if you can still do a full squat without losing your balance and not feeling any pain in your knees. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you like what you see.
Posted by: joe PT | June 20, 2011 at 10:09 PM
I couldn't agree more , the people at vero crossfit make all the difference in the world. Wendy and Rob set the standard for the atmosphere and have surrounded us with great trainers and friends. Crossfit Forever! Greg -keep up the great work, you inspire us all.
Posted by: don | June 21, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Bernie - I think you will find that many folks at CFVB did programs like P90X prior to joining the box. I beg to differ that any person in our 'family' would bash someone else for getting up and being active...in any format. CF just happens to be our exercise of choice.
What's yours? Bashing crossfit? 'Cause that is all you seem to do when you take up space on our blog. Honestly, while some may get a chuckle at your posts, we are not about negativity.
Posted by: Debbie Deb | June 21, 2011 at 08:17 AM
Seriously Bernie...get lost! Do you have nothing better to do than slam a program that you won't even give a chance? You have all these opinions but no experience to back them up.
Good luck on your P90X adventure. It's easy to say you are doing something when no one is around to actually see you do it. My guess is that you won't do this either.
Wendy, Love this post! You guys are great and I'm willing to bet CFVB is one of the best affiliates out there.
Posted by: Tara | June 21, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Go away Bernie! You're negative BS is not welcome here.
Posted by: Sassy | June 21, 2011 at 08:30 AM
I have been at Crossfit for over two years now and I started with P90x. I always tell people that it is a great program for parents or busy persons who need to get a great workout in. I actually still enjoy the P90x yoga dvd. There are few people who get get through the Plyometrics dvd without needing a break or laying on the ground.
Haven't heard anyone at our box bashing it, or I would have defended it.
It was a great program for me before Crossfit opened while my daughter was an infant.
If you have a problem with other affiliates bashing P90x or boot camps... post on their blog.
Now on to more important stuff.. http://youtu.be/TRBLmogRL4c Posted via Tiney (because I know you wanted to)
Posted by: Mrs. Kanuckles | June 21, 2011 at 08:44 AM
Oh yeah... Greg... seriously... wow!
Posted by: Mrs. Kanuckles | June 21, 2011 at 08:47 AM
Poor Bern missed the point. We aren't bashing anyone for getting in shape or moving more. We are, however, bringing some attention to the fact that trainers are now jumping on the CrossFit bandwagon and going to a weekend seminar to get CrossFit certified so they can add the title to their resume...yet they don't understand the movements or do them correctly.
I recently saw a video online of a newlly-certified CrossFit trainer doing a WOD with overhead squats and he squatted to a folding chair each time! A.) he wasn't even attempting to go below parallel and B.) the fact that the video even made it out on the Internet proves he doesn't even know how ridiculous he is!
Teaching "CrossFit" with no experience isn't going to get people to move better and it's only going to increase the chance of injury.
Posted by: Wendy | June 21, 2011 at 08:54 AM
If people who do CrossFit weren't elite and aloof they wouldn't have made fun of me at my box when I showed up with my new Shapeup Shoes...Amen, Bernie...
Posted by: K2 | June 21, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Imagine doing a squat snatch in shapeup shoes....
Posted by: Lil' Rach | June 21, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Or overhead squating a couple of shake weights! Talk about being thrown off balance.
Posted by: Debbie Deb | June 21, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Deb with the way you shake things with your hands I'm sure the shake weights wouldn't go anywhere...
Posted by: Tiney | June 21, 2011 at 01:57 PM
Oh yeah and I believe you didn't finish the workout either in the time cap so you better watch it when you come back to Vero Debbie! And next time Fran visits I'm going to do her harder than you ever have...sub 10min. :P Kelly I fricken LOVE you for posting that video....it gets me every time!! Joe you made me laugh when you said someones great grandma could do it, but that is kinda true. I would say I feel bad for you Bernie but with the way you come across you bring it upon yourself. But then again there are people out there that crave drama and turning things into something it's not, because of their own incapability.
Posted by: Tiney | June 21, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Omg there was so much going on in this post I totally forgot to congratulate my sledgehammer!! Way to go Greg! So glad I was there to witness you doing Fran. You seriously amaze me! =)
Posted by: Tiney | June 21, 2011 at 02:10 PM
I have to admit that I had the same mindset as Bernie before I was introduced to Crossfit. The fitness industry has always survived on trying to capitalize on the next "fitness craze". From circuit training to aerobics to step,slide cycling, pilates, P90X,HIT training, boot camp....Crossfit is so far ahead of the curve that the "gym" culture can't duplicate it! Those who choose to train with weights, weight machines, cardio machines, boot campers etc... can't comprehend how a 5 - 10 min Crossfit WOD is better than their 60 - 90 min workout. I used to think I was in good shape because I could bench and squat heavy weights and do level 10 on an elliptical but what I found out at Crossfit is that being in good shape is way more than that. And after last nights sub 4 min. workout I'll take training at a "box" any day over training at a gym. Thanks Rob and Wendy!!!
Posted by: Greg | June 21, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Thank you Greg for all that truth. And way to go on taking care of Fran, that's an awesome time for any age.
Posted by: Diane and Bryan Blais | June 21, 2011 at 05:48 PM
I'm sorry. I promise I won't come back anymore. :-(
Posted by: Bernie | June 21, 2011 at 06:00 PM
That's the best news I've heard all day!
Posted by: Sassy | June 21, 2011 at 07:30 PM