TUESDAY 090331

Enlarge Image

CrossFit Agoge outgrew their box (again) and just moved into 6200 sf of workout space. Congrats and good luck to John and Kelly Brown!

Remember when you were in the process of affiliating? What was the most difficult part? What made you say, "If only I could get this done . . ."

CrossFit Wilmington shares some cleans performed by members of their team headed for the Mid-West Qualifiers in mid-May: Video.

MONDAY 090330

Enlarge Image

Just having some fun at CrossFit Malaysia . . .

Is being a CrossFit affiliate owner the most fun job in the world? Or is it a lot more work than anybody realizes? Or is it both?

Another in our series of Words for Affiliates by Affiliates, Brian Bowen of CrossFit Ramstein shares "A Little CrossFit Secret."

SUNDAY 090329

Enlarge Image

The post-WOD "coma nap" at CrossFit BWI. Tell the truth, haven't you been tempted to take one?

Zach Frankhouser, a trainer at CrossFit Delaware Valley, offers some words on "Footwear and Fitness": Read.

SATURDAY 090328

Enlarge Image

Some girls have all the luck: Jennifer K. of CrossFit HEL gets to carry Tim during a recent WOD.

CrossFit Huntsville focuses on some faces of pain. Wait, faces of fun -- that's what we meant, right? Yup, faces of fun alright: Video.

FRIDAY 090327

Enlarge Image

Dan S., a SWAT officer, hits a back lever at CrossFit USA in Connecticut.

Tell us one thing your affiliate does that no one else does. One thing. 3-2-1-Go.

Over at Bulldog CrossFit, they had the coolest kind of kids' birthday party -- a CrossFit party: Video.

THURSDAY 090326

Enlarge Image

Cesar F. yells his way up the rope at CrossFit Hollywood.

We talk about the basics of running an affiliate: Trainers, insurance, barbells, etc. But here's something you may not contemplate much, but it's important, particularly with female members: Cleanliness. Take a look at your box and your bathrooms. They're more important than you think.

CrossFit Evolution just moved to a new location, so they (of course) celebrated with a WOD: Video.

WEDNESDAY 090325

Enlarge Image

Jeff Martin and the boys swing away at the Fifth Annual Highland Games at CrossFit Brand X.

Want to put that same look of anguish on the faces of your fellow affiliates? Spam them. Everyone hates spam, even if it's somehow CrossFit-related. If you're going to force that kind of unsolicited information on people, definitely include a visible, easy-to-use "unsubscribe" option, even on affiliate newsletters and updates. Otherwise, you're not enticing, you're antagonizing.

Nicki Violetti walks down memory lane with Dave Werner of CrossFit Seattle and Robb Wolf of CrossFit Norcal as they recall starting the first-ever CrossFit affiliate: Video.

TUESDAY 090324

Enlarge Image

Photo courtesy of CrossFit East.

CrossFit One World reminds us that the lives of our affiliate owners, trainers, and members extend way beyond the gym walls: Read.

Think your affiliate is kind of rough? Our latest military affiliate, CrossFit Al Asad (in Iraq) works out of a tent, literally.

MONDAY 090323

Enlarge Image

Trainer Jim M., head trainer/owner Adam Eidson, and Rise W. of RARE CrossFit hitting handstands and a good photo-op at the same time.

(On a different note, Rise was a competitive college gymnast 20 years ago but had not done a single pull-up since then. Eight weeks of CrossFit later, she can do 10 in a row.)

You know what's rare? To have a community like ours, where affiliates cooperate and encourage each other in the pursuit of fitness and business success. We are all in this together. So, if you find yourself verbally attacking another affiliate or trying to undermine their success, check yourself. Wouldn't it be better to just pour that energy into making your own affiliate a better experience?

Brandon, trainer at Crossfit NE Georgia pours his heart into "Aqua Murph", along with his buddy Patrick: [wmv] [mov]

SUNDAY 090322

Enlarge Image

Terry F. of CrossFit La Verne gets some coaching recently at a CrossFit Level One Certification Seminar at CrossFit San Diego. Every weekend, more and more people get certified to teach the CrossFit methods. And the word keeps spreading and spreading . . .

Down in Chile, the word is spreading too. Watch CrossFit Santiago tackle "Murph": Video.

SATURDAY 090321

Enlarge Image

Brides and burpees -- they just go together. Rachel Bennett Nye of CrossFit East Decatur throws down on her wedding day! Congrats to Rachel and her man Eric!

Do your members ever call you mean? (Tell the truth!) Well, over at CrossFit Fire, they've got four reasons why they're mean: Read.

FRIDAY 090320

Enlarge Image

Suns for wall-ball targets at Foothills CrossFit, while over at BGI South, they have a few different categories . . .

What do you use for wall-ball targets? What's the coolest target you've seen? The worst?

CrossFit Catalyst has an incredible athlete named Sebastien: Read.

THURSDAY 090319

Enlarge Image

At CrossFit SS, Doc R. (white shirt) had a partner for the team WOD, but his partner had to drop out. So Justin Bergh (owner/trainer) jumped in to help.

In Justin's words: "No less than 10 times he said, 'I'm just done, my muscles are fried . . . no more.' Each time he would declare he was finished, I would look at him and nod, then say, 'That's OK, chip away at it.' We got to the second to last movement which was 100 team pull-ups. He couldn't do one. So I had him hang from the bar, I jacked him on my shoulder, and we did them together."

Mental state is so important during a WOD. San Francisco CrossFit has a few words about mental fatigue: Read.

WEDNESDAY 090318

Enlarge Image

Practice CrossFit gettin' up for the St. Patrick's Day WOD/festivities yesterday.

We have to show this stuff because, quite honestly, who else does this? Do you really know of a group of people (not CrossFitters) who got all excited yesterday to gather together, wear green, and do a strenuous workout like Murph? Are we nuts? Or have we just found what we've been looking for all our lives?

More of the green and the fun! CrossFit Hickory, some bagpipes, and a kilt present "McFran": Video.

TUESDAY 090317

Enlarge Image

Moving Day at CrossFit Regina. A new, bigger, and better location just down the street.

How do you know it's time to move? Coach Glassman is fond of saying that if your clients tell you three times to do something, then you need to pay attention. Does this hold true for moving? Or is it best to stay in a small space and make it work somehow?

It's not too early to start thinking about your affiliate and the 2009 Trevor Win'E Memorial Challenge. Get more information here from CrossFit Orange County.

MONDAY 090316

Enlarge Image

Is it the economy or is it the product? Read what the owners of a fitness chain (directly across from CrossFit Champions) posted on their door after suddenly clearing out their place in the middle of the night. Yet see those cars in the parking lot? They belong to some of the 138 members of CF Champions . . .

Reminder: If you want to change your affiliate name, you must contact CFHQ for approval and then sign a new license agreement. Thanks!

CrossFit Ventura puts a new spin on "Murph" by making it a team effort: Video.

SUNDAY 000315

Enlarge Image

Tabata squats at the Level 1 Certification Seminar at Guerrilla Fitness CrossFit Montclair on March 14th.

Triangle CrossFit says the magic number is 168: Read.

SATURDAY 090314

Enlarge Image

How to explain this photo from CrossFit Redding? Kevin was holding a stretch/pose called "The Knot" and Jordan picked him up like it was time for kettlebell swings . . .

CrossFit Invictus talks about alcohol, working out, and recovery: Read.

FRIDAY 090313

Enlarge Image

Pull-ups? Anywhere, anytime. Kelly Moore (CFHQ Staff) does 'em at Wood Carving School while Vince of Combat CrossFit gets some on his oil rig on Sakhalin Island, Russian Federation.

Look Here Now. A good title draws the reader to your blog, especially if they're using a feed reader of some sort: Something to think about next time you're only using dates or numbers in your blog entry header.

Sam at Rainier CrossFit gets the bar overhead with two hands anyway, anyhow: Video.

THURSDAY 090312

Enlarge Image

One CrossFit trainer and 200 cops at a SWAT Round-up? Time for fireman's carry, of course! At least that's part of what Steve Bowser of CrossFit Affliction prescribed in Florida: Read.

What's the largest group you've ever trained in CrossFit? And, at what size does a class get unmanageable for one CrossFit trainer? (We're talking a regular class, not an exhibition or an introductory session.)

CrossFit as an elective in high school? Read what SJP CrossFit has going on at the college prep level.

WEDNESDAY 090311

Enlarge Image

Members of CrossFit Northwest Tucson.

What's the percentage of uniformed members at your affiliate? 25%? 50%? None? Post to Comments.

CrossFit Stone Bay makes warriors: Video.

TUESDAY 090310

Enlarge Image

Not your usual gym attire, but CrossFit Flagstaff has a reason behind the photo session: Pitching for sponsorship for the Great Basin CrossFit Games Qualifier. Think in creative ways and attract sponsors for your regional qualifier. If it works, let your fellow regional heads know!

Reminder: All CrossFit affiliate classes should be run by Certified Level One CrossFit trainers or apprentices under supervision. Read more in the FAQ.

CrossFit Evolution has "Girls Gone Weightlifting": Video

MONDAY 090309

Enlarge Image

CrossFit Buffalo vs. Local Pull-up King in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Guess who won? (Dave: Tell us the story in Comments!)

Jon Gilson of Again Faster gives us all a little perspective on our bitchin': Read "You'll Be Fine."

CrossFit Hampton Roads crafted a short video to explain "What is CrossFit?" at a local health fair: Watch.

SUNDAY 090308

Enlarge Image

Participants in Tony Blauer's (CrossFit Combatives) Summer Training Camp last year. CrossFit affiliates get a discount and an opportunity to listen to Coach Glassman at this year's camp in August.

CrossFit Valley Park gets some major airtime on a local St. Louis TV station as well as a write-up on their website: Read and Watch.

SATURDAY 090307

Enlarge Image

Bill Getty, owner of CrossFit Central Maine, competed in the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston recently. CF Central Maine brought seven athletes to compete and fielded the largest CrossFit affiliate team at the event: Read.

CF Manchester competed in the English Indoor Rowing Championships and won three gold medals and one silver medal. Fay Collinson won a gold in the 500m (with a time of 1:40.2) despite having broken her wrist weightlifting nine weeks prior to the event.

CrossFit Copenhagen shows that the WOD is the universal language: Video.

FRIDAY 090306

Enlarge Image

Kevin Montoya, owner of CrossFit FlexGym, reminds us that balance is one of the 10 General Physical Skills. Can you name the other nine, without looking them up?

Ruben Rojas, a coach at Valley CrossFit, hiked to the top of Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, and then threw down some burpees: Video.

Now, more Words for Affiliates by Affiliates, as James Hobson, owner of CrossFit Addiction, writes about "The Three Obstacles of Every CrossFit Affiliate Owner."

THURSDAY 090305

Enlarge Image

Audra D. of CrossFit Oakland gets under the bar while Candace H. cheers her on at the NorCal Team Throwdown (a gathering of area affiliates) recently.

People have been asking us, so we're asking you: Who are the outstanding female athletes out there in affiliate-land that we don't know about? Tell us about someone new. And, while we're at it, tell us about your outstanding over-40 female athletes. We get those requests too. Post to Comments and give us some women to cheer for.

How about an outstanding female athlete/affiliate owner? Pat C., a member at CrossFit East Decatur, wrote a blogpost about her coach Shana Alverson: Read.

WEDNESDAY 090304

Enlarge Image

Four deadlift PRs: Hunter F. of CrossFit Coastal pulls 405 lbs, 11-year-old Dylan of CrossFit Arizona pulls 95lbs, Matthew N. of CrossFit Gainesville pulls 425lbs., and Ben D. of Bridger CrossFit pulls 500bs.

What's the favorite lift of your members? Is it the Deadlift? The Clean and Jerk? The Snatch? Why? Post to Comments.

Skip Chase of Mt. Baker CrossFit reminds us of what we look like to the rest of world (or, at least Austin, TX): Read.

TUESDAY 090303

Enlarge Image

Meet Joe Petrusky of CrossFit Love, our 1,000th affiliate.

The first CrossFit affiliate arrived on 10/11/2002. In the past year alone, we've added close to 700 affiliates to our family. CrossFit affiliates bang out the WOD everyday in 48 U.S. states and on six continents, and we even have practicing CrossFitters on Antarctica.

Today, we thank our entire CrossFit family for making this day possible. We'd be nothing without you.

Now, let's hear from Joe. His story is his own, but it sounds like so many of us too:

"CrossFit has given me so much already. I am now the owner of my own business, my health and fitness levels have sky-rocketed, and I plan to continue to help as many people as possible by giving them the power to help themselves as well. I plan to take this opportunity to be not only the best damn coach I can be, but the best damn person I can be."

Read the rest of Joe's story . . .

MONDAY 090302

Enlarge Image

CrossFit Kettlebell Certification Seminar at CrossFit NYC, February 28-Mar 1.

More and more certs in the Northeast. Was this the last pocket of the country to get on the CrossFit train? Or are there other areas that have yet to awaken to CrossFit?

Jeannie's Beach CrossFit says that things are gettin' better: Video.

SUNDAY 090301

Enlarge Image

Justin Bergh, owner of CrossFit SS and intern for the CFHQ training staff, coaches Stuart G. of Harbor City CrossFit at the Level 1 Certification Seminar at CrossFit BGI on Feb 28th.

Feb was a short month, so that means Painstorm comes even sooner . . .