THURSDAY 090430

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How do CrossFitters take down a wall and expand into new space? Kettlebell CrossFit Demo(lition) Team, of course! Ultimate CrossFit affiliated in October 2007 and now needs to double their training space, so they got a little creative in tearing down that old wall.

Sometimes, you just have to laugh. CrossFit New Zealand's Taz writes a letter to Mr. Bench Press: Read.

And then there are times to be serious and take your own destiny as an affiliate and/or trainer into your hands. The CrossFit Risk Retention Group: Video from the Main Page.

WEDNESDAY 090429

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CrossFit Milford's Andrea della Bitta, with the help of a young friend, redefines beauty and power at the Magic Kingdom.

Ever think about the potential effect we could be (or are) having on the mindset of young girls? What's it like to grow up with the norm being that your mother clean and jerks instead of cleaning the house? What's it like to grow up hoping that you can beat your aunt at deadlifting? What's it like to grow up as a young girl really knowing that achievement matters more than appearance?

Sometimes, you read a blogpost that makes you stop and really think of the effect we, as trainers, have on others. CrossFit Allegiance's Lu Crenshaw posted the story of her sister: Read.

TUESDAY 090428

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New, bigger spaces for CrossFit Durham and CrossFit Power Athlete.

We've got 16 days left to fund the CrossFit Risk Retention Group. If you believe in the idea that we all band together to protect our own interests, tell five other CrossFit affiliates/trainers about it and why they should join. And if you're not a member of the RRG, tell us why. We're curious.

Dale Saran (CFHQ legal counsel and former affiliate owner) gives the skinny about the RRG on CrossFit Radio: Listen.

MONDAY 090427

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What it looks like in the heat of the battle at a CrossFit Games Qualifier: athletes, judges, and the screaming spectators. The only thing this photo doesn't capture is how loud it is. Passion and intensity to an infinite degree. If you haven't been to a Qualifier yet, get to one.

The Qualifiers are packed with affiliates. Does CrossFit Alexandria hold the record (to date) for athletes entered (24)? Which affiliate (so far) has the most athletes succeed in making the cut for the Games?

If you're an affiliate owner, what do you do after finishing something like the Mid-Atlantic Qualifier? Blog about it for the folks back home, of course! Read what happened to Josh Wagner of CrossFit Apex.

SUNDAY 090426

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CrossFit Games Mid-Atlantic Qualifiers, VA, Apr 25: John Alanis of CrossFit BWI gets depth during the run/overhead squat/box jump workout (while a judge watches closely).

Brian Bowen of CrossFit Ramstein takes us inside the CrossFit Games European Qualifiers . . .

SATURDAY 090425

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A sure sign of spring: Tire-flippin' outside at Albany CrossFit.

CrossFit Fire hands out some tough love: Read.

FRIDAY 090424

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Imagine you go to high school and one of your classes is CrossFit? Is that not the coolest thing? Welcome to Blue Flame CrossFit, home to some lucky teenage CrossFitters!

What do you think of a live video feed from your affiliate? Gravity Jane's has one on their website. Advantages? Drawbacks?

CrossFit Unlimited reminds their athletes to "move fast, breathe slow": Read.

THURSDAY 090423

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In the "Battle Buddy" WOD at Bayou City CrossFit, there are two rules: The bar can never touch the ground and each member must do half.

There are some interesting WODs coming out of the CrossFit Games Regional Qualifiers. Are you using any of them at your affiliate? Have you tinkered with or "improved" any of them?

CrossFit Kids Agoge recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and took a look back at where their program started and how much it has grown: Video.

WEDNESDAY 090422

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CrossFit Spotsy leads SWAT Class 409 (in full kit) through some "train" burpees.

It's the season of the CrossFit Games Regional Qualifiers. Is your affiliate sending anyone to a Qualifier, or attending to cheer and watch? Or is your focus elsewhere than the Games?

There are high box jumps, and then there are high box jumps. Check out Bridger CrossFit's Brian H. and his 59" box jump (82% of his height): Video.

TUESDAY 090421

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Things you don't expect to see in the gym, courtesy of Jen at CrossFit One Spirit and Sue at CrossFit Watertown.

We see lots of things in CrossFit affiliate boxes: Dogs, babies, athletes battling for a cheap plastic championship belt on a Friday night, grandmas deadlifting 200lbs. The unusual becomes normal, to us. Could you ever go back to the way life used to be, before you found CrossFit? Or is this just another phase in your life that will pass and become a faded memory?

Something else in CrossFit that sets us apart: Tribute workouts. Recently, CrossFit Solano and Bay Area affiliates raised over $13,000 for the families of four fallen police officers through a memorial WOD: Video.

MONDAY 090420

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Dave B. hits the ring dips in the early morning at CrossFit San Elijo.

Nicole Carroll and Dave Castro, CFHQ Directors of Training, have an announcement:

Please check out the new Level 2 Trainer Directory on the main CrossFit.com site. The Directory gives public endorsement to those trainers who have been evaluated by CrossFit HQ and have met CrossFit's standards for good training. It allows for the public to search for a Level 2 CrossFit Certified Trainer by the trainer's name, geographic location, and/or affiliates and includes contact emails.

SUNDAY 090419

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What it looks like after you left your heart on the training floor: CrossFit Ramstein's Kari Kundert, after the European Games Qualifiers.

CrossFit King of Prussia movin' on up to a bigger location: Video.

SATURDAY 090418

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Team CrossFit Elite Fitness Academy hosted the DEA LA Field Office for the 3rd Annual Maltz Challenge; this was their second year as host to the event for over 60 DEA agents. Read more about it here.

Over at CrossFit Whidbey Island, EOD Mobile Unit 11 honored Skip Chase and his staff for their support: Read.

FRIDAY 090417

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After the WOD, there's always time for fun: Mary B., Glory D., and Christa S. from CrossFit BWI.

Is it different to be a woman in CrossFit? As a member or as a trainer or as an affiliate owner?

Sam of Again Faster and Stacey of CrossFit Boston throw down in "Totally Linda" at the CrossFit New England Throwdown recently: Video.

THURSDAY 090416

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Level 1 Certification Seminar, Guerrilla Fitness CrossFit Montclair, March 2009. Sometimes the picture tells the whole story.

Take this test: Look at the front page of your website. If you can't find your contact info within two seconds, you might be losing potential members. Make it super-easy for people. It's not a scavenger hunt.

CrossFit Off the Grid gets some great press in the garage: Read and watch.

WEDNESDAY 090415

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Chad Williams (owner of CrossFit Edmonton) set out to get a handstand photo at Diamond Head, Hawaii, just for his personal "Handstands Around the World" photo collection. But as his wife started snapping, so too did the tourists--and they asked him to do it again so they could get the shot.

It's an interesting perspective: CrossFit as spectacle. (Public handstands, park WODs, globo-gym WODs, etc.) It is, arguably, one of our greatest methods of advertising. People see and they ask what we're doing. But do we ever take it too far? Or have we not even taken it far enough?

Bill Tirado and Zach Frankhouser of CrossFit Delaware Valley offer an interesting perspective on "Compressing WOD Times": Read.

TUESDAY 090414

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Bride and groom Stacey and Dave Minton (owners of Treasure Coast CrossFit) Best Man Al S., and Maid of Honor, Alyson T. (CrossFit Tribe) enjoying some CrossFit fun between vows and reception.

It seems that a number of us consider ourselves coaches first and business people second. Is that true? And, if so, is that a bad notion to have? Is it a foolish way to operate a business? Or is it a way to save your soul? Does the business side of your affiliate bore you or make you feel uncomfortable?

Over at CrossFit Coeur d'Alene, Derek nails a 50" box jump: Video.

MONDAY 090413

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CrossFit Greyskull gets creative with kettlebells and chains as part of a workout.

How creative do you get at your affiliate? What's your favorite way to mix things up and leave your members really asking, "You want us to do what?"

For their grand opening, CrossFit Northwest Tucson turned out the firefighters on "Fran": Video.

SUNDAY 090412

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Cubby from CrossFit Redding fly fishes recently on the Sacramento River, near the Sundial Bridge.

CrossFit Old Bethpage grabs some press attention: Read and watch.

SATURDAY 090411

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10-year-old Allie of CrossFit Loveland nails "Fran" with crayons.

King County CrossFit throws down on a Sunday: Video.

FRIDAY 090410

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Jeff Tucker and gang at the CrossFit Gymnastics Certification Seminar held recently at CrossFit New England.

We're a community, and I am an affiliate . . .

THURSDAY 090409

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Didn't you feel like doing this at the end of about just every WOD you ever finished? Well, Shawn of CrossFit Orillia did it at the end of the Filthy Fifty. Cool.

Matt and Cherie, owners of CrossFit Verve, experienced a very difficult loss recently. The thoughts of CFHQ and the CrossFit community are with them. Read their blogpost for a story of strength and spirit.

CrossFit Pittsburgh suffered a tragic loss recently too. This past weekend, they honored the memory of Officer Paul Sciullo III with a special WOD. Stay safe out there, everyone.

WEDNESDAY 090408

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Scaleable: At CrossFit Morris County, two members flip a tire, while over at CrossFit Minnesota, a Police Academy recruit flips it himself.

How do you evaluate your trainers? Do you have known criteria? How about regular feedback sessions? How does a trainer working for your affiliate know if they're doing great or not so hot?

If you're looking for a change of pace on your own affiliate blog, enlist one of your members to write a guest piece. That's how CrossFit West Santa Cruz produced a short primer on joint health: Read.

TUESDAY 090407

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We're not sure this qualifies as a workout, but does it really matter? Nicki Violetti of CrossFit Norcal, Aimee Anaya of Catalyst Athletics, and Jolie Gentry of CrossFit One World, poolside this past weekend in California.

Do you hold women-only CrossFit classes at your affiliate? Why or why not?

The slow-mo camera over at HyperFit USA is seriously cool (once you're past the long intro): Video.

MONDAY 090406

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Mike Pommerening (of CrossFit Gotham) prepares to powerclean at the Basic Barbell Certification held at CrossFit Milford recently.

Many would argue that the barbell is crucial to CrossFit. But is the quality of the barbell crucial? What should the beginning affiliate purchase? Should the established affiliate upgrade their bars? What's your favorite barbell in your affiliate?

Alternative Athletics CrossFit manages to score some press just a few weeks after opening their doors: Read and/or watch.

SUNDAY 090405

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The Australasia Qualifier for the 2009 CrossFit Games was held this weekend. But before Tamaryn and Darren, the co-owners of CrossFit New Zealand, left for Sydney, Australia, their members presented them with a can of "WhoopAss" to open on the competition. Check out CrossFit Effects for updates on the workouts.

CrossFit Works answers the question "What is a Real CrossFitter?": Read.

SATURDAY 090404

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What do you do after competing in a Highland Games with a caber? Overhead squat it, of course. Just ask Vicky R. (top) and Tatiana K. of CrossFit Road Warriors.

Bayou City CrossFit and CrossFit Houston compete in a Spring Challenge: Video.

FRIDAY 090403

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Mary and Mike started CrossFit Rockwall together . . . and now they're together. Congrats to Mary and Mike on their engagement!

Dating non-CrossFitters: Is it a waste of time? Do they just not "get" it? Or is it healthier?

If you love CrossFit and you're considering opening an affiliate, Nicki Violetti of CrossFit Norcal has a helpful kind of gutcheck for you: Read.

THURSDAY 090402

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Dr. Dan Stickler, CrossFit West Virginia owner (and CrossFit RRG member) hits a handstand on Flamingo Beach, Costa Rica.

Still confused by the RRG talk yesterday? Look in the CF Journal comments or the Affiliate Forum for more answers.

Need your monthly Painstorm? We've got it . . .

WEDNESDAY 090401

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Jason Highbarger of CrossFit North Santa Cruz participates in a special Oakland PD hero WOD recently during a fundraiser at CrossFit Oakland.

As affiliates, we've forged elite fitness. Now, as affiliates, we're forging elite insurance. Today, we announce the launch of an insurance company (The CrossFit Risk Retention Group) owned and managed by you, the CrossFit affiliates. It's better than anything else out there. Come join us in this extraordinary, revolutionary opportunity to forge your own destiny.