SUNDAY 090531

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Teaching the squat at CrossFit Sri Ram Ashram, the only CrossFit affliliate in India. CF SRA is located within Sri Ram Ashram, a home for abandoned children in northern India.

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Over at CrossFit Threshold, young Aiden gets in the middle of a Turkish Get-up: Video.

SATURDAY 090530

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Different strokes for different folks: Wall art for CrossFit Ignite and CrossFit Sweatshop.

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Lu Crenshaw and CrossFit Allegiance grab some good press: Read.

FRIDAY 090529

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Doug the Fireman shows some effort during pull-ups at P3 CrossFit.

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We talk a lot about effort in CrossFit, about determination, about having the guts to stick out a workout and push through the pain. Do CrossFitters have more determination -- or are we the same as any sports community?

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Sometimes, a CrossFit blog yields a beautiful piece of writing, an essay to be savored for its nuances and appreciated for its lessons. Read "The Difference" by Patrick Cummings of Again Faster.

THURSDAY 090528

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Who's pimped their ride with CrossFit? (Obviously CrossFit West Virginia has.)

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Sometimes your ride stalls. Sometimes your Risk Retention Group hits a plateau, just 19 days away from becoming a reality. Sometimes your training gets stuck in gear and you hit no new PRs. What do you do? What's your best tip for busting out of a plateau?

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Steve Rakow at CrossFit Ocean City has advice on what to do when your training is not resulting in gains: Read Plateaus and What to Do About Them.

WEDNESDAY 090527

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The gang at CrossFit Ramstein got together for brunch but managed to make some fun and a workout too.

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How important is the warm-up to the workout? Is a proper warm-up underrated or overrated? Or does that answer depend upon what kind of workout is planned?

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CrossFit Evolution searches for the perfect warm-up: Read.

TUESDAY 090526

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Kim Malz: mom, cancer survivor, affiliate owner (CrossFit Persevere) and, now, 2009 CrossFit Games competitor. She went from 17th to 4th place on the final WOD at the Northeast Qualifiers through virtue of solid technique, phenomenal focus, and relentless pace. And now she's headed to Aromas. Live strong, indeed.

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And Kim Malz is an RRG member. No kidding. Thought long and hard about it, asked questions, and then signed up her affiliate. How about you? We're still $60,000 away from meeting our funding goal. If one more affiliate and one more trainer from every state joined the RRG, we'd be fully funded and able to start writing policies soon. One and one. That's all we need.

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Chip M. of Cynergy CrossFit gives an athlete's view of the Northeast Q's: Read.

MONDAY 090525

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The newly renovated CrossFit area of the gym at West Point, where Black and Gold CrossFit lives and thrives. (And where they're eager to help any affiliates who have questions about running very large WODs, adapting CrossFit on a military base, etc. So contact Black and Gold CrossFit if you want more information.)

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Windy City CrossFit will run "Murph Day" to remember and honor one who gave all, and other affiliates are joining the cause: Read.

SUNDAY 090524

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James Hobart of CrossFit Boston, during and after the first workout of the CrossFit Games Northeast Qualifiers, 23 May. (He's in third place heading into Sunday's final event.)

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Leah of CrossFit Nation writes about baldness and the heart of CrossFit: Read.

SATURDAY 090523

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Conrad S. of CrossFit Eaton.

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CrossFit Orange County gets some good TV news coverage: Video.

FRIDAY 090522

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The 2009 CrossFit Games Regional Qualifiers started in early April and finish this weekend with the Northeast Regional Q's at Albany CrossFit. (Photo courtesy of the SoCal Q's in April.)

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Have the Q's brought a greater sense of community to us as affiliates? If so, how? And how can we make the overall affiliate experience even better at next year's Q's?

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Nicki Violetti (of CrossFit NorCal) makes some interesting points about pricing: Read.

THURSDAY 090521

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Kids imitate what they see around them. Hence, the 8-month-old attempts to power clean at CrossFit Huntsville. (No, she didn't make it. And her form needed work.)

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Sometimes, in our passion for CrossFit, we forget that there could be things more important than CrossFit. (Maybe?) Quick, name two.

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Trey W. of CrossFit NE Georgia focuses on what he can do, and not on what he can't: Video.

WEDNESDAY 090520

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Army recruits take part in a free workout at CrossFit Battle Ready.

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Congratulations to CrossFit Kids, who just passed the 100th affiliate mark!

First we had CrossFitKids, then CrossFit Football; is there another focus area that seems a natural fit for CrossFit?

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Tycen P. of CrossFit Dixie does "Grace" in 1:05: Video.

TUESDAY 090519

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CrossFit Tri-Cities (wintertime) members (Evan, Jacob, and Tim) and their guide (Anil) raft on Clear Creek the day before competing in the Front Range Regional Qualifier for the CrossFit Games.

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When the weather is beautiful in the summertime, do you see a slight decline in attendance at your affiliate? Or is attendance the same no matter what season it is?

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CrossFit South Brooklyn makes a case for structuring more periodization into the training schedule at an affiliate: Read "Back Off Weeks."

MONDAY 090518

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CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certification Seminar (with Coach Mike Burgener) CrossFit Milford, 16-17 May 2009.

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What's your favorite cert? Why?

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In case you missed the latest RRG update: Read the good news.

SUNDAY 090517

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Things are never normal in a CrossFitter's house. (CrossFit Ignite got a little creative storing bumpers and kettlebells before moving into their new box.)

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CrossFit Feel Good blogs about developing our sense of balance: Read.

SATURDAY 090516

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David V. (of CrossFit Northern Kentucky) just hanging out in Aruba recently. (And today? You should find him competing in the CF Games MidWest Qualifier.)

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CrossFit West Virginia grabs some good press: Read.

FRIDAY 090515

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Outlining the bodies after a WOD at CrossFit Scotland . . .

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Three letters: RRG. You know the rest. And you can still sign up.

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Some affiliates blog stories, some blog WODs. Some blog the story/reasoning behind the WOD, like CrossFit Gotham: Read

THURSDAY 090514

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Deadline for funding the CrossFit Risk Retention Group is one day away: This Friday. Who wouldn't want to make a smart move for their affiliate or themselves? Get yourself over to the RRG page today. (And to those who already joined -- thanks!) 3-2-1, Go!

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(Can you name the affiliate where the above artwork lives? Post guesses to Comments! Thanks to CrossFit West Virginia for snapping the photo on their cross-country tour.)

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If you've got great artwork in your affiliate (or something else that makes the box pretty cool) let's see it! Grab the address on the right-hand sidebar (affiliateblog@crossfit.com) and let us hear from you!

WEDNESDAY 090513

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Across the ages: 3-year-old Kai from CrossFit JAX and 85-year-old Mike from Team CrossFit.

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Some members are young, some members are old. Some CrossFit coaches are outspoken, and some are a little quieter. Is there a perfect CrossFit coach "type"? Do naturally gregarious people make better trainers? Do they make more successful affiliates?

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CrossFit BRIO demonstrates exactly why we practice cleans: Video.

TUESDAY 090512

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One of the rooms at the new, expanded location for CrossFit Los Angeles.

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Three days to go for the initial funding of the CrossFit Risk Retention Group.

Wonder why trainers buy into the RRG? Here's Cyndi Rodi, CrossFit Brand X trainer and member of CrossFit Kids HQ, talking about the RRG: "I knew that it would take all of us to make this work. It doesn't do much good to talk about community. I felt I had to put my money where my mouth is. It's not entirely about what the RRG can do for me. Maybe it sounds cheesy, but I strongly feel members of a community need to come together for the common good."

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As promised, Chris Cooper at CrossFit Catalyst reveals Five More Tips for Telling Your Client's Story . . .

Continue reading "TUESDAY 090512"

MONDAY 090511

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Scott of CrossFit Orillia, early 2008 and today. The difference? CrossFit, of course. Nice work, Scott!

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If you're an affiliate, you've probably had at least one obese member. What is the single best piece of advice you can give on coaching the severely overweight? What would you advise not to do?

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Chris Cooper from CrossFit Catalyst has five tips today for affiliate owners: Telling the Client's Story . . .

Continue reading "MONDAY 090511"

SUNDAY 090510

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Rachel S. of CrossFit Manchester hangs out atop Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England -- and part of the "Three Peaks Challenge" that members of CFM scaled within 24 hours for a cancer research charity.

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Rainier CrossFit finds a way to act locally in support of the CrossFit Risk Retention Group. Scroll to the bottom of this blogpost and read about their idea for supporting the RRG and their own trainers. Very nice.

SATURDAY 090509

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Meet Michele, Valerie, Rebecca, Kristan, Kim, and Katie, the top six women at the Games SoCal Qualifier. (CrossFit: Invictus, Culver City, Valley (x2), North Hollywood, and 360.) What's amazing is they got together to train after the Q's. Who does that with their competition?

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More Q's going on this weekend: Asia meets on the island of Okinawa, Japan while Central and South America gather in Lima, Peru. Check out the Games page for updates.

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Six days remaining to contribute to the CrossFit Risk Retention Group. Do you have any idea what you get for your $1,000 as an affiliate? Seriously. Are the benefits clear or unclear?

Read what Becca Borawski of CrossFit Los Angeles had to say about the RRG . . .

Continue reading "SATURDAY 090509"

FRIDAY 090508

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Sometimes, you just got to go with the moment. Ray (co-owner of CrossFit Peachtree) coaches on Cinco de Mayo. (Notice the stopwatch and the stern look, even as a taco.)

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What you can't go with, though, is being an affiliate yet only signing up as a trainer for the CrossFit RRG. Sure, it's cheaper but it's not the right thing to do. Your affiliate will be left unprotected, your voting rights in the RRG will be fewer, and your dog might even run away. If you're an affiliate, please sign up as an affiliate.

Seven (7) days to go on the RRG funding deadline. Do you think we'll make it? Post thoughts to Comments.

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Pace yourself in your nutritional approach to life, just like you do in the WOD, says CrossFit Works: Read.

THURSDAY 090507

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What happens when you add CrossFit to the dryland portion of your swimming program? Just ask Chris Michelmore, Spartan Swimming CrossFit coach for the San Jose State women's swim team: "In this past season we broke 25 school records, went 16-1 in our dual meet record (longest win streak in the nation), and (had) more fun than ever along the way!" Congrats to the SJS team!

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Does your affiliate train any local sports teams? Grade school? High school? College? How did you happen into that role?

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Sports are great, but what if you're really dying to know how CrossFit will improve your performance at carnival games? Well, check out Kristin's story at CrossFit Evolution: Read.

WEDNESDAY 090506

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Sunrise kettlebell swings at CrossFit Sweat Shop.

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What's your busiest hour? Is it a 5am or 6am class? Noon? Night?

Why so busy then? Is it the coach or the time of day that draws people?

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Jon Gilson of Again Faster interviews CrossFit Centurion's Ian Carver (K-9 cop of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department): Read or listen.

TUESDAY 090505

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Getting warmed up at CrossFit South Brooklyn.

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Let's take all this CrossFit Risk Retention Group talk and break it down simply: The RRG is our shield and our sword against those who would want to harm CrossFit. Without it, we are all like the young lady in the photo above: A bit out of synch with her peers and about to draw some unwanted attention and correction. (And, no, your regular insurance is not likely to cover you the same way.)

Do you need to hear any more about the RRG? Have you seen the videos on the main page? Heard the CrossFit Radio shows? What's holding you back from joining? Why are we not at our $500,000 goal yet?

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Young Emily and the (short but great!) story of her muscle-up, as told by CrossFit Ocean City and CrossFit Kids: [wmv] [mov]

MONDAY 090504

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Randi S. works in the garage at CrossFit Playground.

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Sound off in Comments if you started your affiliate in your garage. What do you miss about those days? What don't you miss? What lessons did you learn there that you never forgot?

Or, if you never started in the garage, tell us that too. How big of a place did you jump into?

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Coming soon: The battle for the Affiliate Cup at this year's CrossFit Games! Registration opens next Monday: Read.

SUNDAY 090503

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CrossFit Tucson has some fun with CrossFit Limbo.

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Sometimes, simple advice is good advice. CrossFit Ocean City reminds us that practice is what makes perfect: Read.

SATURDAY 090502

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Some streets you just don't want to turn onto, like this one that Peter Nathan of Gunx CrossFit passed.

In fact, a quick internet search reveals at least four Burpee roads in America, as well as a town, a nursery, a museum, and one lawyer. (Yes, we are amused by the prospect of addressing counsel as "Mr. Burpee.")

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CrossFit LA shares some business tips for affiliate owners: [wmv] [mov]

FRIDAY 090501

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A permanent reminder on the whiteboard at CrossFit Northern Ireland: Just another one of those things to which we go "Uh-huh" and the rest of the world goes "What?"

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We're going to say those three little letters again: RRG. 13 days remain to fund the CrossFit Risk Retention Group. We've seen some affiliates really step up in the last two days and we appreciate their efforts in reaching out to their fellow affiliates, whether it be statewide or nationwide. What are you going to do today? Sit around and let others decide your fate or are you going to get in the fight?

(C'mon, we've even got an RRG widget you can put on your blog or Facebook page . . .)

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Since it's the first of May, we've also got your Painstorm workout . . .

Continue reading "FRIDAY 090501"