MONDAY 090831

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CrossFit Odyssey (VA) gets some tug of war into their beach workout.

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The end of summer is approaching for some of the US affiliates, but that means bupkus to those affiliates in warmer climates. Tell us your favorite outside WODs and how many months of the year you're able to utilize the outdoors. (And, has anybody ever wished they lived in a colder climate?)

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Cynergy CrossFit (MA) didn't go to the beach, but they managed to load some water (and fun) into a parking lot workout: Video.

SUNDAY 090830

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CrossFit Oahu posts a new gym record. Congrats to Emilia on the birth of her son! (Emilia has been CrossFitting for about two years -- with her mother, father, sister, and husband -- and felt it really helped her during the the pregnancy, physically and mentally.)

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One life begins at CF Oahu, but a life ends at Albany CrossFit, where a beloved member was lost. Read ACF trainer Joy's note about the loss of her husband Steve, and the support of the ACF community during such hard times.

SATURDAY 090829

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Ian, from CrossFit 4800, on Hauser Lake in Montana . . .

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CrossFit for the bowhunter? You betcha! CrossFit Spokane Valley gives instruction in Bowhunter: Read.

FRIDAY 090828

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Some kids, by virtue of their parents being trainers, will just grow up in a CrossFit gym: CrossFit Playground (CT).

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CrossFit Founder Greg Glassman once said: "Virtues are best and most easily taught in the gym." Would you agree?

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Triangle CrossFit (NC) brings forth some simple wisdom again: Read "Little Kid."

THURSDAY 090827

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"O.D." wows the crowd at CrossFit New Hampshire with her deadlift, her spirit, and her dedication.

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How do you select the photos for your blog? Must they all show excellent form? Is it ever okay to pick a photo for emotion instead of technique?

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Sometimes, you come across a story that needs to be heard. Find out about CrossFit Central (TX) member Jeff B. and how he became an athlete. Read "Fifty Pounds Gone."

WEDNESDAY 090826

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CrossFit Slayer: Making things happen somewhere in Iraq . . .

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We all don't start out on the same footing. Some of us have more equipment, some have less. But who among us wouldn't want to go work out at CrossFit Slayer?

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Witness the Evolution of the Shed at RedShed CrossFit (NJ).

TUESDAY 090825

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13-year-old Whitley trains on the push press at CrossFit California City (CA). Whitley and a team of teens will travel to CrossFit Brand X (CA) for the CrossFit Kids Cert on Sept 26th to participate in Fight Gone Bad IV. 10 adult Cert attendees vs. 10 CrossFit Kids. Highest combined score wins.

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Are you getting kids involved in Fight Gone Bad IV at your affiliate? Or is it strictly an adults-only affair?

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More affiliate information that you can use -- watch this video by Analisa Naldi of CrossFit Los Altos (CA) and learn how Fight Gone Bad IV can help grow your small business.

MONDAY 090824

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How would you like to be able to do that at 60 years old? Meet Greg W., father of CrossFit Northwest Tucson co-owner Jennifer Walker Lawrence.

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Many CrossFit affiliate owners pride themselves on not being conventional business owners, and shun words found in traditional business circles: demographics, marketing, targeting, etc. In doing so, are we shorting ourselves of certain skills and opportunities? Or is the secret of our success contained in being what others might consider "non-traditional"?

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More advice for affiliates from Robert Bixby, who works out at CrossFit Santa Cruz Central and CrossFit North Santa Cruz . . .

Continue reading "MONDAY 090824"

SUNDAY 090823

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James E. deadlifts at the Mt. Rainier Strongest Man (and Woman) contest to fund Fragile X research.

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Ever wonder why Rainier CrossFit hosts this event every year? Read this post and understand not only that, but a whole lot more.

SATURDAY 090822

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Tractor pushes, box jumps, push presses -- put it all together and you've got a WOD at CrossFit Whidbey Island (WA). (That's Chad H. on the tractor and Shelly H. providing the muscle!)

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Ultimate CrossFit (NC) grabs some air time on their local TV news: Video.

FRIDAY 090821

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Kelly of SnoRidge CrossFit gets her first muscle-up while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. (And, yes, of course CrossFitters take their rings on vacation.)

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Ever feel like you're alone with people in a workout? Does that make sense? Read Neil's "Solitude v. Community" over at CrossFit Boston and tell us what you think and how you feel during your WOD.

THURSDAY 090820

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Jenna "Barely Legal" E. of Gravity Janes CrossFit (WA) summits Mt. Rainier (elev. 14,411 feet) recently. Of course, she's the one leading . . .

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If you were not a CrossFit trainer, what would you be? (Not what else are you now, but what would you be . . .)

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CrossFit California City (CA) wants you to learn to listen to your body: Read.

WEDNESDAY 090819

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Sprinting at CrossFit Firebase Orlando (FL).

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How do you record your workout progress? How do you record the progress of your affiliate members? Is it on the whiteboard in your gym, in a notebook, with an iPhone app, on-line, or in some other way?

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Jon Gilson (Again Faster) has something for us to consider. Read Center of Gravity, Area of Base, and Torque.

TUESDAY 090818

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Jeff Tucker (GSX and CrossFit Gymnastics guru) "relaxes" after his first-ever Fight Gone Bad.

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Tuck and his crew are "in" for Fight Gone Bad IV on Sept 26th . . . along with 284 other teams already. Check out who's already joined the fight here.

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CrossFit Brand X doesn't plan to miss out on any of the "fun" pain for good causes. . .

Continue reading "TUESDAY 090818"

MONDAY 090817

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Angela Desjarlais of CrossFit Regina (Canada) races to a bronze medal in the Toughest Competitor Alive competition in the 2009 World Police and Fire Games held in Vancouver: Read. But what's really interesting is what Angela said about her preparation: "This year I only did CrossFit to train . . . Four years ago I trained (non-CrossFit) for 2 hours a day/5 days a week and I competed at the world class level and placed 9th out 15. This year I trained 20min-40min/5 days a week and got a medal."

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Another tale of success (at the Mud Run) from CrossFit Hampton Roads (VA): Read.

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Competitions are fun, but do they do anything for your business? Andy Petranek (CrossFit LA) thinks the annual Fight Gone Bad fundraiser can actually boost your membership: Video.

SUNDAY 090816

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At World Camp CrossFit (GA), even Saban is tired after the WOD . . .

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CrossFit Spokane (WA) trains fire department recruits and gains some press coverage too: Watch/Read.

SATURDAY 090815

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Rob Miller, owner of CrossFit Delaware Valley (PA), nails some double-unders during the lunchtime Trainer WOD at a recent CrossFit Level One Certification at CrossFit South Brooklyn (NY).

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CrossFit Zone (Canada) gets TV coverage for training some ultramarathoners: Video.

FRIDAY 090814

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Max F. and Paul G. from CrossFit South County havin' a bit of fun at the beach. Well, that is until one let go and the other rolled off the wall and ripped his shorts and, well, you can imagine the long walk back to the car . . .

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Trainer ego: It's there and we know it. Most CrossFit trainers have a healthy self-esteem, but when is it too much? Do you ever make your trainers participate in the regular classes so they remember what it's like to be a member? Or is it okay if they come in at class time and always do their own workout?

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Sleep -- you know you should get more of it. CrossFit Santa Cruz has some reminders for us: Read Sleep Part One and Part Two.

THURSDAY 090813

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Someone is growing up in a very different world . . . (Payton of CrossFit Genesis.)

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The young recover more quickly from CrossFit workouts (and from most things in life.) What advice do you give your older clients (say, the post-40 crowd) in order to deal with the effects of time and CrossFit?

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Daniel Broughton (owner of CrossFit Woodbridge) thinks you really should check out your local Chamber of Commerce . . .

Continue reading "THURSDAY 090813"

WEDNESDAY 090812

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Jordan, a trainer at CrossFit Redding (CA), overhead squats some of the landscape at Castle Crags State Park.

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Pop singer Kelly Clarkson says she CrossFits. Is that welcome news for our community? Or not? Why? If you're truly committed to CrossFit, does it really matter what anybody else says or does?

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There used to be just a few mainstream press stories about CrossFit. Now they are abundant. Read this article about CrossFit Minnesota, plus this article about Southern Maryland CrossFit, or the grandma's talk about CrossFit, or this article about three CrossFit affiliates in Utah. Still need more? Try this article that highlights four affiliates in the NJ/PA area. And there are plenty more . . .

TUESDAY 090811

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Clarence (of CrossFit Fredericton) gets his deadlift on.

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Canadian affiliates will be participating in the fundraiser workout Fight Gone Bad IV, to be held on Sept 26th. Jodi and Anthony Bainbridge (owners of CrossFit Fredericton in New Brunswick, Canada) tells us who CFF is fighting for -- and that his name is Clarence . . .

Continue reading "TUESDAY 090811"

MONDAY 090810

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Steve G., who earned "Athlete of the Week" honors at CrossFit Costa Mesa.

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Do you run any kind of recognition program like "Athlete of the Week" or "Member of the Month", etc? Do you offer prizes or some kind of reward for the winners?

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Some thoughts on "Pain" by Frank DiMeo of CrossFit Gulf Coast . . .

Continue reading "MONDAY 090810"

SUNDAY 090809

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Matt. M. and his new bride Lori, both of CrossFit Coastal (NC). Matt got married, certified, and hired in the same month. What's the follow-up act to that?

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Triangle CrossFit (NC) brings a concise, clear voice to their blogposts: Read "It Begins With a Day." (And poke around their site for more simple truths.)

SATURDAY 090908

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Dave Leys and Ben H. go overhead with some local youth during a recent trip to Zambia, where they helped to build a playground. CrossFit Santa Cruz posted their story: Read.

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CrossFit Loveland grabs some press from a reporter with a sense of humor: Read. (Click the link below the article in the CFL blogpost to grab it in clearer, full-screen format.)

FRIDAY 090807

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Locked out of your gym? You can still box jump and figure out a WOD, like CrossFit Canberra (Australia) did recently. (That's Steve F., going for max height.)

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Name your best, most insane, or most useful "I'll use what's in front of me" workout. Describe where, what, and why in Comments . . .

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One week, two military newspapers: CrossFit Black Diamond (CA) makes it into the Navy Times, while CrossFit Ramstein (Germany) gets written up also.

THURSDAY 090806

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The gang at CrossFit Laguna Beach (CA) at -- where else? -- the beach!

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Fun. How important is a sense of fun to a successful CrossFit affiliate?

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More TV time for affiliates: CrossFit Allegiance (OR) gets on air, as does CrossFit Milford (CT) with this studio piece.

WEDNESDAY 090805

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Cara K. of Motor City CrossFit gets intense with her split jerk.

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Intensity: CrossFit brings it out in so many of us in the workout. But what about your work outside of the training floor? Is there a part of the business side of your affiliate (finance, blogging, marketing, looking for new members, leading your training staff, etc.) that revs your motor? Or is that just nonsense and the only fun part is the training?

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Coach Jeff Martin (CrossFit Kids/CrossFit Brand X) has some words on intensity that are certain to up your game and lower your times . . .

Continue reading "WEDNESDAY 090805"

TUESDAY 090804

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Dave G. at Albany CrossFit, preparing for FGB IV by not training specifically for it.

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One workout, two causes, numerous methods to get there. CrossFit Boston (as well as other affiliates) prepares for FGB IV by holding training sessions to orient people to the workout. What is your affiliate doing?

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Jason Ackerman of Albany CF says:
How are we training for Fight Gone Bad IV? CrossFit! By training CrossFit will we be ready for Fight Gone Bad IV? Hell Yeah! Isn't that CrossFit? Train for the unexpected. Sure, we actually know when and what is going down . . . Fight Gone Bad IV on Saturday, September 26th, 2009, but does that mean we are going to alter our training methods? Absolutely not! We guarantee we will be ready, and not only will be ready, Albany CrossFit and the Northeast is going to rock the house!

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And CrossFit Oakland reveals how they are preparing for FGB IV . . .

Continue reading "TUESDAY 090804"

MONDAY 090803

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CrossFit La Verne (CA) "heads" out on vacation . . .

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What do you need more of? Affiliate business advice? Motivational words? In-depth looks at successful affiliates and what makes them tick? Post your opinion in Comments and tell us what you'd like to see.

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Robert Bixby (who works out at CrossFit Santa Cruz Central and CrossFit North Santa Cruz) offers some advice to help grow your affiliate . . .

Continue reading "MONDAY 090803"

SUNDAY 090802

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Lori P. and Cari B. of CrossFit Lake Tapps prove that weighted pull-ups don't only involve vests or dumbells at the ankles?

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Looking for your August Painstorm? As promised, here it is . . .

Continue reading "SUNDAY 090802"

SATURDAY 090801

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After the workout: CrossFit Minneapolis (MN).

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Eric at CrossFit RVA (VA) makes a 500lb deadlift look easy: Video.

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If you're looking for the August Painstorm, check with us tomorrow -- and spend a sleepless night wondering what fresh hell awaits you . . .