SUNDAY 100131

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At 5:30 every morning, cadets at the U.S. Military Academy do the WOD at Black and Gold CrossFit (West Point, NY).

On the other side of the globe, airmen at Kunsan Air Force Base go to Wolfpack CrossFit (South Korea). "CrossFit prepares my body for anything," said 1st Lt. Kari Kundert, 8th Operations Group executive officer. "If I get deployed tomorrow I know I can handle it."

SATURDAY 100130

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CrossFit Central Manchester (UK).

CrossFit Cheshire (CT) writes about hosting the CT State Police for a CrossFit lesson and WOD, with a special guest: Read.

FRIDAY 100129

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John M. with the 85lb Turkish Get-up at CrossFit Newton (MA).

"Saving a city, one kid at a time." Do you know what Steve's Club (NJ) does? Find out in this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Affiliate Scenario: One of your trainers is caught short-repping a WOD. What do you do?

THURSDAY 100128

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CrossFit Legacy (OH).

Affiliate Since May, 2007.

Owner: Brian Yoak. (Hear Brian speak on affiliate issues at FilFest 2010).

Kevin "Torch" Williams, trainer at CrossFit Brooklyn (NY) gets featured in Men's Health magazine for having one of "The Coolest Jobs in America."

"I don't have a room full of equipment. I have a room full of advice. I have a room full of coaches." Mikki Martin, CrossFit Kids and CrossFit Brand X (CA). (Hear Mikki speak on training children at FilFest 2010.)

WEDNESDAY 100127

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CrossFit graffiti on the chalkboard bathroom wall at CrossFit On The Move (GA).

10 Ways to Be a Better CrossFitter from CrossFit South Bay (CA).

What are your 10 Ways to Be a Better CrossFitter? Post to Comments!

TUESDAY 100126

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CrossFit Estero (FL). At 30 days in, they already had 50 members.

"Never before have we seen a program that pierces one's mind, body, and heart such as CrossFit has. Once you acquire the infection, you are lost. Lost in the world of functional fitness, unyielding community support, and the tireless drive for excellence." From a blogpost by CrossFit Ramstein (Germany) on the infectious nature of CrossFit.

Infectious. Every day, affiliate members bring more members. Every day, good affiliates spawn more affiliates. How many stories of CrossFit infection can you tell from your own affiliate? How many affiliates have you helped in some way? Post to Comments.

MONDAY 100125

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Bevin P. at Grapevine CrossFit (TX).

Stepping in for Mikko: Read about the big shoes Tommy Hackenbruck (owner of UTE CrossFit in Utah and #2 male finisher at the CrossFit Games) is filling at the Crash-B races.

Also in the world where CrossFit and rowing collide, CrossFit South Brooklyn (NY) gets featured in US Rowing magazine.

A C2 rower, a barbell and bumper plates, a pull-up bar: Is that the essence of the CrossFit experience? (The place where you would start your affiliate or your solo garage experience.) Or not? Post to Comments.

SUNDAY 100124

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Finishing up "Helen" at Camp Slayer (Iraq).

CrossFit Monterey (CA) gets a good look, along with the history of CrossFit: Read.

SATURDAY 100123

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Garrett Smith, owner of Crofton CrossFit (MD), 56" box jump. No running start.

Chip M., trainer at Cynergy CrossFit (MA), 51" box jump. No running start. Video.

The crew at HyperFit USA (MI) holds a benefit WOD today for Haiti. No running start. Just working hard to do good things.

FRIDAY 100122

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Bonnie and Kara of Practice CrossFit (OH) competed in figure competitions using only CrossFit for their training.

Female beauty.
CrossFit female beauty.

Different terms or the same thing?

Read "Loading and Tensioning" (Part I and Part II) by San Francisco CrossFit's Kelly Starrett. (K-Star will be a featured speaker at next month's CrossFit Affiliate Gathering in Miami.)

THURSDAY 100121

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Matt B. of CrossFit Oshawa (Canada) recovers after the WOD.

I felt I had at last found a space where I wasn't judged by how my body looks, but by what I can do with it.

Read more words by Stephanie M. of CrossFit Peru in "My Inner Athlete."

The word "athlete" is of Greek origin, meaning "to contend for a prize." Are we all athletes? Or not?

WEDNESDAY 100120

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CrossFit affiliates met at CrossFit Evolution (FL) this past weekend for an Affiiate Think Tank.

We've heard of think tanks in NJ, FL, CA, TX, and NC in the past three months alone. Which would you rather attend or host at your affiliate: a local competition, a regional think tank, or Sectionals for the CrossFit Games? Why? Post to Comments.

Looking for how other folks got where they are? Check out the CrossFit Journal this month. Lots of affiliates telling their stories and offering lessons learned.

TUESDAY 100119

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Janece K. of CrossFit Next Level Performance (CA) throwin' down at the 2010 Orange County CrossFit Throwdown held recently. (She placed second overall.)

"The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time." -- Henry Ford

As a CrossFit affiliate, who is your competition? A "regular" gym? Personal trainers? Other CrossFit affiliates? And should you consider them when making decisions concerning your business operations? Or should you only consider your customers?

Ever think about handing out jersey numbers to your athletes, like on a sports team? CrossFit Penrith (Australia) did just that: Read.

MONDAY 100118

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Shorts, a touch of snow, a sledgehammer: David Nichols, owner of CrossFit Denton County (TX) gets ready to slam down on the tractor tire.

Some affiliates post their WODs on their blogs, some don't, and CrossFit Works (AZ) put theirs on Twitter. What do you do and why do you do it? Post to Comments.

In case you missed the word, the CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest 2010") will be held on Feb 19-20 in Miami Beach, FL. Don't miss the (informative and useful) party of the year for CrossFit affiliates! Check out the agenda and sign up here.

SUNDAY 100117

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Connor Martin (age 18, yet a veteran CrossFitter for six years and an original CrossFit Kid) teaches the press at a recent CrossFit Kids Certification.

Connor (weighing 160 lbs) nails 250 on an overhead squat at CrossFit Brand X: [wmv] [mov]

SATURDAY 100116

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Getting the party started at CrossFit Lake Charles (LA).

Got some free time? "Chef" at CrossFit Breakaway (VA) has a few essays to share over in his "Opinionated" collection.

FRIDAY 100115

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Flux CrossFit (Canada) WOD: Snowshoe running with sandbags. Oh yeah.

Outside WODs: Always fun, hot or cold. What's on tap in your neck of the CrossFit woods lately? Anything new or different or just plain nuts? Post to Comments.

Need some serious inspiration? Check out how Paul J. went "From Wrecked to Fit" at CrossFit Champions (TX).

THURSDAY 100114

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Filling out the waiver at CrossFit Boca Raton (FL). Exciting? No. Important? Yes.

Business documentation may not be as thrilling as running a class through "Helen", but it is crucial for CrossFit affiliates and other small companies. Waiver, medical history/PAR-Q, payment form, etc -- what's in your new member's packet? What should be there? What would you like to see more examples of from other affiliates? Post to Comments.

Steve Rakow of CrossFit Ocean City (MD) tells why he's headed to the CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest") on Feb 19-20th in Miami Beach . . .

WEDNESDAY 100113

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Community support: Often the difference between "I can't" and "I did." CrossFit ATP (FL) cheers on a teammate at the 1st Annual Broward County Affiliate Cup Competition held recently at CrossFit Affliction (FL).

Are you a full-time CrossFit trainer or affiliate owner? And if not, think about what's holding you back from making the jump to what many call "the best job in the world." Post to Comments.

CrossFit Virtuosity (NY): "What Else is Possible?"

TUESDAY 100112

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A gift to Southern CrossFit (Australia) from the members of SCF. The plaque reads, in part: "Thank you for your commitment, dedication, encouragement and most of all for building a fantastic CrossFit community."

HyperFit USA (MI) says on their website that "A strong O-Lifting program is the cornerstone of a successful strength and conditioning program." Would you agree? Or disagree? What is a cornerstone? How would you define the cornerstone for running a successful CrossFit affiliate?

FilFest 2010: People, get ready! [wmv] [mov]

MONDAY 100111

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Dulce D. getting intense at CrossFit Downey (CA).

"CrossFit Women are Bitches" by CrossFit Montgomery County (MD).

"Judgement as a Virtue" by Russell Berger in the CrossFit Journal.

Wondering about the CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest") agenda for Feb 19-20 in Miami Beach, FL? It's posted here -- check it out!

SUNDAY 100110

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Ground Zero CrossFit (OK).

Stay Strong CrossFit (MI) organizes a donation of equipment and t-shirts for troops overseas: Read.

SATURDAY 100109

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Gary E., 51 years old, of CrossFit Threshold (FL) changed his life with CrossFit and eating right. Nice.

Ski Magazine hits Boulder CrossFit (CO): Read.

FRIDAY 100108

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Kyle Ferrari, co-owner CrossFit La Verne (CA) makes use of a sledgehammer for a Turkish Get-up.

Greg Amundson writes (in the CrossFit Journal) about the early days of CrossFit at 2581 Research Park Dr, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Reminder for CrossFit Affiliates: 40% off today also at the CrossFit Store. Look for the code in your e-mail.

THURSDAY 100107

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John Velandra, owner of CrossFit Cape Fear (NC), 4/3/1966-1/6/2010. Rest in peace.

John was a shining example of the good in the CrossFit community, of the importance of what we do here. Characteristically, his last Facebook post was about his CrossFitters: "So proud of the 0630 crew... that was rough." Even his biography on his website talked not about himself so much as it talked about how he wanted to help people: "I want us to make a real difference in people's lives; I wanted to have an impact on people's lives, and so far, with the feedback that I have received, I seem to be on the right track."

Read more from John . . .

WEDNESDAY 100106

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CrossFit Sparta (FL).

"There has never been an option for me to quit." Mikko Salo, 2009 CrossFit Games Champion, "Never Quit"

"Superhuman performance is separated from mere fitness by the undeniable need to persist, to never give up." Jon Gilson (Again Faster) "Don't Quit"

"If I give up here, I'll give up in other parts of life." Lisbeth Darsh (CrossFit Watertown) "CrossFit: The New Truth Serum"

A CrossFit community member writes about learning to quit . . .

TUESDAY 100105

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Joey S. at CrossFit Virtuosity (NY).

Dr. Michael Ray, co-owner of CrossFit Flagstaff (AZ), writes an essential article for affiliates and trainers in the CrossFit Journal: "The Truth About Rhabdo."

R.I.P. Lt. Andrew Nuttall of CrossFit Vancouver (Canada): Read.

MONDAY 100104

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CrossFit Fort Walton Beach (FL) co-owners Jordon and Jesse Bowen, with son Slade. The family photo -- CrossFit Style.

Coast to Coast: Diablo CrossFit scores a great feature on the news in CA, while CrossFit Relentless gets some airtime in CT.

It's the New Year. Time to offer a deal for new members? Or is this the "high season" and you should stand pat with your prices?

SUNDAY 100103

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Yanni from MaD CrossFit (New Zealand) subs for a rope climb during a WOD while on vacation in Mumbai, India.

CrossFit Montana and CrossFit Missoula (MT) grab some press: Read.

SATURDAY 100102

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SnoRidge CrossFit (WA).

Jeremy Thiel, co-owner of CrossFit Central (TX), writes about "How to Succeed as a CrossFit Affiliate" in the CrossFit Journal.

FRIDAY 100101

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CrossFit Brasil.

CrossFit London UK posts "CrossFit according to Greg Glassman."

Time for the first Painstorm of 2010 . . .