SUNDAY 100228

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Meriah McLeish, co-owner of Bridger CrossFit (MT) hits the slopes, along with Michael McLeish and Kimberly McLeish, owners of CrossFit Emerald Coast (FL).

What do you do with a couple of tires, an old dry erase board, a rope, and some free time? Tire tug, courtesy of CrossFit Havoc (OK): Video.

SATURDAY 100227

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CrossFit Slayer is a military affiliate who steps into our CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot:

• Affiliate Since: 6th of June 2009.
• Location: Camp Slayer, VBC, Baghdad, Iraq
• Sq Ft: Close to 1500 sq feet and a cul de sac we train in sometimes.
• Number of Members: Our numbers have fluctuated with incoming and outgoing units and personnel shifts.
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? About 3. We started originally in the Fishbowl Gym which is the worst gym ever and quickly were asked to leave because we took over the yoga room and had a barbell sleeve break on us within the first week. By October, we moved to our present location behind Building 21-B on Camp Deutsch. We have since fixed up our flooring; built an awesome pull-up/ gymnastic ring set-up, and landscaped the entire back yard for our use.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Nearly every one of our members who has been a part of this have had no prior CrossFit experience. It is a true pleasure to work with them, regardless of their athletic backgrounds and see them grown beyond anything they had thought possible prior. When we can actually help out service members' morale in ways they never thought possible from a gym it is an amazing feeling. Training under the coaches back home at CrossFit Old Town in Alexandria, VA taught me two main concepts that have formed what we stand for here. The community we have formed here is very much like back home. When our members return to the states and continue training and using CF to improve their lives even more professionally and personally, I know we have made a difference.

Wait, there's more . . .

FRIDAY 100226

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Brussell the Love Muscle and Chris K. work out together at CrossFit Chaos (AZ). Man's best friend, even during squats.

Affiliate Scenario: You bring your dog to your box. Always have. You think it's okay because most of the members play with "Grace" and talk about what a fun dog she is. But two members have approached you privately about how they don't care for Grace and worry that having dog slobber in the gym is "kind of gross" and "not exactly hygienic." One even hints at going to another affiliate. What do you do? Save a member or save Grace?

Cynergy CrossFit (MA) has Eric M. making a one-arm 135 lb. snatch look easy: Video.

THURSDAY 100225

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Gunx CrossFit (NY).

The CrossFit Affiliate Declaration of Independence from CrossFit Watertown (CT).

Gayle S. gets 10 clapping pull-ups on the bar at CrossFit Full Strength (AZ): Video.

WEDNESDAY 100224

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CrossFit East (and owner TJ Cooper) step into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot:

• Affiliate Since: Sept 2003 (Launched on the net)
• Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA (a.k.a. The Birth of the Certs)
• Sq Ft: Functioning Police Academy and State College. Full locker rooms with showers, separate gyms and weight rooms, 3 O-Courses, Track, Pool, etc. (Host to 2009 Dirty South Regionals.)
• Number of Members: Min of 70. Max affected by Academy recruits, college students, LEO, Tactical Units . . . "Hundreds" . . .
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? Never.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Seeing our family of local affiliates respect each other, come together as a family, and spread the same concept of fitness in our respective boxes. Respect!

Wait, there's more! Keep reading . . .

TUESDAY 100223

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Alec Helner (rowing) and Coach Nick Peterson representing CrossFit South Brooklyn (NY) at the 2010 C.R.A.S.H. B's. A former Olympian, Nick is CFSBK's rowing specialist.

Affiliate Scenario: During a WOD, you're the only trainer in the box when a member slips off the pull-up bar and hits his head. He says he's fine but he doesn't seem very clear. What do you do? Stop the class or continue? Go check if he signed the waiver? Call an ambulance, drive him to the hospital, or do nothing: he says he's fine, after all. And, do you need to call anyone -- like your insurance company or your lawyer?

Gillian Mounsey puts on a muscle-up clinic for Marines at Camp Barrett in Quantico, VA and then decides to do "Fran" -- twice: wmv mov

MONDAY 100222

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CrossFit Houston (TX) expands from 4000 square feet to over 9,000 sf (7,500 sf of open space).

Great Words from the CrossFit Affiliate Application Essays.

• Why do I want to affiliate? Simply, it's too hard not too - tip-toeing around calling what I do group training or something other than CrossFit is just plain stupid. I am CrossFit - and I want people to know that what I teach is CrossFit. The affiliate community is amazing!

• The community aspect of CrossFit may be a bi-product or side-effect, but I think it's the most valuable. Rugby clubs have distinct personalities and so do CrossFit gyms . . . The gym is your local club. You brag on it. You love it and your buddies. You can now travel to any CrossFit gym/club in the world and not miss a beat. That is what I want to join and contribute to; the worldwide community of CrossFit.

• For me personally, CrossFit is a unifying theory of fitness. It brings together into one coherent message the chaos of the incongruent incomprehensible load of bullshit being circulated and consumed by our society. Three years ago I found the CrossFit web site, I started doing the WOD and never looked back. Over the years I have drug countless others into the world of CrossFit and the most remarkable thing that I have noticed is, it has created a lasting change in all of them. They never go back to working out in their "pre-CrossFit" way ever again.

SUNDAY 100221

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The post-WOD crowd at the Annual CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest") in South Miami Beach, FL, 19 Feb 2010.

Monique Ames (co-owner of CrossFit Evolution) was a featured speaker at FilFest. Check out some of the free resources for CrossFit affiliate owners now available on the CrossFit Evolution website.

SATURDAY 100220

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CrossFit Thunder (WV) listens to Dave Castro speak about the 2010 CrossFit Games at the annual CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest") at South Miami Beach, FL.

CrossFit South Bay: Read "Dear Fran, I hate you."

FRIDAY 100219

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Bryant Powers from CrossFit Oahu (HI) steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot . . .

• Affiliate Since: 8th of March 2006. Grandfathered affiliates fees! Woot!
• Location: Honolulu, Hawaii . . . but Peru is pretty cool too.
• Sq Ft: Close to 6500 sq feet, 23 parking spots, bathrooms we are still building out, great 400/800m running routes, and a cul de sac that we basically rule (within reason).
• Number of Members: Around 220 CF Members with autopay and punchcards (only counting still active punchcards). We also have CF Kids, Youth sports programs, Parkour classes, Ladies Bootcamp, Oly, BJJ, and gymnastic strength classes which would add a few more peeps.
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? About 3. We started in the park once a week (Sat at 10). That worked well so we opened up two weekly WODS in our garage (Monday 7pm and Wed 7pm, I think). I got out of the Army and we opened up the Hart St location which was 1300 sqft with zero parking. The neighbors and landlords hated us. We end up doing well again and they let us out of the lease so we could move! We went big when we moved and have the perfect location/neighbors/ landlords now.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: I love getting to improve my skills, the gym, and the our members everyday. Everyday I have something that matters and directly improves our members quality of life to do. I love my work and I am lucky to do something I love and get paid for it. Sometimes I dream of stocking shelves at Wal-mart but I figure they would fire me after a week or so . . .

THURSDAY 100218

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Kat Malkowych of Stay Strong CrossFit (MI).

Affiliate Scenario: You have a great trainer that you just hired. He's talented, warm, personable, enthusiastic, insightful . . . and he wants to be paid "under the table." What do you do?

Shana Alverson of CrossFit East Decatur (GA) back squats her friend Aimee x 5: Video.

WEDNESDAY 100217

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Aimee Lyons (center) of CrossFit King of Prussia (PA) steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Affiliate Since: September 2008
• Location: King of Prussia, PA, USA
• Sq Ft: 5,000 gym floor, 8,000 usable space
• Number of Members: 98
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? We are on our 4th location in less than 2 years.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Helping people discover their inner strength and then watching them use that strength to improve their lives, both body and mind. Helping people re-discover what they have held dormant for so long is extremely liberating because you know it is a domino effect and they will in turn help someone else discover their inner strength.

TUESDAY 100216

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Heather Arnold of FirePower CrossFit (Canada) steps away from the gym and goes "old-school" for a WOD, proving the adage: You can take the CrossFitter out of the garage, but you can't take the garage out of the CrossFitter.

Great Words: More nuggets from the CrossFit Affiliate Application Essays.

• When I found Crossfit, it was like God hit me with a frying pan. He was saying, here you go; this is what you have been looking for . . . I don't need a six figure income. I need a job that I love that allows me to support my family. I believe in the CrossFit concept and its ability to help people.
• I apologize for any gramatical or spelling errors as this is not quite a strong point of mine. Maybe I should do some tabata intervals of spelling.
• I like helping people. If I am able, I will help any who want help. I want to help people find fitness. When I was a kid, there were no fat people, almost. I recall gaping slack-jawed at a really fat guy in downtown Charleston SC. Now, they're everywhere. All ages, too.
• My wife says I finally have an ass. That's reason enough for me to open an affiliate.
• There is no turning back. It is CrossFit affiliate or die, so to speak . . .

MONDAY 100215

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Vadim Noskov and Olga Jourova, owners of CrossFit Long Island City (NY), with a friend.

Over at CrossFit Montgomery County (MD), Tai Randall writes about "My First Time."

What was your first CrossFit workout like? Tell us about the time you lost your CrossFit virginity. Post to Comments -- and try to keep it clean . . .

If you're on Facebook, look for the new "CrossFit Affiliate Community" fan page!

If you want to attend the CrossFit Affiliate Gathering ("FilFest 2010") this Friday in Miami Beach, register today and you can still squeeze into the affiliate event of the year!

SUNDAY 100214

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CrossFit Scotland turns two years old today and steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Owners: Neil Foley and Ron McKinstray
• Affiliate Since: 14th February 2008
• Location: Irvine, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Sq Ft: 4,000 sq ft (3,000 gym, 1,000 office/bathrooms/showers)
• Number of members: 175
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location?: Haven't had to move but managed to lease an identical unit next door in November '09 as we were running out of space. It has allowed us to double the gym space.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Watching the weakest and quietest of new members come out their shell and develop into Titans.

Read the rest of CrossFit Scotland's Snapshot by clicking below!

SATURDAY 100213

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Deployed to Haiti but still CrossFitting any place they can: Alamo CrossFit (TX) and CrossFit Threshold (FL).

CrossFit Pittsburgh (PA) motivates a member into "Jeans From a Regular Store" while over at CrossFit Ranch (CA), Jerry gives us a "View from the Plus Size."

FRIDAY 100212

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Still working out: Mariela and her broken finger at Snoridge CrossFit (WA).

Affiliate Newsletters from CrossFit Evolution (FL), CrossFit Rockwall (TX), CrossFit Catalyst (Canada), CrossFit Virtuosity (NY), CrossFit Moncton (Canada), and CrossFit Cleveland West (OH).

Newsletters: Dead or Alive? A useful tool or not? Do your members enjoy them (and pass them to their friends) or do they not even read them? Post to Comments.

THURSDAY 100211

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Bob Guere, owner of CrossFit California City, steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Affiliate Since: February 28, 2009


• Location: California City, CA, USA


• Sq Ft: ~350


• Number of Members: 12 at the garage plus 1 Soccer Team of ~24.


• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? None.


• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Watching my kids (teens) ENJOY fitness. We (adult CrossFitters) all say how we wish we had CrossFit when we were young. Well, these kids do, and it's my duty to make sure this remains with them as they mature into young adults. The health and fitness habits that we coach with nutrition and WODs are indispensable.This is how we'll change the world. If "CrossFit" by name were to crumble tomorrow, the seeds of a healthy level of fitness that we are sowing in our kids will reap benefits none of us can imagine. I believe this is the highest call of our profession.

WEDNESDAY 100210

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Nicole P., a mother of two who works out at CrossFit Balboa (CA), is shown here learning a bar muscle-up. Nicole was born without a hand yet does pull-ups (with a hook and strap), push-ups, med-ball cleans, and kettlebell swings, along with a whole bunch of other movements. Go, Nicole, go.

Another new feature on the Affiliate Blog: Great Words. We'll be featuring outstanding snippets from the amazing CrossFit Affiliate Application Essays.

• In a sense, CrossFit is a gift. It's a gift we've all been given by someone, a friend, a family member, someone you run into in the grocery store. It's a gift we need to pass on. It's the desire to pass on this gift that has me seeking affiliation.
• I have trouble remembering the person that I was prior to that as it [CrossFit] has changed my life and who I am so profoundly. Over the past 3+ years I have had the pleasure of sharing my love of CrossFit with literally hundreds of people.


• It's not even just our own CrossFit box. It's a chance for us to promote change and growth in each other. It's a chance for us to share our knowledge and passion with others, and give back to the community we grew up in and have grown to love. We thank you for giving us that chance.

TUESDAY 100209

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Trainers from CrossFit Chambly (Canada) on a warmer day at Ferme-Neuve, Quebec.

Affiliate Scenario: Your new affiliate is growing, but slowly. Your members are happy, and you gain two or three new people a month, but you'd like 10 or 15 new members per month. A friend tells you to buy a lighted sign because you're on a busy road, but your business partner wants you to offer discounted memberships, while you think maybe an "incentive" program for referrals would help. What do you do? Post answers/tips to Comments.

The third annual CrossFit Affiliate Gathering (FilFest 2010) is in Miami Beach in just 10 days! Register now before it's too late and you miss out!

MONDAY 100208

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Jaime Arashiro (kneeling in photo) of CrossFit Peru steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Affiliate since: September 2008
• Location: Lima, Peru
• Sq Ft: 2000 sf. (Half for gym, half for bathroom and offices.)
• Number of members: About 50
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? Once. At first we worked out of my house. Then I rented a space in a gym and painted it blue. This is what we now affectionately call "The Blue Box".
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: The opportunity to change the world by changing others lives by changing mine.
• Biggest worry as a CrossFit affiliate: The possibility that the CrossFit name gets a bad reputation because of false CF instructors in this part of the world. I know that the position of CFHQ on this subject is to do my job well and people will choose quality . . .

Read the rest of the CrossFit Peru snapshot . . .

SUNDAY 100207

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Tom Brose (owner of CrossFit DC) nails some pull-ups during a rare snowstorm for the area.

Darin Wells, one of the coaches at CrossFit Greensboro (NC), ran a 5K in full firefighter turnout gear and described the experience to his local newspaper: Read.

SATURDAY 100206

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Daycare at BTB CrossFit (GA)?

Do you have a trainer who likes to blog on the side? CrossFit Lake Tapps (WA) has "Water Breaks with Lori."

FRIDAY 100205

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Jason Ackerman of Albany CrossFit (in the center) steps into The CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Affiliate Since: August 2007
• Location: Albany, NY, USA
• Sq Ft: 2400 square feet of usable floor space (3 racquetball courts). Plus full locker rooms with showers, steam-room, sauna, and whirlpool, and plenty of space to lounge and hang out.
• Number of Members: a little over a hundred
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? We have never moved, but we have expanded two times.
• Biggest worry as a CrossFit affiliate: Will more people keep coming?
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Seeing people change their lives through hard-work, exercise, and nutrition.

Read the rest of the Albany CrossFit snapshot . . .

THURSDAY 100204

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Joel Tessier, owner of CrossFit Big Island (HI), catches some waves.

Kyle Boyer of CrossFit Dixie (UT) does "King Kong" in 2:55: Video.

Sometimes, CrossFit saves your life in a way you never expected. Read about Jeremy at CrossFit Orillia (Canada).

Sometimes, CrossFit helps you find a new life: Read about Jamileth Z., owner of The Optimum CrossFit (FL) and her battle.

WEDNESDAY 100203

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CrossFit L.A. was one of the first ten CrossFit affiliates. Owner Andy Petranek (front row, 3rd from right) leads off a new feature: CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

• Affiliate Since: Sept, 2004
• Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA
• Sq Ft: 4,000 sf (3,000 gym, 1,000 office/bathrooms/showers)
• Number of Members: 290
• How many times have you moved your affiliate location? 1 move (2 locations)
• Biggest worry as a CrossFit affiliate: How to continue to deliver the highest quality product with large numbers of members.
• Greatest joy as a CrossFit affiliate: Get to go to "work" and do what I love. Also as a business owner - it never gets boring.

Read the rest of the CrossFit LA Snapshot . . .

TUESDAY 100202

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CrossFit Generation (PA): Before and after.

Storing bumpers. Plate racks, wooden boxes, big ol' pile on the floor: What do you do? And does it matter?

The February Painstorm is here . . .

MONDAY 100201

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Evan H. at CrossFit Seattle (WA).

The CrossFit Risk Retention Group makes more progress: Read.

"Become indifferent to the sale." (Source: E-Myth Mastery.) Smartest advice you've ever heard for a CrossFit affiliate -- or the dumbest?

Check back tomorrow for the February Painstorm . . .