Saturday 100731

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The Affiliate Team from CrossFit Cayman (The Cayman Islands) atop Monserrate in Bogota, Columbia.

CrossFit Diesel (MD) in the news: "Columbia CrossFit Offers Intense, Controversial Workout."

"The Web's New Gold Mine: Your Secrets" from the Wall Street Journal.

Cruise through this "Showcase of Beautiful Photography" (from Smashing Magazine) and carry that inspiration to your own affiliate photography. Look with fresh eyes, shoot, and send us some photos. Experiment. We'd like to see the results.

Friday 100730

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The Masters Competition at the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Freddy Camacho, owner of CrossFit One World (CA), writes a new blog for the "mature" CrossFitter: One World Forty Plus.

Wolfpack CrossFit (a military affiliate in South Korea) scores some press in the Kunsan Air Base paper.

"Goldman Sachs Bans Naughty Words in E-Mails" from the Wall Street Journal.

"Swearing is industry language. For as long as we're alive it's not going to change. You've got to be boisterous to get results." -- Gordon Ramsay

Thursday 100729

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Thomi Gill, owner of CrossFit Virginia Beach (VA).

Sara Wilkinson, owner of CrossFit Odyssey (VA), hits the national scene with this segment on Fox News.

CrossFit Providence (RI) offers a beautiful video on their "Start Here" page.

"School Lunches Even the Lunch Lady Wouldn't Eat" from Miller-McCune.

Wednesday 100728

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Heather and the sled at CrossFit Moncton (Canada).

Affiliate Scenario: You're an affiliate member. You've been a member for two years (almost since the place opened) and you get along great with the owner. Recently, you were approached by two of the trainers, who plan to start their own affiliate and they're asking for your support. You really like these guys and would love to train with them, but you feel like you should be loyal and "dance with the one who brung ya." What do you do? Stay? Switch? Stay and tell the boss what his trainers are planning? Just say no and keep your mouth shut?

"Belief" by Shoreline CrossFit (CT).

"Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard." -- Anne Spencer

Tuesday 100727

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Rainier CrossFit (WA) celebrated its sixth anniversary with a new wall and some creative ways to use it . . .

"The Big Picture" by Bob Guere of CrossFit California City (CA).

"What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D" from the New York Times.

Fight Gone Bad V: Interested in a custom widget for your affiliate website? Find out how you can get one . . .

Monday 100726

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The CrossFit Kids program at Centurion CrossFit Fort Hood (TX). They were also featured recently in the base paper: "Kids Get Fit Through CrossFit."

Affiliate Scenario: Your gym is extremely hot in the summer -- and the air quality is not great lately. You're considering telling the pregnant ladies and the older folks to stay home until the weather breaks -- but you know they like coming and you don't want to lose their memberships. What should you do? Just let them come? Adjust their workouts? Or just not worry so much?

Still wondering how to communicate what CrossFit is to prospective clients? Two ways to explain with video: "What is CrossFit?" (High 5) and "What is CrossFit?" (CFO).

"Win some, lose some, wreck some." -- Dale Earnhardt

Sunday 100725

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Justin McGinley (owner of CrossFit Aspire in NJ) and his bride Alycia visit a gym near their reception on the big day.

"5 Minutes to a Better Overhead Position" by CrossFit Mission Gorge (CA).

CrossFit East Decatur (GA) owner Shana Alverson recaps her experience as a CrossFit Games competitor: Read.

"How Addicted to Facebook Are You?" from The Oatmeal.

Saturday 100724

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Oregon CrossFit.

"They say that if you're not pissing someone off, you're probably not very good at your job. So you can hate the Yankees if you want--plenty of baseball fans do--but The Boss deserves his due" -- from "George Steinbrenner's Contribution to the Business of Baseball" in Entrepreneur.

CrossFit Center City (PA) presents "Hand Health: What to Do with Your CrossFit Paws."

"The characteristic of heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits, and starts of generosity. But when you have chosen your part, abide by it, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world" -- from "Heroism" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Friday 100723

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Kat at Red Shed CrossFit (NJ).

Steve's Club (NJ) had "A Weekend to Remember at the CrossFit Games in LA!"

In case you're wondering: Fight Gone Bad V has a Facebook page too.

CrossFit Utility (OH) gets some press: "Improve Your Quality of Life at CrossFit Utility Gym."

"Extra Weight Adds to Economic Woes" by the New York Times.

Thursday 100722

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Heather Bergeron of CrossFit New England (MA) scales a wall during the 2010 CrossFit Games while Lisa Ray of CrossFit Flagstaff (AZ) judges.

Did the 2010 Games make you rethink the equipment for your affiliate? Or how you train?

"Character" from HyperFit USA (MI).

Bridger CrossFit (MT) asks The Deadlift Question. (Oh no, they didn't!)

"The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day." -- David Foster Wallace

Wednesday 100721

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John of the Affiliate Team from CrossFit King of Prussia (PA) chows down on some raw meat in Tent City at the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Zone. Paleo. No sugar. No grains. No dairy. Now . . . raw meat? Is it safe? Would you recommend it to members?

Not a CrossFit affiliate, but this blog claims to be "More CrossFit Than CrossFit." Tell us what you think.

"Local Man Deemed Fittest in the World" from the Columbus Dispatch.

"9 Things I Learned in 9 Years as a CEO -- Part I" from Inc.

Tuesday 100720

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Sage Burgener of CrossFit Invictus (CA) climbs the 20' rope while participating in the Affiliate Cup Challenge at the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Affiliate Question: Do you have a rope to climb? Do you use a crash pad? Why or why not?

"A Quick Reflection on the 2010 CrossFit Games" from CrossFit Nor'Easter (CT).

CrossFit Rockwall (TX) goes over some basic rope-climbing methods.

"A Really Dangerous Book" from Forbes.

Monday 100719

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The Affiliate Cup Competition at the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Recipes from Eat.Play.Live from CrossFit Peachtree (GA).

"10 Websites to Make You Think" from Study2U.

And so it begins for Fight Gone Bad V . . .

Sunday 100718

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Brethren CrossFit (CA) watches the Affiliate Cup Competition at the CrossFit Games.

They look like tribes -- these CrossFit affiliate teams. Wild tribes, raised on iron and steel and Olympic lifts. Races of people bred in dark gyms who had to run and kettlebell swing for their freedom and have now emerged on these golden sun-filled fields in Carson, CA. They have come to do battle -- there is no mistaking the warrior physiques, the thousand yard stares, the true and fast hearts that beat beneath their CrossFit affiliate shirts. They have come to win -- but only one team will emerge victorious.

Saturday 100717

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Steve Lobotsky of Hudson Valley CrossFit (NY) competes in the Masters Division at the CrossFit Games.

"The Power of Fitness: Real Women Share Their Stories" from Mind, Body, and Spirit.

"The Difference Between Marketing, P.R., Advertising, and Branding" from 9Gag.

Friday 100716

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Rey, from AK CrossFit (GA), in the Phillipines.

The live feed of the 2010 CrossFit Games is here.

TJ's Gym (CA) grabs some press for their athletes about to compete in the CrossFit Games: "Marin Athletes Primed and Ready."

"People With a Situational Value System" from Workplace Psychology.

Thursday 100715

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Jeff Martone performs a human Turkish Get-Up with a student at a recent CrossFit Kettlebell Certification at Cynergy CrossFit (MA).

Wow. Look what CrossFit and proper nutrition can do for you: "The Story of Jules Marsh" at CrossFit Seattle (WA).

Blair Morrison, CrossFit Games competitor (and soon-to-be affiliate owner) offers "Fitness Is . . ."

Check out a graph of what the average American consumes in a year: "What Are We Eating?" from Visual Economics.

Wednesday 100714

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The soccer team gets a workout at CrossFit Iota (UT).

When you have to get word to your members quickly (like if you have to cancel a class) how do you reach them? E-mail? Facebook? Twitter? Phone? Sign on the door? All of the above?

"Confessions" from CrossFit West Santa Cruz (CA).

Twitter for the CrossFit Games? @crossfitgames

The CrossFit Facebook page -- about to top 40,000 fans. Join the party.

Tuesday 100713

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Bailey at CrossFit Santa Cruz (CA).

"CrossFit coaches and athletes who understand that optimism and a positive mental attitude can yield tremendous results in the gym have one thing in common: success. The athletes are performing at the top of their game, and the coaches are surrounded by thriving clients." Greg Amundson writes about "Coaching the Mental Side of CrossFit" in the CrossFit Journal.

"There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy." -- Friedrich Nietzsche. "40 Belief-Shaking Remarks from a Ruthless Non-Conformist" from Raptitude.

Five -- count 'em, five -- CrossFit affiliate owners on the CrossFit Games Broadcast Team.

Monday 100712

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CrossFit Milford (CT).

The CrossFit Games start on Friday in Los Angeles. What do you expect the Games to do for recognition and awareness of the Sport of Fitness? Lots? Not much? Something in between?

In case you missed the Games announcement, Single Day Tickets are now available.

"Change Everything? Easy. But Not Simple" from San Francisco CrossFit (CA).

"Should We Care About Grammar and Spelling on Twitter?" from GOOD.

Sunday 100711

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CrossFit Persevere (CT).

"Try to be one of those on whom nothing is lost." -- Henry James, novelist.

CrossFit Games competitor Camille Acton of CrossFit by BodyFit (CA) gets some press.

"True, soccer isn't the only sport where bodily contact is prohibited. There's croquet, tennis, most track and field events and the aforementioned golf. But think how much more lively all these sports would be if they involved late hits, full nelsons and round-house rights. Picture, if you will, contact pole-vaulting." "A Modest Proposal for Improving a Dull Game" by P.J. O'Rourke in the Wall Street Journal.

Saturday 100710

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CrossFit North Vancouver (Canada).

Big screen for the big Games? Some affiliates in far-off places are planning big-screen parties to watch the live feed of the CrossFit Games next weekend. Are you guys doing something like that?

CrossFit Regina (Canada) does a "Who's Who" proflie of their members on their blog.

I think that's what makes the CrossFit Community different is that it's not just a workout. It's that effort. It's the way that people pursue it and the way that people will support one another through it. I think this makes a very, very different community than from other people out there." -- Games competitor and CrossFit Park City (UT) owner Chris Spealler. Read the rest of the interview here on CrossFit Again Faster (NH).

Friday 100709

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CrossFit Long Island City (NY).

Check this out: CrossFit/USA Weightlifting Open in Oct in Colorado Springs.

"Getting Dumped" by CrossFit Zone (Canada).

"I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head." -- Jack Nicklaus

"Lovemark" status -- do you have it? Find out what that means here: "If Your Company Went Out of Business, Would Anybody Notice?" from Fast Company.

Thursday 100708

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CrossFit Valley Park (MO).

I Am CrossFit (FL) makes the sports news in Miami. Check out their All-American baseball player/Cincinnati Reds first-round draft pick and "the work ethic he cultivated in some hard-nosed training": Video.

CrossFit Fort Polk (LA) honors one of their own -- Sgt. Blain E. Redding -- with a Memorial WOD: Blain.

Who's driving the U.S. recovery? You, that's who. Read "Job Growth in U.S. Driven Entirely by Start-ups" from the Kauffman Foundation.

Bridger CrossFit (MT) focuses on some healthy cooking and eating: "In the Kitchen with Bridger CrossFit."

Wednesday 100707

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The first-ever CrossFit affiliate -- CrossFit Seattle (Dave Werner and Nancy Meenen) -- steps into the CrossFit Affiliate Snapshot.

Affiliate Since: We received an 'official' email from Greg on March 12, 2003 saying we could be an affiliate and agreeing to our name which at that time was CrossFit North. But we started training people in our garage in the Fall of 2002.

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA.

Square Ft: 1700 sq ft of training space.

Number of Members: 384.

Is this your original location? We've moved 4 times. We started in our 200 sqf garage, then moved 6 months later to a much bigger space by 50 square feet! -- a Shurgard Storage Unit. We were there for 3 months and then moved to a small room off a hangar at a big park. About 6 months after we moved there, we got lucky and a much bigger room (3000 sqf) with lots of windows became available next door. We were there for 3+ years and then moved to our current space in a much more central location in Seattle. It was tough moving to a smaller space but it had running water and heat so that was a really nice change!

Number of trainers: We have 4 full-time trainers, 4 part-time trainers and 1 full-time admin person.

Is this your full-time job? Yes, this is Dave and I's full-time job.

Why CrossFit? Dave went on a search for effective, result-driven fitness training 9+ years ago when he realized he had to rehabilitate his back to keep himself out of a wheelchair. We feel really fortunate to have found CrossFit so early in the game.

Keep reading! There's great advice from CrossFit Seattle on the next page!

Tuesday 100706

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Liz S. at CrossFit Off The Grid (NJ).

Who's using Foursquare to promote their affiliate? Does it really help -- or is it just another shiny new toy?

"A constantly varied exercise program like CrossFit is the way to make the inevitable fitness Levy Flight maximally productive." -- Huh? What's he talking about? Read "The Levy Flight" by Keith Wittenstein, owner of CrossFit Virtuosity (NY), and understand.

"What Exercise Science Doesn't Know About Women" from the New York Times.

Monday 100705

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CrossFit JAX (FL).

Is your affiliate open on holidays?

CrossFit affiliate owner or aspiring to be one? You might want to watch this: Greg Glassman and "Invincible Ignorance" (a free download from the CrossFit Journal).

Are you an "energy amplifier"? Read this Tip of the Day from Business Insider.

"If CrossFit Were a Video Game" by CrossFit Montgomery County (MD).

Sunday 100704

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JP Mummey of Crossfit Geneseo (NY), post-WOD, after his son crawled on top of him.

"If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?" -- John Adams

"He said 'With CrossFit, people come for the training, they stay for the community.' That was so true.'": From "CrossFit:My Story" by Ritta W., who's preparing to open the first CrossFit affiliate in Lebanon.

"15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee" from The Oatmeal.

Saturday 100703

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LaLanne Fitness (CA) pays tribute to a lost member with the workout "Cara." Read her journal entry about CrossFit and her struggles on the next page.

Read "11 Training Tips for CrossFit Athletes": On target? Off target? Somewhere in between?

"15 Things Every Business Owner Should Know" from Inc.

"The folks at LaLanne Fitness treat me w/ respect and see me as an athlete not a patient even though I've trained with them when my eyes were swollen shut, had a catherter hanging out of my arm, and I've cried through my workouts." -- From Cara's journals. Read more on the next page.

Friday 100702

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Erin Davidson, owner of CrossFit Center City (PA), instructs Rachel G of CrossFit Tribe (NJ) at a snatch clinic.

Shana Alverson of CrossFit East Decatur and Laura DeMarco of CrossFit RX -- both in Georgia, both female affiliate owners, both Games competitors -- in front of the camera talking and training. Check 'em out in the CrossFit Journal.

"Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days." -- Act I, Scene 3 of "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare.

CrossFit Ireland comes up with a bit of a different way to celebrate their 100th member.

The July Painstorm is right on the next page . . .

Thursday 100701

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CrossFit Aspire (NJ) and CrossFit Tribe (NJ) flip a huge tire at a CrossFit Games prep competition for local affiliates, hosted by CrossFit King of Prussia (PA).

CrossFit Games Check: Who's in for the CrossFit Event of the Year? The competition, the venue, and Tent City are bigger and badder this year. We're two weeks away and hearing talk of party buses and caravans and cabanas. Are you headed to CrossFit Mardi Gras with your affiliate? And if you're within driving distance, why the heck not?

Hey, did anybody realize you can take the new L1 Test at the Games this year? July 15th at 6pm in Long Beach.

Bike Muscle-up by CrossFit Oahu (HI).

The CrossFit Store found a couple of extra boxes of FilFest t-shirts. They're sweet and the price is right: Men's and Women's.