Leaving CrossFit behind

*Not a political post*

Yeah, there are plenty of political reasons people are leaving CrossFit right now, but that’s not what I want to talk about today.  CrossFit has been letting me down in other ways.  

For those of you who don’t know me, until recently--I would describe myself as a Masters CrossFit Competitor.  I usually compete in three or four competitions throughout the year, including the CrossFit Open, and most competitions that are held by my beloved home box, Butcher’s Lab, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

I have followed various training programs over the years, including Invictus, CompTrain, Iron Force Athletics, and some CrossFit Linchpin programming.  I tend to adapt really well during strength training, and gymnastics training.  It’s probably safe to say I am stronger, and better at gymnastics than most 54-year-olds.  

What I have never gotten good at, is what comprises most CrossFit classes throughout the world--the workout that is 20-30 minutes long, includes 100s of repetitions and results in you laying on the floor in a fetal position in a puddle of sweat. In an attempt to get better at these workouts,  in the last couple of years, I have abandoned following any kind of training program, and have just concentrated mainly on attending CrossFit classes--trying to “toughen” myself up for these types of workouts. 

I really love the community aspect of attending a CrossFit class, but I end up not feeling good about myself at the end of the week. My strength starts slipping, my gymnastic skills start slipping, and I am left starving for that “feeling of success” that is so important to all of us while training. 

Then there is what happens after the workout. After finally getting up off the floor, I go home and take a shower. Then I nap for an hour. When I wake up--I am honestly at about 50% effectiveness for the rest of the day--a fact that doesn’t go unnoticed by my wife and three small children. Then during most afternoons and evenings, I have to pull myself together for my personal training clients--and it is a challenge to stay fresh and focused after what I have put myself through earlier in the day. Doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, does it? And yet I have been doing this for years. 

When I sit down with my health coaching and personal training clients, the first thing we discuss is: What’s your “Why?” What is the goal — what are we trying to do here? Unbelievably, I have never asked myself that same question, until now.

The answer was--I want to be effective and energetic in my everyday life.  Yes, I like being a strong guy, and I love working on gymnastics skills, and I want to be in decent cardio shape — but not at the expense of being energetic and present for my kids, my wife, and my clients.  And myself! There are other things I like to do in life.  I like to write music, and work on different projects (like this one!) with friends and colleagues.  I want to keep learning and devoting time to research and writing.  

So, for me — CrossFit is over.  At least the way I have been going about it.  What will my training look like now? That is the subject of another article.