Editor’s note: The final episodes of the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games will be televised on ESPN2 in primetime from 10-11 p.m. ET tonight and 10-11 p.m. ET tomorrow night. The CrossFit Games originally were presented via simulcast on ESPN3 in July.
For the past month, ESPN2 has televised the Reebok CrossFit Games — a multi-event athletic competition for men and women who compete in a series of rigorous workout challenges.
Sounds straightforward, but to truly appreciate The CrossFit Games, you have to grasp the concept of CrossFit.
On a recent visit to ESPN’s Bristol campus, CrossFit Founder Greg Glassman defined CrossFit as “constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement.”
Get it? ESPN NFL analyst Tim Hasselbeck gets it. So do countless ESPN employees and “CrossFitters” from around the world.
“It makes me feel functionally strong. That’s what it is — functional movements for human beings,” said Hasselbeck.
CrossFit exercises include a combination of Olympic lifts, sprints, powerlifting, swimming, endurance challenges, and more — all natural movements that can aid everyday people do everyday things.
“CrossFit is an approach to life. I feel like I’m going to eat well and workout this way because that’s who I am, not because I’m trying to look a certain way,” Hasselbeck said.
The former NFL quarterback has been doing CrossFit for three years now and learned about it in the same way many people have — from friends in the military.
“I had finished playing in the NFL and I wanted to work out and compete. A couple of friends in the army told me about CrossFit,” Hasselbeck said.
“While they were deployed, they started doing it, in part because it’s very convenient for soldiers to read workouts online and then do them. They don’t necessarily need a gym.”
Jessica Stewart, who works for ESPN Regional Television in Charlotte, N.C., is among several employees who are devoted to CrossFit training.
“We would each do the workout of the day, and then post our times in email chats. It was fun. It was competition, like fantasy football – a lot trash talking.
Hasselbeck wishes he knew about it during his playing days.
“If I felt this strong I would have continued playing. I wish I knew about it then,” said Hasselbeck.
“When I started, I immediately said something about it to my brother Matt (currently quarterbacking the Tennessee Titans). He was on the fence about it, but I finally convinced him and he started it prior to this season. He went into the season stronger than he has been in the past 10 years.
This begs the question: Has he ever considered competing in the CrossFit Games?
“I’ve thought about it a bunch. The competitors are so fit in every aspect. I could do certain workouts, yes. But other workouts I couldn’t do, like handstand push-ups.
“It’s incredible to see some of the things these athletes do. It speaks to mental toughness, in addition to the physical stuff.”
CrossFit is far more than sweating it out in the gym, according to Hasselbeck.
In fact, it can be a life saver.
“My Dad [former NFL tight end Don Hasselbeck] told me, ‘CrossFit saved my life.’ When he finished his NFL career, he was 40 pounds overweight and had gone through heart operations. He wasn’t healthy. He looks like a different person now. He moves like a different person now. I think CrossFit saved his life.”
If you’re thinking you need to be a current or former NFL player to do CrossFit, don’t worry.
The workout is designed for all ages, shapes and sizes. And, everyone has a different reason for doing it.
Jessica Stewart, administrative manager for ESPN Regional Television in our Charlotte, N.C. office, gave CrossFit her thumbs up.
“I have been doing CrossFit now for over a year now. I do it to show my kids that they have a strong mom. When I go in there and do my workouts, it shows them I’m committed.”
ESPN statistics analyst Daniel Riccio does CrossFit Football – a variation of CrossFit more focused on weightlifting.
“No workout is ever the same and I really enjoy that the programming is done for you and for free. The typical daily workout of the day only lasts 10-15 minutes at the most. It can include everything from kettle bell swings to pull ups to push-ups to hand stands done non-stop with little or no rest.”
Here’s the signature CrossFit workout known as Fran: Three rounds of Pull-Ups and Thrusters.
First round: 21 reps
Second round: 15 reps
Third Round: 9 reps
Sounds easy, right?
9 Comments
1
Clayton on October 3, 2011 at 5:06 pm
CrossFit is not another “fitness fad” It isn’t jazzercize or P90X . . .it is a way of living that asks you if you can be a better version of you each and every day. CrossFit goes so far beyond just a workout program it’s ridiculous. You don’t just get stronger, skinnier, faster, fitter (though you get all that) you get a chance to make yourself BETTER. A better you, a stronger you. A you that knows your limits, and wants to push them farther. A you that you trust can handle any situation that life throws your way. You get to do things you NEVER THOUGHT YOU COULD DO . . . and once you do those things ( a muscle-up, throwing hundreds of lbs above your head) you immediately wonder what else is possible, what other “can’ts” are now “cans”. ESPN . .. please push CrossFit. Televise it, debate it, write about it . . . give this program the credence that can only come from your coverage. ANYONE can do it, honestly. CrossFit works just as well for Elite athletes as it does for grandmas, working moms and the “fat kid” ( I know, I was that fat kid)
2
Zach Brodis on October 3, 2011 at 5:19 pm
CrossFit produces societies of humble and strong individuals. These people will lead the fitness industry and the world in a much healthier direction. Go CrossFit!
3
Bill on October 3, 2011 at 6:04 pm
I can’t even explain how much fun Crossfit is, and how blessed I feel to have found it. There is a moment in each workout that you learn a little bit more about yourself – I can’t really explain this – you have to experience it for yourself. Most Crossfit gyms have free group intro workouts. If you are looking for something a lot different, I would give it a shot. Hey – if Crossfit is not your answer – so be it – I truly wish you luck fin your fitness journey!
4
Ted on October 3, 2011 at 9:49 pm
In furtherance of the universality of crossfit, I would say look at the performance of the masters category competitors. Crossfit has taken the fitness of many women and men to levels that 15 years ago were considered impossible or extraordinary. Not only is Crossfit fun and challenging, it works just as well for those of us that are over 50. And while you are watching note the congeniality and mutual encouragement among the competitors in the games.
5
Jeremy on October 3, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Clayton, I love Crossfit too but I take a bit of offense at lumping in P90X with other fad workouts like jazzercise. If you look closely at the programming, P90X is basically the same as all of the body weight or dumbbell Crossfit movements. Pushups, pullups, airsquats, burpees, plyometrics, etc. Crossfit is great, but its innovation is taking workouts from other sports, putting them all together in random order, and performing them at maximum intensity until you puke. Crossfit did not invent any of these exercise movements. The main reason that I do P90X instead of Crossfit is that the DVDs and nutrition guide are $100 total. My local Crossfit gym costs between $150-200 minimum per month. P90X has completely changed my body and allows me the ability to workout in my living room.
6
eatmilos on October 4, 2011 at 9:27 am
CrossFit is a sport not a fitness program. Let’s be clear about this so let’s don’t compare it to fitness programs like P90X, Insanity, bootcamp workouts, etc….
I have been doing CrossFit training for a year and the results have been phenomenal. Don’t get me wrong fitness programs like P90X are a good start for most individuals but the fallacy in those programs is stagnation will set in after 9-12 months. This forces the individual to look for other ways to vary the fitness regiment….Rinse and repeat. I can speak from experience since I was a vet of many, many rounds of P90X and its Insanity DVDs.
Try CrossFit. You either like it or hate it. But if you like it, you will ask yourself the million dollar question: “Why didn’t I try this earlier?”
7
northmeetsouth on October 4, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Crossfit is completely different than the fad workouts, I have done them all. Bootcamps, P90X, step, Insanity,bodypump I have done them all. However I have also worked with and done more team athletic training than an average person. Crossfit encompass the whole season of a sport. The interval training, the peak performance, the maintence exerciseise. My gym even offers yoga twice a week. Crossfit is perfect for an athlete, a bored person who loves to work out or the person who know they can be physically better then they are. Crossfit as quoted by a friend is “the gym to bring out your inner superhero”.
8
StephenW on October 9, 2011 at 9:03 pm
I’ve been CrossFitting for almost two years now. Before this, I was pretty much a couch potato for the last six years and never much of an athlete before that, either. I never imagined that I would be able to complete a WOD like “5th Mountain” (100 Burpees, run a mile, 100 Air-Squats, run a mile, 100 Sit-Ups, run a mile, 100 Push-Ups, run a mile, 100 Pull-Ups, run a mile) totaling 500 reps and 5 miles of running. CrossFit, up until lately, has had little media attention and no advertising, yet it continually grows by word of mouth alone. That has to say something about it and the fact that is isn’t just a fad.
9
Sam on October 9, 2011 at 9:53 pm
@jeremy CrossFit doesn’t claim to have “invented” any of these movements such as the push-up or burpee. If you think Crossfit is simply about getting in great shape, then you are completely missing out on so many other things about this incredible community. The friendships and great people I have met in the Crossfit community are equally as inspiring as the great feeling of being in the best shape of your life. If you want to meet some great people, then you should check out a local Crossfit gym. I have visited gyms all over the country, and I would say 95% of them are great communities with great people.