WOD
Tabata What?
L pull-ups : 4
Thrusters, 45 : 11
Box Jumps, second highest box ~36'' : 5
SDLHP, 45 : 10
Jump rope, single-unders : 20
Total Score : 50
dip ladder : 1-7-1-6-1
Tabata What?
L pull-ups : 4
Thrusters, 45 : 11
Box Jumps, second highest box ~36'' : 5
SDLHP, 45 : 10
Jump rope, single-unders : 20
Total Score : 50
dip ladder : 1-7-1-6-1
Notes: First time with workout. I lack the technical skill for double-unders and am not working on it because I got bigger fish to fry. I earned a good score but over-gamed it. That is the problem with Tabata intervals and Crossfit scoring. It is exponentially harder to get a arithmetically higher score. I love intervals and think they are one of the fundamentals for athletic training. Crossfit Tabata scoring works well for beginning to intermediate athletes, but is lacking for elite athletes. I would argue the same is true for Crossfit in general. I think an athlete would have a hard time becoming Crossfit "Elite" by doing Crossfit as Rx'd. Overall, it was nice to have an easy day after the two hard days.
14 comments:
intriguing words from a true crossfit elite...
Interesting,
but I am going to have to disagree very highly with you on this one. Many (and I'll argue most)"elite" crossfitters that have done nothing more than the WOD as rx'd.
First, I want to say I am not a "true crossfit elite." They standards for that title, and I have not reached them. (On a side note, I have not heard of anyone meeting them either. If there is someone that has met them please forward the information to me.) Crossfit is the best program for me. I think there could be improvements for me and in general.
The problem is that I am in my own bubble and do not have many comparisons(but maybe that is a good thing). Never believe a sample size of one.
I have many ideas concerning the relationship between the Elite Standards and Crossfit methodology. I am saving them for a post challenge wrap-up.
Hey guys,
This could be a really interesting discussion. I'd love to get together as a group post Bday Challenge/CrossFit Games and have a lively conversation about CrossFit "standards", methodology, and improvement/evolution of the system.
Brian, you are clearly not a true crossfit elite... by any measure or set of standards. I was obviously being sarcastic. At least your an elite climber... oh wait...
I'll stop being an ass now. You're pretty fit and I look forward to hearing your opinions.
Greg Amundson, Brendon Gilliam, OPT (until this year AFTER winning the games), AFT, Speal, Eva T, Annie, Nicole... to name a few
Need a name of a crossfitter that has grown up doing nothing but Crossfit? Check out Connor Martian. The kid is 16 and in elite standards for most wods.
All of the above have reached "elite status" and continued progressing beyond by following coaches prescribed WOD's for years. 3 days on, 1 day off.
How long have you been in this "bubble"? Hows your diet? Sleep? How much do you spend on technique?
I would consider a bubble either one of two things:
- someone is coming very close to their genetic potential
- something in the programming is off
The quickest way to get to elite standards is to follow the crossfit methodology.
"The quickest way to get to elite standards is to follow the crossfit methodology"
Hmmmm, I don't know. In spite of the fact that a large number of CrossFit's elites follow the program, I can't quite get on board with their methodology being the only one that can get you to this level.
John Welbourn and his wife had very little/no CrossFit exposure (http://games.crossfit.com/athletes/be-afraidbe-very-afraid.html)
and apparently came in and crushed it.
I never said crossfit was the only way. It is however, the most efficient.
John Welbourn, although an excellent athlete, is by no means a crossfit "elite". He has specialized in strength. So he scores well with workouts involving primarily strength. With some double-unders, running, box jumps, rope climbs, handstand pushups, etc... those scores drop drastically.
mc - sorry, sarcasm does not come across on the internet
cj - those people are all very fit by any standards (and very inspiration). i still don't know if they have reached the crossfit's elite standards. the term elite is being too losely thrown around. in this context, i mean the athletic standards level 4. i'm more in a bubble than on a bubble, since i'm not really a big member of the crossfit community. i often workout by myself, self-educated, and self-coached. i agree with you that the quickest path is by crossfit methodology. I love the fact crossfit as introduced intensity as one the most important variables in the equation. One problem is the main site makes it appear that Crossfit's WOD as Rx'd is only/best path. One size doesn't fit all.
I am just exploring fitness and asking questions. Which I think is lacking in Crossfit. (I am not the first person to say it). One is example Josh Bridges's 2:02 Fran. A brief survey of the comments finds a really uninteresting discussion of kipping, but no mention of the quality of his pull-ups. In my opinion, his chin did not clear the bar on all the reps and the time is invalid.
On a personal note, my programing is not optimal. I score about a 8 on diet and a 9 on sleep (out of 10). I only do technique work on things I suck at, mainly oly. I have found that just getting stronger helps so much on metcon. I don't have precise metcon benchmarks, but there are creeping up.
Brian,
first, thanks for letting me know what standards you were referring to about being an "elite" crossfitter. That level 4 page is alright, but includes too many single element goals. Check out this page for what I have been referring to:
http://www.board.crossfit.com/
showthread.php?t=20066&highlight
=standards
I agree with you that 1 size doesn't fit all in respect to specialization. But, the WOD is designed to increase everyone's general fitness (work capacity across broad times and modal domains). The best way to increase fitness is to not specialize and to have a program that is broad, general, and inclusive.
Now, in respect to "customizing" the wods. I do not disagree that for SOME people, it might be best to have a stonger focus on their weakness. So yes, I feel that a pre or post-workout that emphasizes these weaknesses is more efficient than the WOD's alone.
Basically, I feel that leaving the main workouts broad general and inclusive, while including work specializing in personal weaknesses pre or post workout is the most efficacious route to becoming as fit as genetically possible.
I also agree with you that most people who crossfit just follow and never question. But for many people, the results and community speak for themselves and they don't feel the need to question. But, the beauty of crossfit is that it is open source. Anybody can contribute and make a change (butterfly kips is a recent example).
And yes, that 2:02 Fran doesn't count for "the books" but it is nonetheless an awesome display of power.
Sorry for the long rant. I have nothing better to do with my time..
"I never said crossfit was the only way. It is however, the most efficient."
Gotcha. My bad.
"The best way to increase fitness is to not specialize and to have a program that is broad, general, and inclusive."
Total agreement here. However, my view of fitness is in keeping with my attitude towards martial arts: Specialization can often be more comfortable for certain individuals. This is not to say that they wouldn't benefit from an overall fitness program, but that some things will work better for them than others.
Colin, as you pointed out, Welbourn is best in strength related workouts. And, in the long run, those will be of the most benefit to him as he needs power for his job. Will he be helped by the broad range of CrossFit? Undoubtedly, but ultimately, he is "specializing" in a particular part of the system as it benefits his needs.
For me, the "flaw" (if you could call it that)in the CrossFit system, is their (our?) belief that it is an end all/be all workout. Has it produced results? Absolutely. But it is also creating very specific types of athletes...CrossFitters.
Yes, they can crank out the Fran/Cindy/Murph, etc., but these are "CrossFit" specific exercises.
I would like to see/hear/read how they tailor (or if they tailor) their workouts to particular athletes. How would say a tennis player's workout differ from a football player's? Both need to be fit, but they also have sport specific needs that may not (are not?) necessarily be met by CrossFit.
This typing is making me tired and thirsty, can we do a beer and chat after our next lifting session?
beer and chat sounds great.
and yes, I have no disagreement that for people preparing for certain sports, which require a level of specialization, crossfit needs to be adjusted to meet the demands of their spot.
Fortunately, many sports, as well as life in general, require the same balance and non-specialization that crossfit brings.
an example of specialization be used:
crossfitendurance.com
i think this discussion is/was awesome. i love to talk shop and over beers would be great.
thank you for the link. my number one complaint about the standards is they are too much strength orientated for crossfit.
again on personal note, my sport is climbing (for the next month my sport is my challenge). i don't do many sport WOD because my type of climbing is too technical. i have distilled principles from crossfit and have applied them to training. i mainly use crossfit to prevent and correct imbalances.
Post a Comment