The New Age of CrossFit 2.0

CrossFit has changed, evolved, and grown.  We've already talked about the "new" ways CF gyms are opening and the feel they take on as newbies into this explosive sport.  Today let's take a peek at how the athlete has evolved.

"Coach" Vic at Sectionals in 2010

When I first found CrossFit local competitions were scarce.  I remember the first competition I competed in was a team effort between Vic at Bayou City and Carlos at CrossFit Houston.  It was an all day Saturday party in the middle of the scorching hot Houston summer.  I wasn't sure if I was ready for a competition, didn't know if I'd be able to hang, and really didn't even know what to expect!  I didn't do anything different to get ready.  I didn't change my workouts, modify my diet, or add to the boxes programming.  We just rolled with it.   It turned out to be a blast and I even did fairly well. 

Fast forward a few years.  Local competitions sell out in minutes - literally.  There's no "being on the fence" about competing, you have to be ready to click that register button the minute the registration opens.  Competition comes from all over the region.  It's become a real sport.

How about the CF Open, Regionals, and the Games?  I can recall talking with competitors back in 2010 when we had the Sectionals, Regionals, and then the games.  Most of them were athletes who went out, gave it their all and whoever was best prepared punched their ticket.  But how did they prepare?  Few had dedicated coaches.  I can't recall a single conversation with an individual who mentioned having a coach who programmed for them, watched them workout, analyzed workout video, or helped them seek out their weaknesses.  Sure, we all had our coaches at our home box.  The same one who helped us while helping the other 10 or so athletes in the class with us.

2012 Bayou City Team at Regionals

Today the successful athletes can't get by without the coaching aspect.  Sure, you can follow the programming at you box or on CrossFit.com and be respectable in any number of competitions.  This years' regional winners didn't just follow .com, or come in and participate in a class at the box.  They had coaches.  Dedicated, paid coaches.  These coaches look in from the outside, identify weaknesses, program skills, strength, and metcons.  They are as crucial to the successful CrossFitter today as is explosiveness in a power clean. 

It was a real eye opener when exiting the 2012 CF Games this year with the Bayou City team.  We did well with the preparation we took into the games.  We looked back and realized we were missing a piece.  We were missing that coach looking in.  The days of simply getting together with the team for a metcon, or throwing up some back squats for the heck of it are over.  We'll evolve with CrossFit and I'm excited to see what can be accomplished with coaching in 2013.  

cg