The Story So Far

It’s been 25 days since my first class and I’m already hooked! If I had to give a brief summary of what it is that I enjoy I’m not sure where to start so let’s try my first class. I turned up not knowing anyone or anything about the classes which is where all similarities to a “normal gym” end…..immediately people make their way over to the new guy to introduce themselves and advise that its gonna be painful today cos of the 400m runs! People being friendly in a gym and talking to each other was a completely new experience for me as I have been a member of several gyms in Dublin and the most you ever get from someone in a gym is an odd look as they check themselves out in the mirror! Before any of the workout had begun I already knew the names of at least 5/6 people in the class and it really put me at ease. Another difference is the time taken by the coaches to go through the movements required and the techniques needed for the workout. It wasn’t a case of here’s what we are going to do, watch me once and then copy it. It was much more detailed and much more client focused. And it wasn’t just the coaches helping out. As my first class was an all levels class there were several people there who knew the techniques inside out and when they were finished their set they had no problem in helping others out with advice or support. This is something that everyone is encouraged to do even if it’s only to tell someone to go a little lower to shouting at them to push a little harder sometimes that’s all that’s needed….and I certainly needed it!

So onto the workouts, oh the workouts are fun (if your Will / Colm / Tom) otherwise they are horrible, painful and fun! Most of the workouts are not that long ranging from 5mins to 30mins and I enjoy this because there is always something new to do, some new combination of workout. My first session was on a Saturday morning and it was squats followed by the Work out of the Day – 5 sets of 30 box jumps, 30 wall balls and 400m sprints….afterwards I thought I would never breathe properly again but after an hour or 2 I felt great. It’s hard to explain but I felt completely refreshed and energised even though I was still tired. I then made my way up to the next few classes on a Monday and Tuesday and found i was doing exercises that I had never tried before and I was loving them cos it was a challenge, not only a challenge for myself but I was challenging myself against other people in the same workout. The surprising thing was the people you were up against in a specific group were hoping to be pushed and were willing to push you back to do and be better. And in between all these workouts there were the coaches still walking around always with a word of encouragement or a tip to help you better your technique. I refer back to a “normal gym” and how often do you see a trainer come up to anybody and really spend some time helping them on their technique or advising them on how to get better at something?

And it does not finish there…there is a big emphasis on a change of diet or lifestyle to eating healthy foods. If you’re going to train hard you should give you body the best chance to reap the rewards of the hard work and to recover. The thing is they will not tell you what to eat / drink or what to change but will encourage you to find what is right for yourself! Do some research yourself and see what you can do so that it does not feel like someone is pushing you to change but that it is a choice you are making yourself. I have found that I have far more energy after only a short period of time since I have changed my diet and I am getting much better night’s sleep. And that my recover between classes is improving. All in all I feel much better and can’t wait to see how I feel after another 3 weeks.

All this sums up what CrossFit is about….they expect people to work hard in the class but to help others, they expect you to try your best and never quit and they expect you to help yourself. They are there to help you along the way but not to hold your hand as this is a personal choice and something you have to want to do! But it’s easier to want to do something when it’s in a fun environment and good people at every class and new friends to be made every time you turn up

I would recommend Crossfit to anyone I now talk to even after only 3 weeks….as I said I’m hooked!

Ross