One of the things we do at MCCF is try to balance the training of the athlete while keeping the dynamic of the group fun. One of the things we don’t do at the box as a workout is the 5K run. We kind of just agreed that people would probably rather not spend the kind of money they’re spending to come to the gym just to run up and down Brentwood for a half an hour or so…Or in Dave’s (Dave S.) case, 18 mins…
I was talking to somebody about the 5 K last week and realized probably not many people do it on their own. This should probably change.
Everybody wants to be a good (fast?) runner, right? It’s very easy to map out a 5K run from your house no matter where you live. You can use Google or www.mapmyrun.com – whatever you choose. Time yourself and try to get a run in at least once a month. Post your times to the comments on the site for that day.
For those of you that have a running background, a 5K may seem pretty easy – for those of us that were never runners, the prospects of running over 3 miles without stopping is a bit more daunting. I will say this though. Running a 5K at my fastest pace doesn’t come close to the intensity and discomfort I feel during Filthy 50.
Sometimes a run can be fun and relaxing – maybe not when it’s 14 degrees out, but you see things you wouldn’t normally notice when driving the same route trying to text somebody at the same time. So strap on your I-Pod and head on out. Put it in your book and take a look at your times a year from now…
Have fun!
Because I get annoyed by things like this, http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ also lets you map a run on google maps but without all the advertisement crap.
If people aren’t feeling crushed at the end of a 5K, they need to pickup the pace. Going at true maximum intensity in a run workout should create the same feeling at the end as other 20 – 25 minute met-cons. Running workouts have been by far the most common exercise in the Crossfit Games. When the athletes were interviewed at the end of those WODs, the vast majority said they were the toughest WODs of the Games.
I get what Jim is saying…But sometimes I go for a run out of boredom, to relax, for active rest or to make up for eating that extra piece of pizza. Intensity is good and Jim is right…but it’s also okay to go for a nice easy jog every once and a while.
JD,
Is there going to be a track mapped out from the gym? I’d like to get a 5k in that doesn’t involve a 4 lane road during rush hour.
If the WOD is a 5k then let it be. Perhaps the run could followed up with oly skills and drills or something….just a thought
we can figure something out for you Hubie…I will talk to you next time I see you.
im with JohnJ….unknown and knowable…….I havent run more than two miles at one go in at least a year, and it will probably crush me, but it is what it is
Who’s stopping you all! Get your butts outside and RUN!!! The last streets the city of Sterling Heights plows are Brentwood and Gatewood anyway. It’d probably be safer running in your subdivision on the sidewalk by all of the mansions anyway Coop.
I agree w/ Coop and John J… If the schedule that we are following posts a 5k – we (as a class) should do the 5k… and run it together. We can help push one another like we do at all other WODs.
Prior to strarting crossfits – I would run many 5k races and then when I couldn’t run in the gym – I would run 5k’s around my house. It’s different when you run on your own then in a group. When you’re in a group – you can pace yourself w/ a faster runner or be pushed by someone that just happens to be running w/ you.
We all paid to do crossfit WODs and if they involve running then they are obviously trying to better us at just that… there’s a reason behind their programming madness. If the members want something more then the running – then do just what John J. said – let them work on OLY lifting and skill techniques or their weaknesses afterwards.
I wasn’t really putting it up for a vote – but If Iike 30 of our 50+ members post in this blog saying they want to run 5K’s at the gym we can definitely revisit.
When my son first started coming to MCCF last summer, I actually told him to pray for rain every morning at 6AM, because “if it nice, they might make us run”. My vote is always for NOT running. And if I have to run, please make it a short run – 400M or less, because I really hate running long. I doubly hate running long when I have other Crossfitters like Tom B. who compel me to run way faster than I would on my own, just to keep from getting embarrassed, or hearing some Crossfitters footsteps behind me and finding myself pushing to my limit to keep from getting past (or lapped in the case of Vinny or JPM).
So I vote NO for the long runs, at least for the days I’m there doing the WOD. Give me air squats on those days; I love them.
I never thought the idea of doing a 5K would bring up such a debate. I myself am not a runner and actually despise it in all it’s forms. However, unless I’m running 3+ miles for the Marine Corps PFT then I probably won’t run one just for the hell of it. As Carey said if it comes up in the WOD then I’ll do it and bust my ass getting it done but, I’d rather get on my bike and do 20 miles to be honest.
I will go out and run on my own. I know for me if a run comes up on the site for the wod i’m not going to come in for just a run. (I like you all but, not worth the gas). Keep the running at home, you can still follow the site. I also don’t think any one of us is actually following the Three day main site one off. I know some follow the three on one off though just as a
schedule.
Maybe my last post was a little too subtle. The founder of Crossfit says that you will get much more benefit doing the exercises that you hate, than you do from doing the exercises you like. The natural tendency left on your own is to do the things you like. So I am exactly where Tom B. is. I would have a really hard time forcing myself to do a long run on my own. And if I did, it would be at a way more relaxed pace than it would be if I was with a group of Crossfitters in a WOD. Just like when my Mom used to make me eat Brussel Sprouts when I was a kid, I appreciate when MCCF makes me do things that are good for me, but that I hate to do – like running (and wall balls).
I’ll be at the gym around 5:30. Anyone else? Will the gym doors be open? I will also be hauling my 6’6″ 225lbs ass over snow for the distance of 5k. I hate it, but that’s the only way I’ll get better… plus I get to listen to my iPod for 25 minutes with my new ear buds. 🙂
Is somebody saying that running isn’t important? Grab a stopwatch and go outside. Time yourself, repeat.
Gym is open every weekday at 530.
I keep trying to post and it won’t let me…maybe it’s the link. Anyway, I hate to run but have been making myself do it more and more….So if anyone is interested I’m doing a 5 K run on Super Bowl Sunday in Novi. I can’t put the link but it’s- runsuperbowl dot com-
No, JD, no one is saying that running isn’t important – we are just saying that we would DO IT if we had to when it came up and posted at MCCF and we’d probably be more apt to pushing ourselves if we were running w/ the class… I would run faster if you were running beside me yelling at me to beat my old time or to beat JPM. I’d even run faster if you were coasting along side of me in your car blaring “Eye of the Tiger” and yelling at me to beat my time – then try to beat it on my own! I’m just saying!
A majority of us won’t do it on our own because we would rather come to MCCF… we drive to the box and whatever’s posted – we DO IT. We might bitch about it – hell, some might even leave, but those who do it – will then feel better that we did it after it’s all said and done.
Like Jim said I’m not gonna eat brussel sprouts (5k or 10k) on my own at home but I will if someone makes me eat them because everyone else is at MCCF and I’ll want to eat them faster! LOL! 🙂
Scheduled running would make us harder, better, FASTER, stronger! It’s just better when you suffer w/ others!
I’m still not convinced it’s a good idea. It may appeal to some…but not others. (Think of those scraping together their monthly dues for a 2x per week package). They would probably be better off spending their time learning a clean at the box rather than being told to run a 5K.
The more time I think about this the more I’m convinced that the 5K may be your (anybody’s) chance to push themselves on their own – without the benefit of ‘footsteps’. At home with no other reason to go hard other than it’s what you need to do to get better. If it’s tough for you to man up an push yourself that may be a weakness itself Do it! No special equipment needed.
Sack up and run hard. If you didn’t go hard enough you have only one person to blame!
I agree with JD, run on your own, and once in a while we’ll put on a special 5k (a real 5k, where you only run) so you can run with the group.
you can count me in for one of those people that will not run alone, but 45 miles of solitude on the road bike….priceless