Many new people in the gym lately…very cool. Sometimes it’s tough with new people though. People have very high expectations of themselves and they want to do well – the start of their CrossFit journey can be somewhat overwhelming. I can see it in thier eyes in their intros and subsequent 1st few weeks in group class.
Where do I put my feet?
What’s a hang power clean? Does it go over my head? Why not?
What do you eat for breakfast? Wait, I can eat bacon??
What weight do I use for the thrusters?? What’s a thruster again?? I can’t do knees to elbows!! OMG!!
What is AMRAP? 1-1-1-1-1? What weight do I start with?
This is normal, and as you gain more experience, it gets easier. Think of it as a sport. If you were to play ice hockey for the very first time in your life, you probably wouldn’t be very good at that either.
In the beginning the light at the end of the tunnel can seem very far off. Every day is overwhelming and then, you start to learn. And get better.
After a while, instead of an overwhelming nightmare of feeling like you’re reading cuneiform – you’re going to start looking at the whiteboard as just a WOD. Some days will be tougher than others, but that’s all it is…it’s just your workout.
In the beginning you come in for the workouts, after a while, you feel better – but you come back because you like the people you work out with. There is no light at the end of the tunnel – that light is simply a milemarker. A milemarker on your lifelong CrossFit journey towards increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains.
Later,
JD
Very true and motivating. Just one question, when do I stop being sore?
when you start coming 5x per week haha!
is that a hint???
Nope. that’s when I stopped being sore…when I went from 2x per week to 3 on 1 off…
upping your training frequency definately helps minimize the soreness, the other thing i would say that helps a lot is dialing in your food, but even training a lot, and eating right, there are still WODs that leave you sore…….my experience at least.
jd………good post buddy
Great post as usual JD. Crossfit should sell road maps for those mile markers
Great post!!
Great post..I do come 3 on and one off and I am still sore…just sayin! I think my age plays on that factor 🙂
Great post JD. It’s a nice reminder to myself of what it felt like when I first started. I still rough days and sometimes life gets in the way. But I keep coming back and love the Crossfit family.
Thanks
I’m in a glass case of emotion…
Okay, Anchorwoman!! haha
I didn’t have a chance to put together a well thought out response…but as far as recovery goes, there are many things in play.
Adaptation/frequency – how conditioned are you to be doing the workout
Sleep
Nutrition – post workout meal anyone?? Most people are lacking in this. I did purchase some paleo kits though! They’re 7 bucks…
Stress
Other things that help
Stretching
Foam rolling
Contrast showers/ice baths
Form
And how much fish oil are you taking??
All these things come into play when soreness is the question. soreness shouldn’t be that common once you’ve been CF’ing for a few months. If that’s the case, talk to a trainer and let’s figure out what the dilleo is!
JD – What is your stance on supplementing with ZMA to help recovery?.
i take it almost every night. Doesnt help me sleep at all though.
Glad to hear you use it too. I sleep like a baby and have the craziest dreams.
I will say this though…If you (not you John but ‘people’ in general) are eating more than 1 or 2 cra meals per week and boozin’ it up more than once the supplements arent helpin as much as cutting out the shennanigans will…except for fish oil.
omg. I forgot chiropractic care and massage! woops! Those too!
Very moving JD. Nice resolve at the end as well….isn’t there some wine consumption in there too?….
Good writings, good times. I asked JD one time how come everyone at the gym was basically pretty cool to hang out and train with, his simple answer was, “the douche bags weed themselves out rather quickly.” The box is a great equalizer of ego and talent, where one is weak another maybe strong and visa versa, the great thing is that those that stick around get better at all they do, they hunger to improve, thay realize that, as those around them get better so do they. Stages of improvement over time, the desire to improve is of utmost import. The willingness to suffer through the plateaus, the disappointments and struggles eventually yeild awesome returns. As Vinny reminds me often, “to the victor goes the spoils!” I must conquer self first! Thanks to all who train.
And that’s not to say that everybody that doesn’t stick around is a douchebag…But we have a douchbag content of zero as far as our current membership.
Well said, Dr. C.
J.D.
Once again a top shelf blog. I hope you’re keeping all of these to put into a Crossfit book of wisdom some day. I have to agree with everything everyone has said especially Dr. C’s comment. Crossfit is not a hobby, or fad it’s a sport and as athlete’s we need to take care of our bodies inside and out.
Excellent post JD.
Thanks Jim!