This is going to somewhat of a long post. There are so many things I would love to communicate to you all about the CrossFit Level 1 exerience at CF Baltimore. I am going to include some comments posted from the main CF website about what people brought away from the weekend. I am also going to include some pictures and video of the coaches and facility where I spend 2 amazing days.
Comment #1
As I was driving home last night from the Baltimore cert, I was struck, again for the first time, by the uncommon quality of the men and women with whom I'd spent the past two days. The trainers, Andrew Thompson, Jon Gilson, Tony Budding, Pat Starret,Rob Wolf, and and Jeff T. were all bright, articulate, patient, helpful, top drawer all the way. But what really worked on me is the outstanding quality of the attendees, the enlisted men and women. What is it about CF that attracts such an uncommonly brilliant group of people? I think the answer may be found in CF's difficulty and complexity Not everyone is cut out for CF, not everyone is willing to go at that intensity, to be pushed to the wall and then have the wall moved back, again and again. Only people who can stick to it, who can perserve, who are patient and are willing to drag themselves off the floor and show up tomorrow can be CFers. It's the same quality that drives folks through medical school, through BUD/S, and countless other human endeavors that are hard and long. You gotta grind it out. Not everyone is willing to do that. There's another thing: CF, because of it's complexity, constantly keeps you humble and right sized. No hot dogs or prima donnas here. Got a kipping pullup? How about an L-pullup? Got a muscle up? how about 2 in a row? hey, get some more shrug in those cleans. Only decent yet confident hard working people can stand up to the unremitting zone of failure, fatigue and form faults that rings our CF experience. The same qualities that enable us to weather the intensity of CF also enable us to be better members of our communities, more productive at work, better spouses and parents. We're forging elite fitness, not molding it out of wet clay. That's what makes
CFers, from Coach on down, so remarkable. They're my friends, my comrades, they're CFers. Thank you all.
Comment #2
The Baltimore Cert. this weekend was awesome! After crossfitting for a year my wife and I went in with high expectations and we were blown away. Robb Wolf's knowledge, Andrew T's passion(not just for crossfit but for people), Pat's dry wit & common sense delivery and Tony B's ability to tie it all together, made the experience unforgettable. Not to mention the knowledge and instruction from the other trainers. Maggi from Crossfit Fairfax fixed 20 years of squatting wrong and subsequent knee problems in 2 minutes. Crossfit Baltimore is an impressive facility. I hear it all the time but after experiencing it my only regret is not getting to a cert sooner. Thank you all
Comment #3
WOW! CrossFit Baltimore Cert was phenomenal. I was on such a high from the experience, the knowledge and the exposure to so many incredible athletes that I was virtually unphased by the fact that it took me 5+ hours to get home vs the 'prescribed' 2.5!!!! I sat in lines for gas reviewing my notes, flashing back to the slew of profanities gushing out of my mouth as I finished my 3rd round of FGB, and all the time thinking, "I want more!"
We have been armed with information that can change lives. I am so privileged to have been part of this and am incredibly pumped to go share it with others.
Thank you to each trainer for their contributions and a big thanks to CrossFit Baltimore - good luck!
Comment #4
CROSSFIT BALTIMORE CERT #1 ~ BIG THANK YOU
~A big thanks to GREG and LAUREN Glassman for creating the best fitness product out there (and for free might I add). Thank you for giving me a legitimate reason to leave my day job. You put the knowledge out there, and only an elite few combine it with action to create results.
~Thanks for all the instructors for sharing their stories. PAT and his own introduction to CF, JEFF and his emotional reward getting a grandmother to squat to a d ball, JON G and his 20 minute pep talk about building his own affiliate as well as telling me that '300' was a good # to reach for before I began fight gone bad before my 1st time doing it, ANDREW T tearing up talking about his own grandmother, Tony for his stories that really made me laugh, ROB M. for the excitement at the birth of Greyskull and ROB W for his attitude on clients and diet. And for MAGGIE letting Jon show the strength of her traps.
~Thanks to JAMIE for taking the time to share stories. I hope I have a son one day saying to me "one more round Mom!" Love that video, true inspiration.
~A big thanks to my instructor (JOHN SHEAFFER,AKA Johnny Pain, CrossFit Greyskull, Folsom PA) for introducing me to CrossFit. He is a true student of CF and a great mentor for me. I also have to thank him for telling me that "no one called time yet, keep going faster" on the clean/burpee workout on Day 1 of the seminar - he knows just how to motivate me.....
AS WELL AS....pushing me to max intensity, telling me that an expert is a master of the basics, dealing with me when I become the "angry weightlifter", telling me "no count" until I do it right, forwarding me Jon Gilson's article 'Beautiful girls', showing me the "nasty girls video", leaving an olympic bar w/training wheels in my living room when I asked him for help with my technique, quoting Greg Glassman, educating me on CF, AND CARING ENOUGH to help me walk away from overdieting, overtraining and figure competitions. Being blunt, I finally get my period again, can go #2 regularly and I am not afraid of carbs. I could go on..thanks for demanding the best !!!!
"Do you want me to be a good athlete of yours or a good instructor?" John's answer..."BOTH!"
~And for CATE KELLY (another female monster), CrossFit Greyskull, Folsom PA who could not attend at the last minute ~ you were truly missed by John and I. As I type this, Cate is at home trying to beat my max deadlift effort of 215 lbs from this 6 AM class morning....John just called... she got 220 max dl. Cate, you truly keep me on my toes.
~Thanks to alll the new friends I made this weekend and for Baltimore hosting the Cert.
Loved conversations with RICH the fireman, WENDY, and JESSICA for getting me through Fight Gone Bad.
Muscle-Up
I had never before even attempted a muscle-up but was able to get one after about 5 trys on the rings. I have uploaded a video to show what a muscle-up is. Thank you to Jeff from CrossFit Fairfax for his excellent coaching on the muscle-up.
Follow this link to see what a muscle-up is.
A few more pics, of the weekend....below.
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