Me & Pure Austin in 2010

In one of my previous posts, maybe more than one of them, I mentioned that I’m going to be taking on some additional roles at Pure Austin in 2010.  I wanted to spend some time on this post to talk about them.

First up: Pure Intense Training, or The PIT.

The PIT is Pure’s answer to providing an environment where people can do intense workouts in a group setting.  We use both indoor and outdoor elements, weightlifting, gymnastics, and monostructural movements to create some workouts that many of our clients have never seen.  At the moment, the programming is centered around a few movements every month… so each month, clients will see a focus on a few different movements.  That’s not to say that every workout will contain only those movements, but instead they will be used in combination to create different workouts.

We have a number of instructors for PIT classes, at a number of different times.  Initially, I’m taking on two PIT classes — Wednesdays at 6:15am, and Sundays and 12:30pm.  Those who attend my normal Sunday lineup will notice the time conflict.  More on that later.

The PIT is NOT CrossFit

I think it’s important to note that this is not a response from Pure to counter CrossFit.  It’s a way for us to allow our athletes to work in a more intense setting with a Trainer, in smaller classes, with the ability to do some movements clients can’t do in the gym.  For example, I can program med ball slams into a PIT workout, but we can’t do those in the gym because of the noise it generates.

Sure, there are similarities to CrossFit in the movements.  But CrossFit is so inclusive across broad domains that it’s hard not to be considered similar.  Pure is not a licensed CrossFit affiliate, so we will not be limiting ourselves to CrossFit-only, or CrossFit purist, programming.  However, as a CrossFit certified trainer, I can train clients using CrossFit methods, so you can expect to see some of that when I have the chance.

How is PIT different from X-Factor?

They’re very similar.  The difference is that in X-Factor, we’re limited to the movements we can perform because of the venue and the equipment available.  At the PIT, we can provide a more rounded experience — there’s a proper pull-up bar, med balls that we can throw around, barbells, etc.  Also, look forward to cool stuff that we’re not going to release into the gym for all clients, like tires to flip and sandbags to run with (we already have slosh pipes down there).

The PIT also allows us to up the intensity based on what the group wants to do.  In X-Factor, we have vastly different skill and strength levels, which makes it difficult to program and still watch everyone.  This increased intensity does not mean that new athletes should not go; quite the opposite.  The PIT is a much more controlled environment that allows me to effectively be a personal trainer for a group of people.  It’ll be a much different, more intense experience.  Still scalable for all levels, but I can pay better attention to everyone.

So, what’s happening with the schedule?

Starting January 3, there are some changes to the 2010 schedule.  My cycle schedule remains pretty much the same, although both my Thursday morning and Sunday classes are turning into Core Cycle, meaning there’s a core class right after spin.  The PIT classes are the additions, and sadly, X-Factor is being cut in favor of the PIT.

Here’s my schedule:

Quarry Lake

• Pure Cycle: Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:00pm
• Core Cycle: Thursdays, 6:00 – 7:15am

Town Lake

• PIT: Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15am
• Core Cycle: Sundays, 11:00am – 12:15pm
• PIT: Sundays, 12:30 – 1:30pm

While I’m sad to see X-Factor go, I’m excited to train people in the PIT setting.  I really think that attending the PIT classes, combined with proper nutrition, will help clients meet their goals.

See you in the PIT!

Reflections on 2009

The year’s not quite over yet, but while I’m still at home for the holidays, I thought I’d use this downtime to think about 2009.

I’ve heard from a lot of folks that 2009 sucked for them… I don’t know that I want to paint a whole year in a bad light.  I can certainly say that the last few weeks have tested more than just physical ability for me; they’ve tested emotions, caused stress, and forced me to take a hard look at what I’m doing with myself and my role in the various situations and scenarios that have played out in the latter part of this year.  More on that later.

For now, I want to focus on the positive, some highlights of 2009:

• In the athletic realm, I’ve gotten stronger and faster, posting PRs in several events around CrossFit, duathlon, triathlon, and running.  I really feel that the CrossFit prescription is something that allows an athlete to progress, have fun, and create something lasting.  I’m not bored, and even when I get burnt out, I miss the community and the fun.
• I’ve messed around with various diet techniques and found that eating well really isn’t that hard, and eating crap sucks a lot more than it used to.  I look better, feel better, and perform better than I ever have.  Just like the physical realm, I think this is something that can be sustained, and there’s nothing but good things that come of it.
• In my 9-5 (lol!) job, I’ve worked in a tough environment that’s not only affected by the poor economy, but also a few people who must also think that 2009 sucked, because they’ve created a negative place to be.  More on that later, too.  But I think my team at work has matured and is continuing to do so… we’re more efficient, more effective, we make better decisions and we’ve made huge improvements to our product.
• In my other jobs, I’ve grown leaps and bounds as a coach.  I got my CrossFit Endurance, Nutrition (from Robb Wolf, phew), and Level 1 certifications.  I wrapped up over 3 years of teaching cycling at 24 Hour Fitness and I’m taking on new roles at both CrossFit Central and Pure Austin.  Starting in the new year, I am teaching one track workout a week for CrossFit Central, and two PIT classes at Pure Austin! I’m grateful to Jeremy and Beto for their trust that I can work with our athletes.
• In my personal life, I’m really just trying to hold steady.  Some relationships came and went, and while I know I’ve got a hand in everything that happened, I also know that right now, I’m better by myself.  Although that kind of stuff can change at any moment

(more…)

excuse the mess…

… while i update my blog.

i’m trying out new themes and stuff, and some of them work better than others.  it’s gonna take some time to work out the kinks, but i’m hoping to have a refreshed look in the very near future.

cheers!

Thanksgiving starts early…

There was no one at work yesterday.  Just no one at all.  So I’m going to join the crew and start my break a little early, by working from home in the morning, getting some much needed chores done, and getting a CF and CFE WOD in today.

I’ve also decided to stop twittering my food log.  I know, you’re stoked.  Sorry about that… that was dumb.  I have no idea where it’s going just yet, so I’ll just do it on here for now.

Daily log

7AM CrossFit @ RunTex: 10 swings @ 60lb (35+25db), 1 burpee; …; 10 swings, 10 burpees. 10:58. burpees are slow for me.

breakfast: 3 egg omelette with chicken, bruschetta, and pesto. mixed berries. black coffee. 9 fish pills.

The CrossFit Tribe

A while back I read Seth Godin’s book, Tribes.  If you haven’t read it, or you don’t like reading things, check out this video of Seth talking about tribes and their effect on our lives.

In his book, he explicitly mentions CrossFit as a tribe, and he’s spot on.  Coach Glassman is the leader of our tribe, and the CrossFit tribe is worldwide.  There’s no real control, regulation, or oversight other than what you find on crossfit.com.  Glassman has created a community that organizes itself around the common goal of lifestyle improvement through diet and fitness, with methods backed by research and practical application.

I had the amazing opportunity to work the media end of the Black Box Summit this weekend, and of the many things that became crystal clear to me, the one thing that stands out the most is CrossFit is a powerful tribe.

One more time: this is a powerful tribe.

Not just in the fitness and diet sense… I mean, yeah, we can squat and lift and perform random feats of strength that maybe 1% of the general population can do.

There’s much more to it.  Walk into just about any CrossFit box and you’re instantly welcome.  You already know what to do because the tribal knowledge is so pervasive that we all know the movements and how to conduct ourselves in the box.

During one of the Summit sessions, Jeremy brought in an anecdote from Born To Run about the tribe that Christopher McDougall was following.  This tribe loved to run… it was playful for them.  They have smiles on their faces.  They don’t see it as work, they truly love it.  Jeremy’s point was that our gym trains that way.  At CrossFit Central, we love CrossFit.

It’s apparent that CrossFitters worldwide love CrossFit.  But why?

CrossFit gives us back something that many of us lose — childhood.  The box is our playground.  We’re constantly discovering new abilities, and we’re constantly playing new games in the form of the WOD.  Hell, speaking of games, I played dodgeball at CrossFit Invictus last week, where the penalty for being tagged out was 5 reps of some movement (I ended up with burpee pull-ups).  Those new abilities not only make you a better athlete and a healthier person, they install a level of self-confidence that we often times lose right along with childhood.  If I can do Angie, Fran, Diane, or Elizabeth, those achievements flow into my daily life.  I feel better, look better, and I’m in the best shape of my life.  And it’s only going to get better.  I love CrossFit and what it’s brought to me, it has (and continues to be) a transformative experience.

CrossFitters understand this.  If you’re reading this and you don’t CrossFit, consider that CrossFit fills a void that many of us never knew we had.  That’s why we’re so fucking crazy about it.  That’s why it’s all we talk about when we get together outside of the box.

I bet you’ve got that void too — your childhood called, it wants to come back and change your life.