One Upper and Clock Whores
Please think about this as a reminder post. It’s not a shot or a call out. I’m not posting this with anyone in mind. It’s a reminder of keeping what’s important – getting stronger, # dosage fitter and better everyday – your number one priority. In CrossFit, symptoms we use the clock and the whiteboard to measure fitness and progress. BUT…we don’t want to put the cart before the horse. Getting a certain time or an RX is important, but it’s not the most important thing.
What is MOST important? Moving well. Moving well late in life. If it looks bad or feels wonky, it probably is. Focusing on crisp, efficient movement will pay dividends over years and months. Maybe that will cost you a sub 4 minute Fran or a round of Cindy, but in 1 year – or 5 years – you’ll be steadily progressing.
I’ve never cut a rep or misloaded a bar to gain an advantage, but in my early years of CrossFit I was definitely a clock whore. I would peek at the clock after every round of Cindy and check my time after every set of Fran. I would set the barbell under the pull-up bar, anything to gain an advantage in transition. It wasn’t until I started competing in CrossFit that I realized this stuff really doesn’t matter. You’ll never have the advantage of a bar under the pull-up rig, or the good pull-up bar, or the rings set exactly how you want them, or the right jump box, or whatever, so why set it that way?
Yes, in the Open we want you to have every advantage – but always in the context of the rules.
It’s important to keep CrossFit competitive – you should chase prescribed WODs, bigger lifts and faster times. But you need to always focus on good movement and playing the game the right way. Don’t sweat the small stuff and focus on the big stuff.
AJ aka “Maverick” keeping it legit.
Workout of the Day
Strength
Clean and Jerk
Build to a heavy single in 20 minutes. Keep it below 90% of your 1 rep max.
Metcon
50 Doubleunders
2 Clean and Jerks 225/135
40 Doubleunders
2 Clean and Jerks 225/135
30 Doubleunders
2 Clean and Jerks 225/135
20 Doubleunders
2 Clean and Jerks 225/135
10 Doubleunders
2 Clean and Jerks 225/135