Why do a level 1 cert?

It actually does happen that I get online, not to share some crazy rant about things that seem more or less obvious to the rest of the world, or to share some of my medioker traning results, but because I have something I just want to get of my chest! Today is one of those rare instances, so please bare with me.-)

If you are new to CrossFit the reasons to do a level 1 cert are more or less obvious- you want to learn more about the new love of your life, and you want to find out how to speed up the results that are already flowing like a river! You are learning new skills, and improving the ones you already have, at the same time as a sensation is dawning on you- With constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity, you are actually coming closer to your goals, at the same time as you are having fun with your workouts- all you want now is a thumbs up that you are actually doing things the right way! So attending a cert feels like the best way to do so!

The challenge however is to get the ones who have done CrossFit for a longer period of time, and feel like everything is going according to plan, to attend a level 1 cert! I often hear these people say that they dont feel like they need the cert, what could they possibly get out of a level 1 cert? They are already more than proficient at CrossFit and dont need to spend a large amount of money, and time on going over the basics they already master!
I will not pass any kind of judgement on these people, but I will share why I think everybody should do at least one cert!

What is CrossFit?
This could be one of the best lectures at a CrossFit cert! How often have you gotten the question: " Dude, what is CrossFit?" "Why do you do what you do?"
This is where you get the answer to the question! After you have had the pleassure of hearing for example Pat Sherwood dissect what CrossFit really is, this question will be a pleassure to answer!

Technique vs intensity!
How often have you heard that crossfitters dont care about technique, and that all we do is rush through our workouts, with no concern whatsoever to the execution of the movements we perform? It is like banging your head against the wall trying to explain that this is not the case at all, unless you have had a very thorough breakdown of the issue, by someone like Adrian Bosman. After having had the plaassure of listening to a bunch of these lectures I just love that question! I cant wait to get to explain just why it is that we try to press to the very borders of our capacity at all times, in pursuit of optimized athletic capacity

Programming!
Who does not want to know about the programming of CrossFit? At some point of your CrossFit career you will begin to program for yourself or for others. When you do so, it is a great idea to know how to avoid being the one who came up with WoD's that effectively broke down yourself and the athletes you programmed for, instead of taking them one step closer to becomming better athletes! If the above is not enough, then just wait until you have the pleassure of listening to Karl Steadman go through the basics of programming, and you will also be a believer!

The movements!
The more you talk to the superstars of CrossFit and the complete beginners, you find that they all have one thing in comon- the quest to master the basic moves!
No matter where you are at, there is still something to improve on your air squat, your push press, your med ball clean, your deadlift etc. No matter who you are these basic techniques are just never mastered!
Going over these movements at a cert will not just cast light on what you need to work on, but also give you some tools to work with when you begin to work with others!

The community!
If none of the above has gotten you hooked, this should be reason enough to do a least one cert!
When you go do a cert you will meet a bunch of other people from all over the world, and you will have no shortage of topics to discuss! we all share the same passion, and have the same intrest in CrossFit. So when you are done with the cert you will have found new friend from all over the world! I know it sounds corny and lame, but it is just the way it works! You exchange mail adresses, add each other on facebook, and suddenly the world just go a little smaller- so the next time you go to Iceland you wont just look at vulcanos and warm springs, you will go meet up with your new friends and get a couple of WoD's in..

we all have our own reasons for attending certs, or not atending certs, but if you have the chance to do a cert, dont hesitate- you will never regret it!

Why did you d a cert? Why have you not done a cert? Please do share!

Until next time

Much love

Regionals and Power Walks?

So a little more than a week has passed since the European Regional Qualifier in Halmstad, and I feel like it is time to give props to the ones who truly deserve it, and to share some thoughts about the event! I am aware that this may sound like the Oscars but please take a second to read about the reasons why this all went as smoothly as it did, and give props to the people who made i possible!

It is also time to give air to another one of these crazy rants that have become the signature mark for blog.-)

Props first!

Eleiko!
I would like to thank Eleiko for letting us use their facility, and their equipment for the event. It is a blessing to be able to provide the absolute best equipment in the world, to the athletes who compete in an event that will eventually send the top european athletes to what is essentially the Crossfit World Championships. Eleiko were kind enough to let us man-handle their equipment in ways I am not entirely sure they thought possible, at the same time as they made us all feel at home at the Eleiko Sport Center! I hope Eleiko were as pleased to have us there as we were to be there, and I hope that the future will hold a close friendship between CrossFit and Eleiko.

Athletes!
It is not often that I have had the pleassure of meeting as many fantastic athletes as I did during the weekend in Halmstad! There was a possitive air about every single athlete that I met during the weekend, that I dont think I have ever encountered outside the CrossFit community! Everyone gave their absolute best at every single challenge, and once they had finished their challenge, they immidiately began cheering for the other athletes, making sure that everyone felt equally important, and that no effort was ignored, or concieved as less important! Those of you who saw the place go crazy when Erla fought it out on the last challenge, or when Jane struggled with the double unders, or when Sam busted out the clean and jerks, or when Blair stepped on the gas in the 3rd challenge, the list goes on- but those of you who saw that know exactly what I mean! Every single athlete gave their all, and everyone cheered for their nearest competitors and for every effort they saw!
It is a pleassure to witness this kind of sportmanship, and this kind of caring- I would like to thank every single one of you for this- from the bottom of my heart - Thank you!

Judges/officials!
I have had the pleassure of browsing on the internet after the event, and even recieved a couple of emails from participants, and spectators, who all thought the event was fantastic! My name has been mentioned on a couple of occations, and I am thankful for that. The truth however is that the success of the event lies entirely with the judges and the officials who made the event possible. Without these firebreathers who stood out in the rain, who kept the standards high, and spent every second of the entire weekend on making everything go as smoothly as possible, this would not have been possible! They were focused and did a tremendous job! They are the true heroes behind the success of the Qualifier!
It is easy to make all the best plans in the world but to take these plans from paper to reality is the true challenge! Without you, that simply would not have been possible.
I would like to give a special thank you to Martin Altemark who was the man behind making sure the whole thing went according to CrossFit standards at the same time as making sure that the schedule behind every single heat was kept. I would also like to give special thanks to Erik, Rickard and Einar who were the on site judges responsible for the organization in every heat, making sure that the right equipment was in the right spots, and that the judges were where they were supposed to be- thank you!

All in all!
The event was a success and we will see if we will get the chance to do it all over again? I truly hope so, but only time will tell! I honestly think that the athletes who will be going to the Games to represent Europe are the best athletes we had at the qualifier! The athletes who made it to the podium are well rounded athletes capable of performing well no matter what the challenge put in front of them will be. I honestly look forward to seeing how they do at the Games, and promise to keep my fingers crossed for them every step of the way, as I am sure everyone else on this side of the pond will:-)

Now for the promised rant- it is a lighter version of whay you may have read in the past, but I guess I am getting soft!

The sun has come out in Stockholm, and reminded us all that summer is just around the cornor! For some of us, all this means is that we can begin to do our runs outdoors, and that we now have spectators following athletes into the box after they return from the run on "Helen" or "Murph" etc.
To others this means that it is time to go to their favorite sports apparel supplier and stock up on some very expensive running shoes, skins, wristbands, camel backs, etc. and begin to power walk!
I see these people every day walking around looking like they are on their way to the olympics, super focused and a constant eye on the pluse clock (that is a must to the power walker) at speeds that are virtually non existant! I am baffeled at this complete lack of understanding of intensity, and complete waste of time! The energy spend on hours worth of power walking is easily less than what is expended during the warm-up at our box! So what is it these people want to achieve? fat loss? increased cardio vascular capacity? you tell me!
The truth is that all the god stuff comes with intensity (thank you mr Sherwood/Coach) and since intensity is nowhere to be found in a power walk, what is it these people think they are going to get?

A point could be made that is is better that they power walk than do nothing at all, and I agree with that to some degree. I mean if you have decided to care for your health and take active meassures towards increassing your quality of life and health, is this really the best you could come up with? Why not immidiately go for an activity that will actually work and pay dividends within a foreseeable future?
What would you say to a doctor who decided to give you a medication that was going to stop the illness, when you knew that the cure was lying in his other pocket and all you had to to was reach for it?

I dont know, I may be wrong, it has happened before- but please do share your thoughts!

Until next time

Much love