27.10.14
Written by Amy Redfern.
Last weekend I ventured out to watch the much talked about Rainhill Trials.
The "Rainhill Trials" is a CrossFit competition organised by TRAIN Manchester and INOV-8. Like competitive running
events, the event is banded into categories from Beginners up to Elite
Athletes.The appropriately named Rocket at the top, Kennedy next, then Rastrick and Wood at the
bottom. This meant that weights and sometimes exercises differed in each category.
The event was held at SportCity Manchester, which
just so happens to be next to/part of Manchester City football club, and the event
itself just so happened to be on a match day too! Accessing both days was just
£10, I brought my dad along for company, who was thrilled that we
managed to catch some live City TV *rolls eyes*. (see picture below)
Day 1 involved the lower banded athletes, Rastrick and Wood. The WODs were split into 2 heats, WODS 1, 2 and 3 were completed in the morning, with WOD 4 in the afternoon plus the final. Arriving in the afternoon, we watched
a small snippet of the event. WOD
4 - that's Workout Of The Day Number Four for all you non-crossfitters.
WOD 4 consisted of:
Rastrick MALE -50 Pull Ups / FEMALE JPU (jumping pull ups)40 Double unders / 80 single unders 30 Plate GTOH (ground to overhead) (M20kg/F15kg)20 Plate overhead alternating forward lunge
(M20kg/F15kg)10 GTOH (M50kg/F35kg)Wood M 50 Pull ups / F JPU 40 Double-unders / 80 single-unders 30 Plate GTOH (M15kg/F10kg)20 Plate overhead alternating forward lunge (M15kg/F10kg)10 GTOH (M40kg/F30kg)
I felt every pained face in the room as the athletes raced against the 10
minute time cap in a cloud of chalk and sweat sprays...okay it wasn't that
dramatic but with a few old school Prince Tracks playing as well as Snoop Doggy
Dog and Estelle it certainly felt dramatic and life changing.
Here’s a clip of the Males competing.
And....The Females.
I love events like this because it brings people together (stereotypical) - but
it just does, it's quite rare that you are in the same room with so many people
with the same interests and who have probably experienced the same barriers of
pain that you have (Fran…Filthy 50…etc)
Moreover the CrossFit community is one that is dissimilar to any I have ever
been a part of before. CrossFit not only tests people's athletic ability, their
instincts, their ability to strategize - but also challenges their deep,
integral values.
Having played team sports and competed as an individual athlete, luckily the
concept of team work is familiar to me and this has swayed in my favor.
Unfortunately my strategic planning isn't as great as I hoped - point one,
absolutely giving every piece of my life and soul in the first minute of the
work out. Not a good strategy.
As a personal trainer of course I have a 'tiny'
ego/big-head when it comes down to sport and exercise because I know my
stuff...or at least I thought I did.
It took 10 minutes within QDOS (my CrossFit Gym) for me to go "okay everyone is better than
me".This was mirrored on the CrossFit Level 1 course too, whereby people who 'should' be in
the eyes of science past their athletic best were rinsing me at the most basic
of tasks.
It's not just about the concept of competition
however, it is also very much about respect, and to some degree emotional
strength.
Egos must be left at the door. And a sort of level - headedness is required.
Crying is allowed but happiness, laughter and smiling should be the by-products.
Period.
CrossFit itself is
unlike any other sport combining Gymnastics, weight lifting and metabolic
conditioning to create a unique and addictive sport.
It is also slightly comforting to know that not only Novices such as oneself experience
failure. Elite Athletes also fail and miserably sometimes too! Look at Rich
Froning - stops in the Triple 3 Event at the CrossFit Games 2014, comes in
37th place... later wins the CrossFit games 2014 to become the
world's fittest man for the THIRD YEAR RUNNING.If that doesn't show that
everyone has their limits and weaknesses- then I don't know what does.
The particular image below really made me giggle.
There is one thing that I found about CrossFit that made me think. Everyone is
so nice - everyone just wants to help. Not only is that a miracle in real life,
it's also a miracle in the fitness industry from my experience.
CrossFit has changed my life and given me a niche/specialism in my Personal
Training... I am not afraid to admit I'm head over heels in love and can
honestly say the results for myself and my clients are phenomenal.
My ambition still stands, 5 months after my first CrossFit experience that I
want to a) compete and b) coach CrossFit in a box. Hopefully some time in the
near future these two ambitions will become reality.
It's safe to say that Rainhill provided even more incentive and inspiration to
encourage me to get known in the CrossFit community.
I think this quote really sums up what CrossFit is about. So I'll leave you
with the thought.
For more information regarding the 'Rainhill Trials' try the TRAIN Manchester -http://www.trainmanchester.co.uk/upcoming-events/inov-8-rainhill-trials/
For Coaching:
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amyredfernpt@outlook.com