Crowds Or Communities: Which Are You A Part Of..?
Maggie, and Lunden
"Just for the record, the weather today is calm and sunny, but the air is full of bullshit."
It's no secret people want what CrossFit gives. A rockin body, check. Unrivaled fitness, obviously. Poster child internal health, sure. Community....more than anything.
Today we do so well at staying in touch, and never really being connected it's no wonder CrossFit is revolutionizing much more than workouts around the world. CrossFit is changing charities, kids, adults, relationships. CrossFit isn't just creating communities, it is community. The difference between a crowd and a community is that you can still be alone in a crowd. A community, however, breathes together.
Those Outside The City Wall...
The only reason I can think of for CrossFit to have haters today after all we have proven and demonstrated...after all we have built and achieved...is that they simply hate being on the outside watching everybody on the inside smile. And what really shoves it in and breaks it off is that the community gates are always open, but their pride chains them in their alone place. Chained in the crowd of lost.
A lot of folks saw CrossFit years ago, made one snap judgement and now are kicking themselves because they just can't admit they were wrong. They are absorbed in a crowd glaring at a community they wish they could be a part of it, knowing they can. However, they are so attached to their stubbornness they can't walk through the gates. This ain't no CrossFit thing, this is an ego thing. Once everyone else means more to them than their silly pride life is much different.
Is It Constantly Varied, Is It Functional, Is It Your Partners..?
You could argue the most important factor inherent in CrossFit is its variety. Maybe some takers choose its functionality. The rest may glorify intensity. But maybe these are symptoms. Maybe to correct our post a few days back. It's not mechanics consistency, intensity. Maybe it's community, mechanics consistency, intensity. Maybe before you change your parts, you become a part.
A crowd is a gathering of people. Generally individuals with the same, different, radical, subtle goals. They may be standing shoulder to shoulder or be 100 miles away from each other. A community roots for the body standing next to them. You're better in a community because of the energy you gleen from the person to your right. The person on your left is better because of the help you give them.
Listen to this: A community becomes a crowd because community members who aren't really sold on this whole selfless attitude crave attention because their %$#^ed up...and it ain't the communities fault they're jacked. People grow and achieve in communities because they use the power of the whole to help build atop the foundation they've already created. If you're trying to barge into a community hoping they will build your house while you watch and do nothing...they will throw you back into the crowd.
CrossFit ain't no different. It will give you the world as long as your selfless enough to focus on making sure everyone gets their piece of heaven. When you think its all about your own personal happiness and become ok with neglecting others, I and everyone else will eat you alive, spit you out, and watch you crawl back when you realize crowds ain't friends.
Something Greater...
Facebook ain't part of shit man, and Twitter is another imaginary construct some dude showed another dude and the third dude thought it would be a cool way to communicate everything he wanted to say without having to listen to anyone else's shit if he didn't want to...how quick that caught on?
The worldwide web is incredible. Incredibly worthless at its ability to help humans create relationships. Computers are just a new Great Wall of China. We can kinda look over them and see the Mongols on the other side, but we never really have to deal with them...or anyone else for that matter.
No doubt, CrossFit delivers Fitness. The best there is the fastest. Health must follow. Without fitness, there can be no health. The question is, does CrossFit deliver because you got your pull-up, or mastered your muscle-up? Or does CrossFit deliver because you got involved with a community far away from the crowd?
Strength:
Rest
For Score:
5-Pull-ups
10-Push-ups
15-Squats
AMRAP 20 Minutes
Post rounds to comments.
There is not much in this post that I don't believe with all of my heart...the last paragraph put me in my place this week...and I needed that.
After we did "Cindy" on May 16th, and I got 15 (m) rounds...and I mean severely modified, I just did swing on the bar, push ups on both knees, and my squats were barely makin' it...afterwards, I thought yeah, I can do 10 un-modified rounds in 45 days...easy. Well, that did not happen this morning...
Today I did 7 rounds (m)+
I have been scared that me not getting my pull up would let my family at PCF down...so I needed to read that last paragraph today a few times...
Today I did my pull ups in a band, I did hand release RX push ups, and my squats met standard...and I am proud of that. But what me more proud is having someone like Bonnie walk up to me afterwards and hug me and say, "I did that for you...because I dont like that but I did that for you."
Or Lori yesterday tell me, "I didn't do the whole Dont Cheat but I hit Paleo harder than ever and I had big results, so thank you for doing this."
I am more than overwelmed by all the PR's on the board already and its only 8am...its amazing...
Never in my life have I felt more "at home" and felt that I belonged more then when I am with the people of Practice CrossFit and that is success...
A wise man once told me "A pull-up is just a tool to make the job easier, and no good carpenter creates success with one tool"...
So, I will get my pull up...and I will get my 10 rounds of "Cindy" un-modified...it might not be today or tomorrow but I know I will.
But one thing is certain today, I could not be more proud of being a part of the community at Practice CrossFit...thank you all for allowing me and Doug to feel and believe that we have finally found where we belong...
Posted by: Cindy Lou | June 29, 2011 at 08:00 AM
Very inspiring Cindy, thanks for sharing you never know who's reading, watching, and hoping.
Posted by: jb | June 29, 2011 at 08:10 AM
21 PR
at standards...that's for you Chas :)
The first time I did Cindy unmodified was nearly 3 years ago. I believe I got 8 rounds, but did not keep track back then (can you believe that? my how we have evolved) I remember watching another athlete get 20 rounds and thinking WOW! someday! Well, it took 3 years but I did it. Cindy Lou, you are in the right frame of mind. As long as we are working hard and doing better today than yesterday, we are on the right path to health and fitness.
Congrats to every 5am participant today. It was an impressive showing!
Posted by: runmelrun | June 29, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Extremely proud of you Cindy!! Couldn't have said it any better JB.
70 PU
140 Push Ups
280 Squats
Very excited to say that I PR'd this Cindy WOD. Last time I busted out 15rds but push-ups were modified towards the end. Today I struggled and it slowed me down but I did the rx'd and got 14rds. Whoot!! Whoot!!
Posted by: Renee | June 29, 2011 at 08:29 AM
10 PR
Very good work Cindy.
Posted by: PJ | June 29, 2011 at 08:45 AM
11 rds PR
Posted by: jen w | June 29, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Cindy Lou...you always say things that strike a chord with me/inspire me. When you said 'Never in my life have I felt more "at home" and felt that I belonged more then when I am with the people of Practice CrossFit and that is success...' I for the first time in well, maybe forever feel that way. I love the people, the community, the support, etc.
You inspire so many every day!
Great job everyone, 5amers rocked, and it was GREAT to stick around and watch the 6am kill it, too!!!
9 rounds (m)
PR - first WOD with banded pullups vs. those #$@%'n supine rows :)
Posted by: Shelly | June 29, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Today was my first "Cindy"
13rds:
65 Pullups
130 Pushups (M-on knees)
195 Squats
Posted by: Nikki Jones | June 29, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Today was also my first Cindy - and after a whole new row of calluses,I managed to bust out 11 rounds :) (modified - banded pullups, push ups on knees) but feeling good!
Posted by: Katie K | June 29, 2011 at 11:10 AM
12 rds
Posted by: holly | June 29, 2011 at 11:21 AM
I woke up this morning with little to no intentions of doing "Cindy" today. I haven't had a rest day in 7 days, figured there was no way I could PR, and my schedule is full today. However, after checking the blog at 8:30 this morning and reading Cindy's comments as well as others, I felt convicted to get my ass in to the 9 a.m. and do the wod. And wouldn't ya know...
16 rds PR
JB is right- you never know who's reading and how your wordsd will affect another. THANK YOU. Looking forward to seeing many more PRs in the evening classes tonight!
Posted by: Min | June 29, 2011 at 11:32 AM
20 rds
A lot of awesome PR's on the board today. Cindy, from the outside looking in I bet a lot of people see the "killers" at PCF and think they're the show stoppers, but, the truth is inspiration comes from those who struggle and keep fighting. We all have been touched by your inspiration. And BIG congrats to Doug for getting 17rds in! Must be those pork cracklin's buddy.
Posted by: JCoby | June 29, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Gratz to all the PR's today !! Very impressive!! If people didn't already know, if it wasn't for my wife dragging me back to PCF for the second work out, I may not even be at PCF, so inspiration goes a very long way. And thanks Justin I hope to hit 20rds one of these days, great work man !!
Posted by: Doug | June 29, 2011 at 12:19 PM
21 rds. Not a pr. Oh well. Nice work to everyone else
Posted by: Franchize | June 29, 2011 at 01:45 PM
6 rds modified first cindy pullups with band, pushups on knees.
Posted by: Steve P | June 29, 2011 at 03:11 PM
19 rds.
Nice to be between Chad & Foster to keep pushing me. Needed a few more rounds to hit a PR. I did get a nice pretty tear in the middle of my hand though ;)
Posted by: HN | June 29, 2011 at 03:55 PM
9 rounds m with a RED band for pull ups! Yeah!
I got 10 rounds last time BUT used a blue and a purple band for pull ups.
Posted by: heatherT | June 29, 2011 at 04:37 PM
13(m)
Modified push ups on an elevated bar due to belly in the way.
Posted by: ASH | June 29, 2011 at 05:24 PM
12 rds!! PR for me too:) Hand tears too Heather!! :'(
Posted by: Lori | June 29, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Cindy, you have done so much here in such a short amount of time. To be honest I think you have brought out the community here at our box more then anyone else ever has... You have been here only a few months and in that time have started a challenge and inspired change in people including myself... Your commitment has been an amazing thing to watch every day that you are in here. Thank you for being here and showing what we here at PCF are really about... and congrats on your 7 rounds thats awesome.
Posted by: Ry | June 29, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Ashley, woman I miss you!!! I can just visualize you kick'n this benchmark's ass with your "momma" belly. And I do picture in a sports bra and buddy shorts lady. You always rocked it out so well. Why not now! :) Hate that you are so far away! But I love seeing you post your times.
Can I just say one more time...I love the 5am class!! Like we talked about in the beginning of class...today is all about progress in performance and all of our PR's on the board say, "HELL YEAH!!!"
Shelly, love what you wrote. Thank God those $%^&ing Supine Rows are gone!!!:)LMAO
I'm trying to think of one or two people that were superstars this morning, but I'm not joking when I say you ALL WERE!!!! It was just a great day to be even apart of the oxygen at PRACTICE CROSSFIT!!! Love this community!
4:30...Small in number mighty in POWER!! Everyone PR'd!! Darin, T, Lori, Troy, Tyler, Dan, and (Benny's sister, Caryn :) I kid, I kid!!...you all said out loud what you wanted in rounds and grabbed it! love, love love it!! Great Work!
Posted by: chastity | June 29, 2011 at 06:30 PM
9 rounds as rx PR!!!!!!!!!!!!! first time ever doing cindy not my fave so far lol!
Posted by: LUNDEN | June 29, 2011 at 07:18 PM
amazing to see so many PRs today.
5am-ers...please don't hoard all that inspiration! remember to share it w the rest of the family by teamin' up w the other classes on ocassion.
Doug...im w Coebster...17rnds so early in your CF career is impressive as hell.
ash-a-bash...pregnant CF-in. my, my...and so many others who aren't say it's too hard. despicable. xo
20rnds...a round short of my PR but those last couple few were certainly for you, Cindy, as my body and mind were saying "@!#$ off!" (and i love this wko).
Posted by: k | June 29, 2011 at 08:48 PM
fun day until the vest came on...ah but that was fun too...with eyes watching no matter how heavy you feel you can always move...16rds in the 50lb
And skills class was great Mindy linked some pu, and many other are higher than I have ever seen, great job coacking Heather...
Posted by: jb | June 29, 2011 at 09:50 PM
14 rounds m
Subbed situps for squats. Have a bit of pain in my right knee and didn't want to chance it. however, by ny calculation, I WOULD have PR'd. Those situps slowed me down. I was 15 situps shy of 15 rounds and 16 would've been a PR. Never wanted to squat so badly.
Posted by: Dave | June 29, 2011 at 10:18 PM