Regaining Perspective

When I first started “crossfitting” back in 2006, the main purpose was to get fit so that I could be better at my job and life, which at the time was an air-crewman/rescue swimmer in the United States Navy. The time dedicated in the gym certainly helped me obtain that goal, along with improving just about every other aspect of my physicality and mental fortitude. I found that even though I did not swim or run a ton, my times in both got faster, and the random day to day tasks that life throws at you became easier to handle. Basically, I became fit and healthy, which was the goal…right?

Somewhere along the way I lost that perspective. Instead of going to the beach or playing a pick-up game of basketball, I would be in the box training. No longer was my main concern to be just good at life, I wanted to be the best at things inside the box. I wanted a bigger squat and a faster “Fran.” Things changed so that my life revolved around training, which was backwards from the original goal.

Since 2006, CrossFit has evolved into the “sport of fitness,” which is awesome for those who choose CrossFit to be their sport. It gives purpose to their training and the time they spend fine tuning skills to compete in their sport of choice. We have amazing representatives of these people and we, as coaches, work extremely hard to help these athletes become the best they can be. But the sport of CrossFit is not for everyone. CrossFit’s main purpose upon creation was to help make you better at whatever life throws at you, and some need this gentle reminder at times so as not to lose perspective.

I love CrossFit as a sport and am guaranteed to lose my voice, and possibly throw a shoulder out of socket from fist pumping and cheering the Invictus and honorary Invictus teams and individuals who qualified to compete in the CrossFit Games come late July. And although these people are amazing, they do not necessarily define or represent what CrossFit is about for the majority of us.

CrossFit is for the normal person, the Maurines, Merrittes, Lauras and Bobs. The Kicos, Larrys, AJs and Alisons, the Blooms, Bridgets and Bryans . . . the person who has health and fitness goals and has come to Invictus to achieve those goals. They can be any goals, weight loss, sport performance, strength, or just to look and feel comfortable in your own skin. No matter what your goal is, Invictus can help you achieve it. You don’t have to aim to be the next CrossFit Games champion to enjoy the full benefits of improved health and fitness; I hope we all can keep that perspective.