Workout of the Day:
“The Chief”
Max rounds in three minutes of:
135/95 lb. Power Cleans x 3
Push-Ups x 6
Squats x 9
Rest one minute. Repeat for a total of five cycles.
Our own Chief and resident Bee Charmer
CrossFit Relationships
Written by CrossFit Invictus Charter Member Cynthia Lumley
The other day on Crossfit’s Affiliate Blog the following question was posed: “Dating non-CrossFitters: Is it a waste of time? Do they just not “get” it? Or is it healthier?”
Besides the amusing responses, there were a few that caught my eye.
“I don’t understand how my Crossfit friends date non-Crossfitters.”
“…sometimes I’m not even able to think or speak about anything else but CrossFit (or Zone 
.”
“I don’t think I could be friends with someone that didn’t CrossFit, let alone date them!” [note: I’m betting this one is a joke. Rather, I’m HOPING it is.]
YIPES!! I dig Crossfit, but not to the extent that I would discount a person if they don’t know who Pukie or Fran is. My non-Crossfit people ask about it, tell me that I’m crazy, and we move on to other subjects. Yes, there are other things to talk about! Just as I can’t be labeled a wife, or a paralegal, or a yogini, I can’t be labeled a Crossfitter. Those things are all a part of me, but none of them define me. I am a sum of all those things. I don’t want to be seen as just one of those labels, nor do I want to see others that way. When we’re sitting around before or after a WOD and chatting about whatever, that’s when we see beyond the Crossfit persona. I get to hear about BC’s future plans in law enforcement, Christina’s business travels to El Centro (bragger!), and Dani’s crazy schedule that gives her exactly two minutes per day to herself.
Thankfully, I’m not in a position to have to worry about whether or not my significant other will like Crossfit as much as I do. I started in June 2008, but my husband, Barry, wasn’t ready to join me at that time. I would go do my Crossfit every day, and he would do the globo gym thing. After about 6 months, Barry decided it was time for him to jump in full time. And, amazingly, not once in those 6 months did I get the urge to divorce him for his lack of Crossfit-itis! So it’s cool with me if somebody doesn’t do—or even LIKE—Crossfit. As long as we have something else between us, we can hang. The only area where I have no tolerance: if you don’t like dogs, you’re dead to me. Woof.
Post your thoughts and opinions to comments.
Oh Yeah!! Lets get it on!! Nice way to end a tough week.
Nick
Chief……..who knew you were so GQ
Outstanding article Cynthia! Your thoughts are ‘spot-on’. You bring up some really valid points.
I learned early on that CF is special in how it excites an motivates us (especially early on). Heck, I could talk about it all day. Anyone who has put any kind of effort into using the CF method understands why we love this stuff and how it affects our quality of life in so many ways. I love the never-ending, constant challenge of pushing myself. CrossFit is the perfect vehicle to help reach my fitness goals. I love and respect everyone in the CFI family and you are all certainly a very big part of our life. Personally, I think that the CrossFit training method is unmatched in the ‘application-to-effectiveness ratio’.
All that being said, it’s important to keep it in perspective. I think we would be doing ourselves a huge disservice by limiting our friends and relationships exclusively to CrossFitters (that’s just silly).
I don’t want to be identified by my job title or social status anymore than I want to be known as being part of some exclusive ‘CrossFit Club’. I don’t want to be a workaholic, ‘game-a-holic’ or ‘food-a-holic’ anymore than I want to be a ‘CrossFit-a-holic’.
I’m not perfect nor do I have complete balance in my life at all times. But, at the the end of the day, I would rather my friends, associates and family know me more for being a man of character, an upstanding husband and a solid father before anything else.
Chief is looking a little pudgy in that picture from 2005. Sure am glad I drank the Kool Aid and started CrossFitting!!
~BC
Love your article Cynthia. Spot on.
Being that I met Josh, my husband, two years ago at a Saturday WOD, the link between Crossfit and our marriage is undeniable. Also, I met my bestest buddy in the whole wide world, Ali, through Crossfit two and a half years ago. Crossfit has brought great many priceless friendships into my life. However, I totally agree with Cynthia that to assert you can only be friends with fellow Crossfitters is a grossly limiting.
We Crossfitters pride ourselves in constantly varied movements as leading to the pinacle of fitness. I would then extend the concept to the fact that a varied group of friends most likely leads to the pinacle of a well-balanced social life
I have tried to get many of my non-Crossfit buddies to join the cult, not because I fear losing their friendship if they do not start sipping the Kool Aid, but rather because I think it is a good fitness program.
With that said, I do find myself talking about Crossfit A LOT when in the presence of Crossfitters and non-Crossfitters alike. While it does not define “WHO” I am, the Crossfit community/fitness program has had such a positive impact on my life that its hard to isolate it from who I have become.
Great article, Cynthia. How were the cupcakes from heaven?
Coryna–we decided to take today off since we’re coming in for the Saturday morning WOD. So I will have to wait one more day for the cupcakes…and believe me, I’ve been thinking about them!
I wonder if cupcakes are acceptable post WOD carbs? Hmmmm…move over Invictus Shots!
and a p.s. to the essay: it so happens that Crossfit attracts the people I like–fun, dedicated, honest, upstanding non-whiners. I’d like you all outside of Crossfit anyway!
Good Blog Cynthia!
Love the post Cynthia! Words of wisdom to live by.
Look forward to seeing you guys at some point next week…have a great weekend!