Most of the crew at the 2017 CrossFit Games!
I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2017 CrossFit Games in Madison, WI. It was a long weekend of watching the fittest athletes on Earth workout surrounded by the fittest fans all dressed in their best CrossFit gear, knee sleeves and all. It was a truly awesome experience; one that I am grateful and fortunate to have had. It would be selfish of me to not share with others some of the things I learned from my weekend at The Games.
- The bubble of CrossFit is real – Inside of the Alliance Center, like-minded CrossFit athletes of all different ages, shapes, and sizes surround you. Everyone there knows the lingo, understands how truly talented and strong the competitors are, and know how much each one of us loves the sport of CrossFit. As soon as you leave the bubble, this becomes obvious. I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I were out to dinner and were asked if we were competing. Me, pregnant, him, having a burger and a beer. If only…
- Those are some badass women – We started the weekend excited to see all the athletes. The big names we’ve followed on NetFlix, Instagram, and Facebook, the names we were unfamiliar with but ready to learn about, males, females, etc. As the weekend went on, the women fascinated us. This is in no way meant to discredit the men. They are strong, fast, fit, and lift weights that one could never imagine lifting in real life. But those women. Even the guys we were with watched these women handle weights that they work day in and day out to hit once or twice, sometimes with no avail. The women competitors give the idea of “strong is the new skinny” a whole new meaning. They were truly inspiring to watch. #GirlPower
- They’re strong. Like, really strong. Like, make me feel like I’ve never worked out a day in my life but inspire me to be strong, strong.
- CrossFitters are like drunk girls in a bathroom – Day 3, sitting in the sun watching fit people carry heavy things. Two strangers sitting in front of us. One asks another to apply sunblock to her back. Cheerfully, she obliges. One of the girls I was with made the perfect comparison. CrossFitters are like drunk girls in a bathroom at a bar. They love each other. They’re overly nice to each other. They bond over the smallest things. Perfect analogy Lauren.
- We cheer hardest for the one’s that need it most – Goosebumps. Multiple times I had goosebumps from the roar of the crowd when the athletes needed it most. Watching on TV doesn’t do this justice. Athletes going head to head – You couldn’t hear yourself think. The music goes out – No awkward silence, just unparalleled cheers to encourage a 1RM Snatch. Thousands of athletes on their feet to cheer on other athletes. Competitors on the floor encouraging the competition when they just want to be laid up catching their breath after their own workout. Stuff you don’t see in any other sport.
- We’re all pretty lucky to have stumbled upon the sport of CrossFit – If you’re not sold already that the CrossFit Community is an amazing one to be a part of, and the above reasons don’t sell you further, then you’ve obviously stumbled upon this post through some means other than CrossFit. We’re surrounded by friendly, like-minded, physically and mentally strong, encouraging people. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are. It doesn’t matter what your body looks like. If you’re a part of CrossFit in any capacity, your life has been enriched in one way or the other. I know mine has. The greatest parts of my life are a byproduct of CrossFit. Spending the weekend at The Games was a more than gentle reminder of all of these things.