Recently I was at a party and a friend from my old CrossFit Box asked me why I’ve “retired” from the game. It is difficult to explain, since I still love the excitement of it, well most of it anyway.
This is a question I have faced many times in recent weeks, since I still frequent the Box for Open Gym on weekends, and to keep in touch with my pals. Yet, I still struggle to answer it.
It seems the answer changes depending upon the conversation. Not because I’m making up answers on the fly, but because I’m still conflicted about the change (and whether it is for a season, or for good).
If I had to answer this in a single word, it would be RFT. (is that really a word)
By now you are thinking to yourself, “Huh? What is he talking about?”
For both of my readers who do not speak CrossFit, RFT is an acronym for Rounds For Time. The RFT is about speed and endurance. For example, do 5 Rounds For Time of 10 Thrusters and 10 Lateral Bar Burpees. How long will it take you to do these 100 total moves?
This RFT WOD sucks. I will not revel in the moment. I want it over with, the present represents suffering, my life will not resume until I have pushed through these 100 moves. I want this event to be over!
Unlike an AMRAP, which has a defined time cap, say 12 minutes, the RFT isn’t over until I do the whole thing. That could be 15 minutes, or 25 minutes. I have done workouts, that because of my own feeble athleticism, have taken 40 minutes.
The reality is, I am at a point in my life where I have little desire to grind this long. The end is coming soon enough, I see no need to rush to get there.
I prefer to savor the moment. Contrast RFT with the relaxed pace of simply lifting a heavy barbell. Back Squat, Front Squat, Deadlift, Snatch, Clean and Jerk. Take my time, focus on my form, listen to my body, know when to pack it up for the day – sore, satisfied, but not destroyed.
I don’t want to measure my workout time in minutes, but rather by years. If this body is going to move some weight for the next 20 years, it’s going to have to be focused on sustainability and longevity. I don’t want to measure my time by a stopwatch, but by a calendar.
For this Masters Athlete, every day will be savored. For me life is not simply a matter of Rounds for Time, OR AMRAPs. That is my answer for today. Will I ever take CrossFit down from the shelf. God only knows?
Judging from the plethora of articles on burnout, clearly I am NOT the only one who has ever experienced this. How about you?
Update: I originally posted this essay in December 2014, as I was beginning a year long hiatus from CrossFit. I have since jumped back on the bandwagon, but I have learned so much more about scaling, recovery and listening to my body. I am happy to be back in the fold.
Good decision!
I totally understand this and also understand that this is occurring a lot and with the Master's population more so. I look at a lot of Crossfit WODs and determine to go 100, 90,80,70 % or whatever. Yes the premise is all out, I am a Level 1 coach, but I know my body and my age, 43, does not always suit going 100% 5-6 days a week. I think that is where some minds need and will change.
I much prefer AMRAP to For Time. With AMRAP I can take my time, mind my form, and still finish with everyone else. With For Time I am still slaving away when everyone else is out the door. I wonder what the growth rate of crossfit is lately. It certainly has been on an unsustainable curve.
I've committed to crossfit as a replacement behavior and a mood stabilizer. It's been five years and I go through cycles where I'm excited by the effort and competition and then through cycles where I look at the 20 somethings and think.. I'm just not at that level any longer. I applaud your self awareness in terms of savoring your time and effort. Spend your life wisely and well my friend because you are correct, the end come for us all.
I left a CF gym about a year ago – I'm 56 and my real love is Kettlebells. A month after I left CF for a Kettlebell gym, I had an injury and eventually had surgery to remove bone spurs in my shoulder. I'm doing a KB program to regain strength, but the break from CF has been good for me. When/if I go back, I hope it's somewhere that there are other people my age or close doing CF.
I totally get where you are coming from. I have been taking a hard look at how CrossFit fits into my life since sustaining a real injury (requiring surgery and subsequent months of rehab)— on top of other nagging-type injuries that have only occurred since becoming a Crossfitter. I am 50, and being injured is in no way in my best interest. I love love love lifting those heavy weights and feeling my personal power, and making gains in significant ways such as pull-ups, L-sits, etc., but I am not *fast* and I no longer care. I don't enjoy all aspects of CF and I am not willing to put myself in a position to keep being injured. I love other types of fitness too, so this period of rehab is one of reflection, much like you.
Nooooooooo!!!!! I do see your point and I do respect it but, if you allow me, here is mine. I'm 53, cF for a year with everybody younger than me. I finally convinced myself that what counts is to be there and to do MY best. I'm stop comparing with others ( no matter what, I'm always last) and now, I'm happy I finish it. Today I was feeling very " weak and old". For WOD we had " Jackie". So, even knowing I finished last, more important is I finished. CROSSFIT makes you feel younger – I do compete with …… myself. If it takes 1,5 minute, next round I want yo do it faster but, the all class might take 45 sec. It's all good. I'm happy with myself. My best advise to you: do CROSSFIT for yourself and don't give up. You will feel worst if you need. Come WOD with me – we'll have a good time.
I'm a 69 year old CrossFit L1 coach, KB Cert, Powerlifting Cert. Been at it 3 years +. Lots of injuries, surgeries, arthritis, age issues. AMRAP to me, means "As Many Reps As I Feel I Can Do Today And Not Hurt Myself." Oh, and I sure don't have any ego invested in needing to scale movements I simply cannot do. And, yes, I remember when I could bench 315 and DL 450, walk 30m on my hands, and run marathons. But I'm 69 now, not 35. I'm OK with that…
Thank you for defining what I am feeling as well. I finally decided to give up on the idea of competing in the Masters category because I want to have fun with working out not beat the crap out of my body week in and week out. Thanks for the insight!
Thank you for defining what I am feeling as well. I finally decided to give up on the idea of competing in the Masters category because I want to have fun with working out not beat the crap out of my body week in and week out. Thanks for the insight!
I couldn't agree more. I am at the point when I am able and willing to STOP when I fear my form will suffer and injury is a consequence. Kudos to you!
I'm 61, have been doing CrossFit for 4 years and I love AMRAPS! It's an opportunity for me to go at my own pace. I give it my all, or not, depending upon the workout, but I always come away feeling empowered. I killed the 20" Burpee Box Jump Overs yesterday but struggled with the Pull-Ups. All that matters is that I finished at the same time as everyone else and did a heck of a lot more than other people my age. I'm 61 and love AMRAPs.
54 and over 2 years in, I've realized I am the boss of me in the box and I decide on AMRAP's speed. Typical for me is about 70-80% keeping my heart rate around 150 with recovery to normal in 1-2 minutes. I NEVER EVER sprint. What's the point? I do this because it's NOT boring or rote, I feel better than I did as a 30 Y/O and it is the only way that I've found as a post menopausal woman to lose/maintain weight and not starve myself. I go to the box 3-4 days a week.
I totally agree!! I'm 42 and have been a crossfitter for 7 years and have retired!! Life is too short to spend it recovery from rotator cuff surgeries!! I've had 2!!
Very well put. I feel the same way at 68. Exhausted every time I trained so have bought a rower and am basically going back to what you are doing. Too many injuries from bad form when under pressure to perform at speed.
Good on you Chuck.
In the words of the song "you have to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run". No running here and not intended to imply – rather a reflection on your personal situation and very clearly stated here for such an old person, good grasp of language to. PB (that's me there with the tongue in my cheek)
I do what has been traditionally called heavy athletics. In PL I just did a WC, and will now go back to OL and try and requalify for a WC (qualified back in 2009), Threw at World masters indoors when I was 57 three years ago (7th). I have had no surgery and have none on the horizon. The idea that is being sold, that surgery is somehow a consequence of hardcore training is absolute BS. Long term repetitive movement will wear you down and there are many things I should not do anymore, but somehow the idea that you should go till you break, then get cut and go again is nuts. Sir my hat off to you, enjoy what you are doing, and to all of you who are masters of your own destiny. Weights can be your best friend or your worst enemy, it is up to you.
Well written Chuck. Come join Dahn yoga. It is a Korean yoga and very different but I believe very effective in what our age is looking for. No matter what you do Chuck, you will shine!
Linda, my CrossFit coaches all tease me about my running tights, telling me “Men don’t where yoga pants, Chuck!” To which I have always replied, “They’re NOT yoga pants!” Maybe they could be.
I know where you are coming from. I took 2.5 years away from a box. It took that long to overcome my burn-out/depression/frustration/etc. I did CrossFit as well as some lifting programs, sandbag workouts, even tried Insanity. But it was all my choice, determined by me, and all for the purpose of finding what worked best for me. I found it… less is more! I also found a gym near me that was programming very similar to what I had figured out I liked. I limit myself to 3 days a week in the gym, anything more and I'm afraid I'll burn-out again. I still have those moments of feeling like I want to go more often, but deep down I know that too much will put me back in a negative place and I don't want to go there again. Besides, on the days I go to the box I am able to give 100% because I actually have time to recover in between. I find that WAY more satisfying than going every day and not being able to give all I want to give because I'm sore/injured/tired/etc.
I am 60 and been steady at CF for just over 14 months. I do the AMRAPs. I always finish last; always. I just don't care. I work as hard as I can while being safe. I slow up particularly on the lifts. I reset each and every lift, making sure my form is correct. Let the young bucks get their 6-7 rounds in. I cannot complete with them so I do not try. For me, working hard and challenging myself is good enough.
Very similar feelings. Been at it 3 years and really enjoy it but, various nagging injuries have killed progress and desire for now.