Varied Not Random

[@spencergsmith]

Yes, full stop. Coaches should use their own programming, and should participate in group class as often as possible. Should chefs eat their own restaurant’s food? Should doctors go to their own hospital for medical care? Should teachers send their own children to the school where they teach? Of course they should, both to demonstrate confidence in the product or service they are providing to their clients, as well as to uphold the quality of that product or service. And in the specific context of a CrossFit Affiliate (or any gym that boasts an emphasis on “community” as a core value), the owners/coaches participating in group classes helps to foster that sense of community.

[@DGGriffinMusic]

Fantastic discussion. Boz’s approach to the discussion with the “new owners” is a fantastic way to address this sort of issue or disagreement in all parts of life.

[@jeffzwally]

As a 10 year CrossFit affiliate owner - I agree completely. Not only does it show support for the programming but it also helps make the community stronger when members are able to suffer together with coaches in the middle of a workout - we've gone through phases and when coaches do their own thing - it impacts the message we are sending and the community engagement.

[@jeffzwally]

Would love to hear you take on Open Gym memberships and it's pros and cons - we are going through this at the gym now where we've seen a downgrading a membership to open gym and doing their own thing and it's impacting the community and revenue.

[@joebrady9829]

First of all I love this podcast and have learned a ton from it, thanks for all the great free info! I have a couple questions, 1: as someone who skis and hikes as much as possible how do I program my workouts to fit in with skiing and hiking (while also fitting in yoga for recovery, flexibility and injury prevention)? 2: CrossFit has so many different exercises, how should a person new to CrossFit begin learning the movements without getting overwhelmed/injured?

[@shainahayutin9463]

As a coach who works for 3 different gyms, I have chosen to stand my ground and follow programming I believe in: Linchpin. The issue was not that the gyms were following different programs, but that they were all volume-centered. PRVN, Mayhem, Jumpship etc.- they are all the same, and none of them are CrossFit. Going against the grain was tough, but necessary. I had to lead by example because I firmly believe in doing less better. I am happy to report that 2/3 gyms are now following actual CF: CAP and the other has a coach programming og methodology himself. We have to keep the salt shaker where it belongs.

[@valerie.activelife]

This was a great episode! I feel like you focused more from the perspective of an affiliate owner whose coaches are not doing the same programming as the members. However, as a coach at multiple affiliates, I actually have seen more of the opposite….the affiliate owners are the ones not following the gym programming, nor do they join classes with their members. Perhaps this could be a follow-up episode with your thoughts on the same issue from a different perspective?

[@RoosterJaxn]

This was great!

[@DigitalNomadFrance]

Related but also… kinda not, does Boz do all the workouts when he is programming the games? And also what how many times are they tested?

[@jeffreyscott1909]

Dear Pat and Boz: I love your podcasts and have listened to almost every episode. I have a question, or perhaps pushback, about something Pat has promoted and perhaps Boz is in agreement with. The general concept is “how much fitness is enough?”. This has come up a few times and was the subject of Pat’s conversation on The Consistency Project. In my listening I get the sense that Pat thinks “just show up” is enough. I wonder if this is not a slippery slope that undermines fitness. If you are not pushing the envelope at least some of the days in the gym (because you are “fit enough”), then I think you are on a road to failing with your fitness. On episode #36 you talked about the sickness/wellness spectrum and building a buffer that helped keep you from sliding back into the low end of the spectrum if there were unforeseen consequences in your life. In this episode you also mentioned using fitness as a buffer against disease. Based on this, it would seem that most CrossFit athletes are not ”fit enough” and that everyone (outside of the games level folks) should strive for more fitness, not “I’m fit enough”. I also see that the “I’m fit enough” mind set could lead to reducing the effort in workouts, frequency of workouts, etc. In one episode, Boz touted the benefits of CrossFit training by saying that if someone called and asked if he wanted to participate in an activity (surfing was his example), he had enough confidence in his fitness to say “yes”. Does being fit enough match with this mindset? I would also challenge the “fit enough” model by saying you do not always know what fitness challenge is coming your way. Renovating a loft, dealing with trees that fell during a storm, (recent podcast), laying paver stones for that new sidewalk your spouse asked you to install, etc. “Fit enough” might not cut it for these activities. Perhaps I have misrepresented Pat’s thoughts on this topic, but I would welcome your feedback on the “fit enough” model. Thank you. Jeff Scott

[@crossfitlinchpin.pat.sherwood]

Jeff, Thanks for listening & supporting the show. That means a lot. I have a feeling that the point I was trying to get across got lost a bit. This could very well be my fault as sometimes I don’t communicate as well I I hope to. Without doing a ton of typing, here is an overly simplified version of my perspective. I believe that two things can coexist without being at odds…. First, most people who are “showing up” to the gym are at least actively engaged in the pursuit of strength & conditioning. Second, most people who are “showing up” to the gym likely are far more capable & prepared for life than they may believe. I would also say that “showing up” should not be misinterpreted as “not trying to improve & just settling”. I believe if people show up to the gym, make smart decisions, remove their ego & pursue their own personal long term fitness journey that the majority of them will be just fine…and that is not dictated by a certain Back Squat load or Fran time. Im not sure if that helps, but I hope it does. Sorry for any confusion on the delivery of my originally intended message. Best, Pat

[@jeffreyscott1909]

Dear Pat: Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. That is very kind of you. I love the way you have offered this interesting and challenging concept and no apology is necessary at all. For background, I am 66 and have been doing CrossFit for 6 years. I had never done Olympic lifting before CrossFit. My goal has been to "be fit" (i.e., fight off the decline of old age as best I can). So now you see why you hit a bullseye with your topic about “how much fitness”. I have observed different approaches people take at the gym, particularly those who show up regularly. One group of folks are doing the workouts, but not pushing themselves much. The other folks show up and really try to hit it out of the park at most workouts. One of our coaches is especially keen to motivate folks to go hard, because “intensity gives greater results” (I would agree). Thus, I see both groups as being fit, but I see the second group as on the road to a greater improvement in fitness. So, can they both be “fit enough”? Maybe, and of course every person will have different goals. So really my message had two aspects. One was dealing with the topic of enough fitness in my own brain. It has been very helpful, and I thank you. The second was throwing out a question that I thought you and Boz might disagree with each other on a little bit, and thus fuel a bit of controversy in one of the podcast episodes. 😊 Thank you again and keep up the great podcasts! Jeff @@crossfitlinchpin.pat.sherwood

[@Xxxtra_Sloppy]

I’m gonna do ya one better, I think ALL COACHES should be part updating in some classes. Maybe one or two per week, preferably more.

[@AnaLisgrate]

Only one coach at our gym does the programming, and it’s not the one that’s programming the workouts. I never really gave it much thought before listing to this episode. I don’t really have an opinion either way as long as I’m seeing gains with what we’re doing. I know that at least one is on a Masters track, but as per the others I think they just feel they need more than us “regular gym folk” Every so often they try the WOD programmed for our affiliate if it “looks like fun”