Been doing CrossFit for?
Just over 2 and a half years
Did you have any apprehensions prior to starting CrossFit?
I don’t think I had apprehensions as such, I’m not sure I really knew what I was letting myself in for. All I knew was I was looking for something new because conventional training just wasn’t working for me.
Has your attitude changed since starting CrossFit?
My attitude has completely changed since starting CrossFit. I am naturally quite a lazy person, left to my own devices I will procrastinate at infinitum. Prior to starting CrossFit I had a strong allergic reaction to all things cardio and would typically revert to type and only train movements that I liked, and even then I wasn’t particularly pushing myself. This comes off the back of many years of not training at all, when I tried to get back into it I just couldn’t get my motivation up to train alone.
After starting CrossFit I found the training together and programmed by others aspects the real kickers. I didn’t have to think ahead, I had no choice in what I did and I was with others that would notice if I didn’t show, and would support me through it if I did. Starting is the hard bit…. The first few weeks were painful, but in a way that I knew was good, I am not sure if it ever gets easier, you just move the goal posts onto the next challenge. I now find myself a few years in allergic and scared of nothing. I may still suck at cardio when compared to others but none of it terrifies me anymore. I am much more willing to push myself by myself and now I am always actively seeking new challenges.
How would you describe CrossFit Leyland?
This is the section where everybody writes about how lovey dovey and supportive it is, and how it’s a community entirely fuelled on hugs and the smiles of baby rabbits! Well as crazy as it sounds it’s really not far from the truth. The entire CrossFit model is based around community, the business model for a CrossFit gym is entirely different to any other gym, the gym will only have a few hundred members never thousands so you do get the chance to get to know people pretty well. There are things however that set CrossFit Leyland apart. The team at CFL have created a really inclusive core to the place, and this in turn means that the demographic of members at CFL is much broader than one might expect. It is pretty safe to say that regardless of your sporting background (if any), regardless of where you are on your fitness journey or if you have yet to start there will be people there who are either going through the same thing or have been through it with CFL and so they will understand the support you need to help you.
The standard and breadth of the coaching staff is also noteworthy. The CFL team is built up of coaches of differing backgrounds all coming together to be able to guide you, whatever your challenge may be. This spectrum of expertise means that the coaching staff actually learn from each other and so we as consumers of this knowledge get a better level of coaching. Short of me continuing to use buzz words like inclusive, supportive etc etc, suffice to say it’s a great place to train in a great environment with great coaches, members and equipment.
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about giving CrossFit a go?
Give it a go. What have you to lose? I am not so conceited as to tell you that regardless of who ever you are that CrossFit is for you, but if you are looking for a new way to train then have a go, its free! Don’t expect to be knocking out muscle ups and double body weight snatches by the end of the taster session but come and see what the philosophy is all about, understand the gym and training models. If you like it, I’ll see you at the whiteboard!
The post MEET THE MEMBERS – MEET BEN appeared first on Crossfit Leyland.