The holy grail of programming
Good programming is like primo CrossFit currency. After all, good programming builds great athletes right? However, if that were true, why do so many great athletes, have such different currency?
My job allows me to interview athletes from all over. I often get to learn the ins and outs of their days and lives, and respect them all the more for it, and their individuality. In fact, when I write about them, all I wish to do is make the audience learn a little more about the person I have a profound respect for.
But I am no reporter, to me reporters repeat facts. I believe life is much more than statistics on paper. I am a CrossFitter who loves to write. I am a CrossFitter who desires to use words as a tool urging the non-CrossFitter to come play in our sandbox. I am a CrossFitter who loves CrossFit, and I am a fan of the athlete and what they are willing to do to become so much more than a fact on paper. And one thing remains the same no matter how much CrossFit changes, the best always become their best in very different ways.
When it comes to good CrossFit programming, admittedly some are better than others. Make no mistake, and take nothing away for well planned and processed movement allotment, but don’t be fooled for a second; there is never a substitute for the athlete performing said programming. In effect programming is what you make of it, not what it makes of you.
I have collected data, had numerous conversations with athletes and coaches throughout the years, and I now believe more so than ever, that the secret sauce is one part movement and mixing and so forth. But without the base the athlete brings to the table, the competitive recipe can only go so far. After all, how could so many amazing athletes do things so differently when it comes to programming, and all still achieve super human results, unless they were already a little super human before they entered the program. But not physically super human as much as mentally.
The top guy in the CrossFit world does so much volume it would kill most people. Conversely, another top CrossFit athletes across the country, also headed to games, is lucky to get 1.5 hours of gym time five days a week. Another athlete may attend schooling for 12+ hours a day only to find themselves training as an after thought, right before they pass out ready to do it all over again the next day. Sure they all are CrossFitting, but they all are doing very different versions of it. So what gives? If programing is not the secret strength, speed, and awesome maker it is hallowed to be, then what is?
After my 12 plus years of training and dieting humans from all walks of life, combined with watching and developing CrossFit athletes for the last five years, I can tell you this about programing with outright honesty, and 100% assurance, weather you want to believe it or not. Desire is 90% of CrossFit results, programming is 10%.
Programming is a very important 10% and without it even the best shall fail, but without the desire, which becomes intensity, which breeds vicious loyalty and dedication, no amount of intelligent design will make a champion in mind if it does not already exist. Good programming allows the super human mind full of desire to flourish, it does not create anything.
This is a testament to humans, to you and to me, to every CrossFitter out there. Not a single human is standing on the CrossFit podium today because they found an awesome programmer, they are their because they decided to be awesome. Thankfully, we all contain that ability. What sets us apart is that very few of us are willing to do what is required to be everything we are fully capable of being.
You can stop searching for the holy grail of training right now. I just told you where it was. It’s in you, and it always has been. There are more fun programs than others. There are truly better versions of CrossFit, in my opinion, as it relates to games athletes but all of that is nowhere nears as important as you are, the one who will be following a plan to greatness.The reason we look for new programs, and the reason why many people are seduced by the thousands of existing designs lingering on Facebook today is because humans place blame rather than accept responsibility.
It is, and always will be, so much easier to accept the fact that your not fast enough, strong enough, or durable enough because you haven’t found the right “program.” It’s not your fault you didn’t win, it’s the program that failed you, right? It’s far too difficult to swallow that your program, and most programs are just fine, the simple fact remains, you still haven’t committed to giving it your all, and until you do, you will never be happy endlessly searching for perfection that does not exists externally. You will never find joy while constantly lying to yourself.
But maybe I am all wrong. Maybe somebody somewhere has a cookie cutter formula for perfect. Pop a newbie CrossFitter in the oven at around 400° for 16 months and whala, out comes the next games winner. If that be the case, awesome, I will be your biggest fan, and I will start by telling all the top CrossFitters, “sorry, but your doing that wrong.”
Strength:
Rest
For Time:
“Filthy fifty”
Complete (50) reps of the following.
-Jumping pull-ups
-Box Jumps 20/24
-Back extensions
-45lb Push press
-Knee 2 elbow
-Walking lunge
-35lb Swing
-Wall ball
-Burpee
-Double under
Post impression to comments.
Im convinced. Thanks man, great stuff.
Very well put article Josh! Also, extremely true!
I think the sport of crossfit is too young to judge optimal program. Something will emerge. .
Gives me hope
Ryan…thanks man, by any chance do you have a brother named Mike?
Jon..I love watching and testing everything that comes our way..part of the fun
5am…PRs, first timer completions and sick effort that early…good work
6am…just kinda chipped away until it was done…seemed like it was just another day at the office for you guys…good work
32:57 PR
had to skip out for work
DNF @ 30:15 (m-K2E,0 burpees, 0 DU’s)
32:40PR
Thanks, Mitchell, for pushing me through burpees & DUs!
Way to go, Teri, for swinging that 35# kettlebell overhead!!
33:53
Good Job Everyone- for the PR’s and the improvements!!!
Love the blog also JB…so true!!!!
Josh, this is a great post now one of my personal favorites! Very well written, very inspiring! Hopefully I’ll be able to make filthy fifty tonight!:)
29:48 PR (M) only did20 back extensions because I was told they were looking funky and had to stop:)
Thanks for the WB tip it made a world of difference for those last 4!! Now I know.
24:51
Not a PR but still feel like I improved…or maybe just trying to justify LOL
Awesome determination demonstrated by 5am’ers. Nice job everyone.
25:39
no PR for me either…some things improve and others not. I think unless you do in the same order everytime it’s hard to compare.
You said “no amount of intelligent design will make a champion in mind if it does not already exist”. Is this a contrarian view to the evolutionary method of training?
Hey CF O Town,Just wanted to say thkans for the WODs. It was great working out with everyone and motivated me to crossfit harder. Willie, Jay and Melisa thkans for the excellent coaching and programming. If im back in the Ottawa area, I’ll be in touch.
31:41 PR for this chick!
THANKS Mel & Sweet T for coming tonite & for pushing each other & getting thru this one!!
Great post,
1st time with “Filthy Fifty” 34:40
1st time for “filthy fifty” was 32:02 m….i only modified the double unders! thrilled to have my husband there for his first WOD! My son, Zach, beasted his first “filthy fifty” in the 4:30 class too
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Are you not concerned with injuring your athletes? No amount of desire can make up for little to no thought put into programming. If anything, too much desire coupled with poor programming can be a recipe for injury.
1st time FF. Holly wanted to make it, but did the WOD at our local Y. Killer WOD, lots of strange looks from the treadmill club.
42:02(m)
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Damn good stuff, Brother. Thanks.
–bingo
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