CF Lethbridge WOD for November 4th:
21-18-15-12-9-6-3:
Knees to Elbows
Box Jumps
Supermans
Wall Ball Shots (14#)
16:15
Took far too many breaks on the wall ball shots, but in my defense I kept getting hit in the face. I've figured out that I have to stand really close to the wall in order to catch the ball again after it starts coming down. The old gym had a bit of a slope into the wall, so it helped me launch that ball a little bit better.
Some days I like being small and other days I just hate it. Currently there is so much emphasis in CrossFit to lift heavy stuff alot. That's great for the big guys, but what about the smaller guys? Take the Final Workout at the 2008 CrossFit Games: 30 Clean and Jerks with 155#/105#. How is that balanced out with the gymnastic elements to make it equal? Deadlift and Burpees were balanced, Thrusters and Pullups were balanced, Running sucks if you are big (more weight yet less strides) or small (less weight more strides). Where is the balance people?
Lets go to the 2009 CrossFit Games and see how the events favored the different body types of the athletes:
Event 1: 7km Run - No favorites like I said before, big people have to carry more weight but take less strides and small people have to carry less weight but take more strides.
Event 2: Deadlift Ladder - Favorite THE BIG GUY. How can you diss Spealler for deadlifting near 3x his bodyweight at 375#. I'd like to see all the guys who maxed out on that event deadlift 3x their bodyweight. For some that is approaching 650#!!
Event 3: Sandbag Sprint - Favorite THE BIG GUY. The actual run itself is pretty even... throw in the sandbag and things change. The small guy has less surface area to balance those sandbags on, plus 70# for a little guy is alot.
Event 4: Row/Sledge - Favorite THE TALL LANKY. This one was all about the row, with a whole lot of accuracy thrown in (and some luck to not hit some rocks) Tall lanky guys/gals are far better rowers then the shorties no matter how hard they train. With my short legs and arms I'm pulling 55s/m and still finishing slower than other people taller than me.
Event 5: Snatch/Wall Balls - Favorite THE BIG GUY. Two weighted exercises and a target 10+ feet. I'm just over 5' tall, as in Spealler... we have to launch that ball 5' in order to make it above the line.
Event 6: Max Snatch - Favorite THE BIG GUY. No need for an expanasion here.
Event 7: HSPU/KBS/GHD - Favorite THE SMALL GUY. Handstand pushups and GHD are a given to favor the small guy. KBS are pretty even.
Event 8: Chipper of Heavy Clean/T2B/BJ/MU/PJ/DU/Thurster/Pullup/Burpee/Walking Lunges - No favorite. All of these elements were pretty evenly matched weights and BW. My favorite workout of all 3 Games because of this.
When you break it down this way, the bigger guys have the advantage, as they have in all of the CF games. I'm waiting for the day that the Speallers and Brett Marshalls have a CHANCE to win the CF Games.
That's my rant for today. I see both sides of the story, I'm just not sure that 15 Squat Cleans with 155#/100# is equal to 15 or 10 muscle ups.
November 4, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I agree with your statements about body type Kat, but since the beginning of man it has been survival of the fittest. The species who adapted to their surroundings the best survived. There are so many excuses a person can use but your genetics are what you were given love or hate they are yours. I think peoples mentalities about things have changed. In Crossfit (and other sports) people always cheer for their "favorites" the "Speallers", the "OPT's" the "Everett's" wanting them to win because they are "iconic" to the sport. The crossfit modo is that they produce the "fittest male/female on the planet" no matter what size. It's no more evident than Khalipa winning the games and nobody getting it on video. Nobody gives the "nobody" a chance."Dutch Lowy" called it before the games even started that a "no-name" would win.
I totally understand you and I was actually thinking that the other day after reading the article on programming at CFC which is strength biased now. You still kick ass regardless of how "small" you think you are.
November 4, 2009 at 8:52 PM
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November 9, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Hey there, I saw a link to your blog from Max Lewin's blog. It's really interesting reading about your training - good luck trying to qualify!
One thing caught my eye - I've been rowing and coaching it for years and I can personally vouch that, while the big guys do have an advantage, everyone can find some way to maximize their individual anthropometry, especially when we're just talking about the machine, not in-the-boat rowing. Please shoot me an email if you'd like to talk about this sometime - aesearby@gmail.com
- Andrea