A few weeks ago, I posted that I had signed up for a one month boot camp at CrossFit Local. With one more day to go I wanted to offer a few thoughts about the experience and my exercise plans for the coming few months.
- Boot camp was incredibly challenging in spite of my belief that I had built an OK base of conditioning doing Mark Sisson’s Primal Blueprint for Fitness (PBF). That isn’t a negative against PBF, but rather on me for doing it incorrectly (taking rests between each movement).
- 6:15am is too early for me to exercise. Even though I was getting up only 45 minutes earlier than normal, my body wasn’t quite primed to work that hard.
- After the first few sessions, I was INCREDIBLY sore. That subsided but I was still tired on the day immediately following the workout.
- Without a doubt, my fitness level improved during the month, and I learned to pace myself better. The proper pacing (in my opinion) is at about the effort level you would use to run 2 miles, not a 400 meter sprint.
- I found muscles (i.e. soreness) in my upper back that I never knew existed (from using kettlebells).
- Most of the boot camp exercises were based on bodyweight movements; however “real” CrossFit incorporates much more of a strength training component using free weights.
The verdict: I have signed up for the next step which is a Foundations class. Over the course of a few weeks, I will be introduced to the remainder of the CrossFit experience in preparation for the normal Workout of the Day (WOD). Probably the biggest reason for me to take this next step is for accountability. Yes, I could do much of this at home (for free), but would I push myself as hard?
More luck will be needed!
photo credit: Biggunben
