Long time lurker, first time poster

05-04-2005, 08:37 PM

Hi there,
Just writing my introductory post. I've been lurking for a year or so and finally decided to show myself. I come from a climbing background, but my training has always been sporadic, as I like to play a lot more than I like to work out. But, I'm getting older and I'd like to get more serious about fitness, and crossfit looks like a good system. I'm particularly interested in some of the gymnastic aspects of crossfit - I'd love to learn handstands, muscle-ups, etc. I'm 26 years old, and I've got a lanky build, so weight loss isn't an issue, but I am interested in building strength. Here's my first question (probably the first of many I'll ask): I live in southern (seacoast) NH. Is there a crossfit facility anywhere nearby? Boston, maybe? Secondly, do any of you do crossfit in a regular health club-type gym, and if so, have you been hassled at all by the staff for doing such an unconventional workout in their facility?
Thanks in advance for your replies.

Peter Galloway · 05-05-2005, 09:00 AM

Ben,

I can't help you out much with your enquiries I'm afraid, except to say that CrossFit workouts don't usually go down that well in the majority of "health clubs"!

If Lincoln Brigham wanders by this thread he might be able to provide the details of a few O-lifting friendly gyms near you - don't think there's a CrossFit affiliate near you though.

Anyway, welcome - you'll find that CrossFit will build strength and fitness like nothing else. Have fun with the gymnastics stuff and good luck!

05-05-2005, 09:52 AM

Peter,
Thanks for your reply. I guess "health club" may have been the wrong choice of words - I meant a regular, non-crossfit facility - a place where most people go to work out. There is a gym near me that I think promotes it self as an old-school, tough, "iron-pumping" gym (as opposed to a health club) - I'll have to check that out.

Grady McDonald · 05-05-2005, 10:03 AM

Neal Thompson is in Boston and trains folks in CF there. He's top shelf. He posts on the WOD sometimes.

Laura Rucker · 05-05-2005, 10:25 AM

Hi, Ben...There have been....incidents....reported in regular gym/fitness centers by various CrossFit practitioners But for the most part it's limited to stares of terror, ridicule and plain amazement. Some of the lifting exercises (ie letting bars slam onto the floor) are not supported in regular gyms but so far I've done a few of the crazy workouts on my office gym and only got mild statements of concern from the trainers that work there (They didn't want me to fall off the bench I used to reach the pull up bar.)

You'll definitely see muscle added from doing the WOD. I did. :-)

James R. Climer · 05-05-2005, 12:35 PM

Mostly I've just gotten friendly reminders of those who are Red Cross certified, first-responders, qualified CPR, etc. at gyms I've visited and crossfitted in. Have fun.

Ross Greenberg · 05-05-2005, 02:08 PM

Unless you're at a real hard core gym, you will probably be told to stop doing olympic lifts or handstand pushups because you'll "hurt yourself." It's happened to me several times. Try to be considerate, though it's mighty hard when you're in the middle of 30 reps clean and jerk and a guy can't keep his mouth shut about how you really should "do that exercise in a slow, controlled manner."

Jeremy Bloniasz · 05-05-2005, 07:20 PM

Ben, if you can find one of those "old school gyms" that is your best bet. I'm a member at Work Out World in Central MA and I just stopped going. Some of the rules:
No chalk
No dropping weights
No grunting and thats just the ones I can remember from staring at the poster dumbfounded. I'd do my pullups then run 200m through cybex machines, touch the treadmill, and run the 200m back to the pullup bar for my 400m run. I've been putting my home gym together and I can pretty much self sustain here now. You're not that far from where I live(an hour or so) we could probably link up some time for a WOD or climbing. Oh yeah, and 26 isn't that old.

-Jeremy

05-06-2005, 12:45 PM

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I will be looking for an O-lift-friendly gym, and also keeping my eyes open for used equipment, so maybe I can set something up in my basement.
Jeremy - great, maybe we can get some New England crossfit folks together at some point in the future. You're a climber? Where do you go? I used to frequent cathedral, cannon, and whitehorse ledges in NH, but I haven't been doing much climbing (other than bouldering) for a while. I'm hoping to get back into it soon.

Jeremy Bloniasz · 05-06-2005, 02:24 PM

Ben, all my climbing is with the military. Everytime I make plans to get into it seriously I get deployed. I'm going to try and get into it seriously this year. I probably just jinxed myself. The white mountains are nice I hear. Later

-Jeremy

05-04-2005, 08:37 PM	#1
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	Hi there, Just writing my introductory post. I've been lurking for a year or so and finally decided to show myself. I come from a climbing background, but my training has always been sporadic, as I like to play a lot more than I like to work out. But, I'm getting older and I'd like to get more serious about fitness, and crossfit looks like a good system. I'm particularly interested in some of the gymnastic aspects of crossfit - I'd love to learn handstands, muscle-ups, etc. I'm 26 years old, and I've got a lanky build, so weight loss isn't an issue, but I am interested in building strength. Here's my first question (probably the first of many I'll ask): I live in southern (seacoast) NH. Is there a crossfit facility anywhere nearby? Boston, maybe? Secondly, do any of you do crossfit in a regular health club-type gym, and if so, have you been hassled at all by the staff for doing such an unconventional workout in their facility? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

05-05-2005, 09:52 AM	#3
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	Peter, Thanks for your reply. I guess "health club" may have been the wrong choice of words - I meant a regular, non-crossfit facility - a place where most people go to work out. There is a gym near me that I think promotes it self as an old-school, tough, "iron-pumping" gym (as opposed to a health club) - I'll have to check that out.
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

05-06-2005, 12:45 PM	#9
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I will be looking for an O-lift-friendly gym, and also keeping my eyes open for used equipment, so maybe I can set something up in my basement. Jeremy - great, maybe we can get some New England crossfit folks together at some point in the future. You're a climber? Where do you go? I used to frequent cathedral, cannon, and whitehorse ledges in NH, but I haven't been doing much climbing (other than bouldering) for a while. I'm hoping to get back into it soon.
Ben Gorman **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

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05-05-2005, 09:00 AM	#2
Peter Galloway Departed Profile: Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 451	Ben, I can't help you out much with your enquiries I'm afraid, except to say that CrossFit workouts don't usually go down that well in the majority of "health clubs"! If Lincoln Brigham wanders by this thread he might be able to provide the details of a few O-lifting friendly gyms near you - don't think there's a CrossFit affiliate near you though. Anyway, welcome - you'll find that CrossFit will build strength and fitness like nothing else. Have fun with the gymnastics stuff and good luck!

05-05-2005, 10:03 AM	#4
Grady McDonald Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 138	Neal Thompson is in Boston and trains folks in CF there. He's top shelf. He posts on the WOD sometimes.

05-05-2005, 10:25 AM	#5
Laura Rucker Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 845	Hi, Ben...There have been....incidents....reported in regular gym/fitness centers by various CrossFit practitioners But for the most part it's limited to stares of terror, ridicule and plain amazement. Some of the lifting exercises (ie letting bars slam onto the floor) are not supported in regular gyms but so far I've done a few of the crazy workouts on my office gym and only got mild statements of concern from the trainers that work there (They didn't want me to fall off the bench I used to reach the pull up bar.) You'll definitely see muscle added from doing the WOD. I did. :-)

05-05-2005, 12:35 PM	#6
James R. Climer Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Paso Robles California Posts: 1,148	Mostly I've just gotten friendly reminders of those who are Red Cross certified, first-responders, qualified CPR, etc. at gyms I've visited and crossfitted in. Have fun.

05-05-2005, 02:08 PM	#7
Ross Greenberg Departed Profile: Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 98	Unless you're at a real hard core gym, you will probably be told to stop doing olympic lifts or handstand pushups because you'll "hurt yourself." It's happened to me several times. Try to be considerate, though it's mighty hard when you're in the middle of 30 reps clean and jerk and a guy can't keep his mouth shut about how you really should "do that exercise in a slow, controlled manner."

05-05-2005, 07:20 PM	#8
Jeremy Bloniasz Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Millbury MA Posts: 195	Ben, if you can find one of those "old school gyms" that is your best bet. I'm a member at Work Out World in Central MA and I just stopped going. Some of the rules: No chalk No dropping weights No grunting and thats just the ones I can remember from staring at the poster dumbfounded. I'd do my pullups then run 200m through cybex machines, touch the treadmill, and run the 200m back to the pullup bar for my 400m run. I've been putting my home gym together and I can pretty much self sustain here now. You're not that far from where I live(an hour or so) we could probably link up some time for a WOD or climbing. Oh yeah, and 26 isn't that old. -Jeremy

05-06-2005, 02:24 PM	#10
Jeremy Bloniasz Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Millbury MA Posts: 195	Ben, all my climbing is with the military. Everytime I make plans to get into it seriously I get deployed. I'm going to try and get into it seriously this year. I probably just jinxed myself. The white mountains are nice I hear. Later -Jeremy