safety, efficacy, and efficiency, the three most important
and interdependent facets of any fitness program, can be
supported only by measurable, observable, repeatable
facts, i.e., data. We call this approach evidence-based
fitness”.
- CrossFit Training Guide, page 2
Today I experienced, once again, CrossFit's empirical methodology.
The WOD (Workout Of the Day):
Run 1 mile
Row 2 K
Run 1 mile
I started off at an easy pace. I did the run through my neighborhood, which is rural. Very rural. About 1/4 mile out my dog got attacked by a pack of dogs. I had to detour and chase the wild dogs off before continuing on my run. Then I got onto the row. It was my first time on my new rower. It took a moment to figure out the control panel. After the row I had to search around the garage to find the mace I often carry when running. Then I hit the road again. And by "road" I mean rocky dirt and gravel with hills.
By the time I finished the WOD and hit the stop watch I had completely resolved that I would just have a poor time/score for my records and be happy with the fact that at least I got in a workout today. Last time I did this same workout I ran a loop around a quiet neighborhood that was mostly flat, paved, and with little to no traffic & the rower was one I used often and was very comfortable with.
I wrote down my sorry time/score for today, then looked up the last time I had done the same workout 5 months ago with premium conditions and had given it my all.. and guess what -- I actually bettered my time/score by almost 2 minutes without even trying and including all those distractions. What a great feeling!
If that's not empirical evidence of improvement in fitness then I don't know what is.
If that's not empirical evidence of improvement in fitness then I don't know what is.
