I would love to say that I have a great quote to lead out this post. I wish I was writing this post in a better mood. I wanted to write about Finding Freestyle, a very innovative method of working on your swim technique that has been helping me ensure my swim stroke is more efficient; something very critical particularly after having my right clavicle broken. But the fact is, I can't do that, be that right now, and the reason why is simple - there are athletes who have read the Triathlete Magazine article and the on-line follow up and are absolutely positive that suggesting CFE as a training method is akin to suggesting making fast food your meal for morning, noon and night.
On top of that, you have people who (and I'd love to know where they find the time, b/c its clearly not used for training) spend time bashing Crossfit without ever walking into a Crossfit gym, yet postulating about the evils of Crossfit, and making ridiculous comments like this one: "Isn't it convenient that this guy is sponsored by Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance?" So, I felt the urge to be as polite as possible and clear the air about the article.
First, to the gentleman who suggested I am sponsored by Crossfit and CFE, let me assure you, and the owners of both training services will support this, I am not sponsored in any fashion by Crossfit or CFE. I approached my Crossfit gym by choice, and receive no monetary benefit from them. Same from CFE. I support them b/c they supported me. By "supporting me" I mean encouraging me to work hard, and put me through workouts, like anyone else that walked in the gym. Yes, initially, when I was in my sling, Nate and John did tailor some workouts for me, but I still paid to go to the gym. I was, and still am, like anyone else who walks in Crossfit DuPage, just one of the crew.
Secondly, I am a pro triathlete. I have a pro license to prove it. I was initially given my pro card in Duathlon, and I was granted a pro license by USAT in 2010. For those looking for my tri results for 2010 - I WAS HIT BY A CAR. Surgery was June 28, 2o1o. That should make it clear why I wasn't racing much. And to the gentleman who suggested that "I wasn't racing hard enough", (in my statements about CFE being harder than racing) here's some insight - if you start every race in a full tilt sprint, I'd love to know if you make it to the half way point of the bike. Pacing, last I checked, was a major part of the sport. CFE workouts are designed to be done at 90-100% effort all the time. That means that you are doing 5k run repeats at full tilt, so when you are racing, you know you can run harder off the bike, b/c you have trained harder.
As to the errors that have been brought to light in the article regarding Brittany's results from IM, TJ Murrphy, the author of the article, has openly apologized for the error and I am sure he will correct it in next month's issue. I understand how that can confuse readers, even frustrate them. But TJ didn't do it maliciously, and from the little I do know of him, he is a good man, a good reporter and is quick to set matters to right.
Now, for all who somehow got the idea from reading the article that Triathlete or Brian Mackenzie, or me, or Brittany believe that CFE is the "silver bullet" for multisport, nothing could be further from the truth. I have seen some of the responses by all these "experts" who are positive CF and CFE are evil, I can't help but wonder why this topic creates such polarization in a sport that constantly claims to be cutting edge. Its worse than politics. The point I thought I made in the article was - "I don't know if CF and CFE is for everyone, but if you are curious, then give it a legitimate shot. Do your homework by actually walking into a CF gym and taking a session. Everyone can search the Internet to support their opinion, but the real research comes from actually doing it. If you aren't curious, then why bash it? Are you personally hurt by someone else doing CF or CFE? No."
CFE and CF work for me. Let me repeat that, because it bears repeating. It works for me. In my training, I believe it will work for both long and short course racing. I believe this because I am going through the rigors of the training, and although it may seem like each workout is short in duration, that's not the case. Again, I know this because I am actually doing it. Will it work for everyone? No. Is it the "Silver Bullet"? No, and let me say this, the only "Silver Bullet" to be at your best in triathlon or any sport is to work your ass off. Same for life. If you want to be great at your job, in your relationship, then you have to work at it, constantly. I attribute any success I've had in life to one trait - I'll work harder than anyone else to get there. So if you are looking for a magic pill or "the next big thing" stop externalizing and look inside. Is the fire inside you to raise your game? I don't care what method of training you follow, if you aren't committed to it, you'll never get the results you want.
I know I am ranting here. I don't want to do that. The whole purpose of this blog was to be fun, informative and insightful. I love the sport very much, and truly believe in its ability to change people's lives for the better. I would like to think that as multisport athletes, we are more open-minded, more inclusive instead of exclusive, and more willing to give things a chance. If memory serves, I think that's how the Ironman got started, a leap of faith by a few brave souls trying something different. The "crazy" people in our communities, families, offices, who are open to new challenges, looking to gain more insight into our fitness and ultimately what we are made of as individuals. I hope that basic premise still holds true.
Stay strong,
Guy
