Monthly: July 2011

In this video, CrossFit Endurance coach John McBrien shares endurance programming tips for military athletes—athletes already in the military, athletes in a military school or athletes training to enter service.

McBrien says CrossFit Endurance training for the military begins with CrossFit five to six times per week, with more volume to mimic the increased volume of military training. In addition to CrossFit, McBrien adds CrossFit Endurance to the programming two to three times per week using two different approaches.

One approach is to use military programming as sports-specific running with weight. For the first week, you would add weight to one or two intervals, and for the second week you would rotate and add weight to the longer runs.

Another approach is to use military programming as multi-sport training, with running, carrying heavy weight and swimming as separate “sports.” Each would have a frequency of twice a week.

“You’re basically taking the single-sport prescription/multi-sport prescription and you’re twisting it based on the needs of that military athlete,” McBrien says.

4min 33sec

Additional reading: A Theoretical Template for CrossFit Endurance Programming by John McBrien, published Sept. 15, 2010.

What was it like to experience the Europe Regional? Join Sevan Matossian on a journey through Reebok Stadium to witness the crowds, the athletes and the battle to get to the Home Depot Center in California.

In Part 1, Matossian interviews the athletes and organizers, catching the set-up and first day of competition.

Annie Thorisdottir is among the competitors although she is pre-qualified for the Games.

“You always gain something from a competition,” she says. “Of course, I’m hoping that nothing will surprise me, but better to get the surprise here than at the Games.”

Thorisdottir says she prepared for the competition as she would a weekend of tough workouts, without any tapering or working toward peak performance.

“I’m of course going to peak at the Games,” she says.

The early leaders among the women include Thorisdottir and Samantha Briggs. Among the men, Tuomas Vainio and Mikko Aronpää both vie for first and second.

Of course, the other Mikko, an organizer at the regional, will also be a fierce competitor at the Games. Says his coach and mentor Juha Kangasniemi, “I still think that he’s the most powerful engine in the world—nobody can beat him in the long, heavy met-cons … and that’s CrossFit.”

26min 10sec

HD file size: 952 MB
SD wmv file size: 325 MB
SD mov file size: 275 MB

Please note: These files are larger than normal Journal videos. For smoother viewing, please download the entire file to your hard drive before watching it (right-click and choose Save Link As…).

Additional audio: CrossFit Radio Episode 171 by Justin Judkins, published May 11, 2011.