On CrossFit and Suffering

We suffer in CrossFit. This is what we do. We suffer through intense workouts in order to produce results.

By CrossFitting, we have chosen not to take the easy way, not to walk down the path of least resistance, not to coast.

But it’s a hard road. Each workout, we must swallow our fear, call on some inner fortitude, and ride through pain that may cause others to quit and walk away.

We’re not f***ing around here.

We find nobility and honor in our perseverance. We pride ourselves on being able to “take” what others can not, or will not.

We suffer. And other people may find us crazy for doing so.

Our friends and families may chuckle at our devotion and roll their eyes at our latest stories of barbells and blood and tears. They may wince and turn away when they see our calloused hands and our bruised collarbones.

In fact, as we become more addicted to CrossFit – to this suffering — some folks find that their priorities shift, their circle of friends changes, and their daily thoughts turn again and again to CrossFit.

This is normal. A weird normal, but a CrossFit normal.

CrossFit is that addictive of an experience.

But if your friends or families are worried – they talk about “losing” you to CrossFit or start to make remarks about your devotion — ask yourself one simple question that will help to define if your behavior — if your latest addiction — is healthy or unhealthy: “Is my life better?” Don’t ask yourself about particular results or success or happiness or anything else. Look at the entire picture of your life, your health, your loves, your outlook, and your relationships with people since you started this thing and ask yourself: “Is my life better?”

If it is, keep CrossFitting — and encourage your friends to start too. If it isn’t, make some adjustments. Figure it out. Life is about adjustments. Just like when we finish a clean or a snatch and the coach yells to “Reset your feet” — that’s what life is all about. Resetting. Trying again. Figuring it out. And making things better. The suffering only gets us there; it’s not the goal in and of itself.

A friend once said that “Being able to hit the Reset Button is never bad” — but I think it goes a little deeper than that. Being able to hit the Reset Button is never bad, as long as you’ve looked at your performance and learned what to do better this time. Don’t suffer and let it all go to waste. Reset and hit a new Personal Record, in the gym and in life.

(Words by Lisbeth Darsh/CrossFit Watertown.)