Integrity vs. Ego
Respect at the Sweat Shop is earned through hard work and integrity, not by having the fastest time on the whiteboard. If on more than one occasion you’ve ever done fewer than the prescribed number of reps in a workout I can GUARANTEE that James and I are aware of it.
It’s one thing if you are doing it because you realize mid workout that you are in over your head, you are exhausted, and you don’t think you’ll be able to finish before the next class comes in for their workout. In this case, reduce the amount of weight (if there are exercises that involve external loads), or move up to a pullup band that offers more assistance. If there are only body weight movements, the only option may be to reduce the number of reps; that’s fine, just make note of it so that if you repeat the workout in the future you accurately track your progress.
If you are doing fewer than the prescribed number of reps (even just cutting 1 or 2 reps), for the sake of having the fastest time, you should be ashamed. I read something recently from a CrossFit blog post that said, “No one cares about your time except you. Everyone cares if you cheat.” In your attempt to gain the respect of some by having the fastest time, you will very likely lose the respect by all for lack of integrity.
Check out this excerpt from a post from CrossFit Hollywood:
I love my job. I love seeing people make incredible transformations. I love seeing people hit PR’s. I love helping people achieve things they never thought possible. I love the fact that our athletes are great at fundamentals and that that greatness gives CFHW a solid reputation around the Crossfit community. What I don’t love is when someone’s ego gets in the way of me loving my job. Your ego has no place inside a Crossfit gym, and definitely not inside CFHW. No matter how bad-ass you think you are, there will come a time where you will have your ass handed to you by someone far superior to you. What sense, then, does it make to let your ego get in the way of your training? The whole reason you are at the gym should be to improve yourself, not to have bragging rights. Here are some ways that your ego gets in the way of improving yourself:
Read full post here.
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Monday’s WOD:
20 Pullups
20 Box Jumps
20 Toes to Bar
30 Overhead Walking Lunge w/ plate 45/25
20 Toes to Bar
20 Box Jumps
20 Pullups
403m Run w/ plate 45/25
I read the blog from CF Hollywood yesterday and fully agree with the point it was making. I feel that our members does a great job in not cutting corners and also reducing weight in order to move through the rest of the workout. I feel that if people are doing workouts Rx’d while neglecting technique and form or cutting number of reps to be the alpha dog on the whiteboard for the day, then they’re doing Crossfit for the wrong reasons and probably should consult with coaches like Nabil or JB on maximizing their Crossfit experience while gaining respect at the same time. And if you are “that” person and I catch you doing this while I’m there working out, you won’t have my respect as well.