Those of you who have been with us for a while have probably noticed that we have experienced a lot of growth during the last several months.  While the growth is certainly welcome, and changing the dynamic of our workouts (more people = more fun) it has also come with some unexpected side effects.

Those of you who have been with us for a while have probably noticed that we have experienced a lot of growth during the last several months.  While the growth is certainly welcome, and changing the dynamic of our workouts (more people = more fun) it has also come with some unexpected side effects. 

My training staff and I, have not been as effective as we should be at communicating the importance of proper skill practice, chasing perfect form, maximizing work capacity, and developing character as a result of the process.  This is a grave error on our part but I am especially responsible for this deficiency and for that I apologize to you all!  But, things are going to change – starting now!

It has become apparent to us that some of our athletes (everyone is an athlete) are putting so much importance on beating the clock and other competitors in our workouts that they are willing to cheat themselves and sometimes cheat everyone else in our community.  Whether sacrificing form for speed or skipping reps or sets in a workout or rounding numbers up or down: cheating is cheating. 

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.” - Henry Ward Beecher

We are a community of athletes who use elite fitness training (CrossFit) as a tool to reach excellence.  Excellence is our focus and we strive to build our strength, power (work capacity) and develop character in the process.  Character, as I define it, is having a positive mental attitude, fortitude, discipline, integrity, and mental toughness. It takes a certain level of character to complete our workouts with intensity, and character is likewise developed through our workouts. 

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.- Thomas Jefferson

To reap all of the benefits that CrossFit can provide, you have to have enough character to finish the workouts as designed (at your own level) – don’t cut the reps short.  Likewise, display of integrity is vital in developing your reputation in our community.  Our community is not ego driven - integrity and character come first!

We will be using our blog as a means to educate, and if needed deter, anyone from ‘cheating’ themselves or others whether blatant or not. This will be an ongoing process.  In my next post I will introduce you to Greg Glassman’s concept of ‘Virtuosity’ in training.

Strength and Honor,

Troy Dodson
Owner, CrossFit Plano