Do you ever wonder why your coach tells you to take 2-3 minutes after the WOD to go for a short run or to row and then stretch in the back for 5? It is because cool down should be an integral part of your training. Cool down aka getting your body to the state it was in pre-WOD. Cooling down is just as important as warming up, strength, working on your technique, or the WOD itself, you should never skip it. Sometimes we manage to get it into our 60minute class, other times your coach just gives you instructions and you are on your own. Here are three reasons why cooling down is so important: 1. It helps remove accumulated “waste” and reduces the chance of blood clots An intense WOD causes our bodies to create metabolic waste: lactic acid and hydroxyproline (amino acid). It is ideal to get rid of those before you rest to prevent muscle pain and to fasten regeneration. Additionally, during an intense work out, our blood vessels expand so that our muscles can properly wok. If we suddenly stop working out, our blood can clot in our legs and cause dizziness or weakness. 2. It … Read More
Training in autumn and winter
For many people this time of the year around might be the most challenging when it comes to training and getting motivated. Suddenly the snooze button on your phone in the dark mornings and the couch in front of your TV after work seem to be the better alternative. This might be in part due to the lack of sunlight and its energy to keep our body warm. Without our daily portion of Vitamin D we are less energized, motivated and surprisingly, even our aerobic performance might go down. (Sunlight triggers the release of nitric oxide which boosts aerobic performance). But ‘believe you me’ ☺ the reward when getting out of your comfort zone and ‘Just GO’ is much bigger. We are approaching flu season and the best medicine is prevention. How do we build up our immune system by CF you might wonder and in fact the answer is similar to classic/alternative medication. It depends…on frequency, quality and the type of activity. In CF we do it with high intensity. HIT improves lung capacity (improved lung capacity = prevents tract infections, i.e. a sore throat, a cold or a sinus infection) and builds stronger hearts which in turn … Read More
Building mental fortitude to reach new heights
Better safe than sorry Before I go into the topic of mental toughness I want to emphasise what many couches mentioned before and is part of our introduction to CrossFit. Safety, technique, consistency and then intensity are important to us. This is especially true in the beginning of your CrossFit journey. Notice the word journey – it is not a sprint. Make sure to stay within your physical capacity to not get injured. As soon as technique breaks, in any movement, scale it! ☺ In your first 3 months to one year you will most likely make leaps and bounds of improvements. This however is not only due to increased metabolic capacity and strength but more likely due to technique which makes it possible to ‘catch’ the new PRs. So always remember, if you were not exposed to this kind of weight training before (especially with repetitive movements), your muscles might be able to lift the weight however, your joints, ligaments and bones take longer to adapt to the new challenge. Mental toughness This does not mean that you cannot work on your mental toughness from the very get go of your journey. Mental toughness is individual resilience and confidence … Read More