Let’s be Clear: Crossfit did not ‘Sell Out’

2 Comments July 17, 2012 drworobec

Let’s be clear. Crossfit did not ‘sell out’ to Reebok. Before I make my case, let me explain the argument to those who don’t know what I’m talking about. ..

This past weekend was the Crossfit Games, the pinnacle competition in the world of Crossfit. To qualify for the Games, athletes must first make it through the Open; five weeks of one workout/week as specified by Crossfit Headquarters, following which the athlete posts their scores online. The beauty of this is that anyone can enter the Open, and the atmosphere it creates in Crossfit gyms around the world is incredible. Crossfit Altitude (the gym I like to call ‘my gym’) had more than 80 people enter the Open, most of whom had no intention of qualifying for the Games but wanted to experience the thrill of being a part of the process. Following the Open, the top-seeded athletes advance to Regional competitions, before advancing to the Games themselves. Watch this video to be inspired.

Some Crossfit athletes complain that Crossfit has ‘sold out’ by agreeing to partner with Reebok. I see their comments on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, and they’re raving about Crossfit from days-gone-by and bemoaning the fact that Reebok has recently jumped on board. I can’t for the life of me figure out why, and I think their viewpoints are short-sighted at best.

Why would you be upset that Reebok has come along and brought their international branding and marketing? By agreeing to a Reebok sponsorship, Crossfit is able to grow. Isn’t one of the tenants of Crossfit a sense of community? What better way to promote a sense of community than by growing Crossfit’s base of athletes and expanding its reach.

And let’s not forget the money. The 2012 Reebok Crossfit Games offered a million dollar purse, including $250K to each of the Individual Male and Female winners. By partnering with an international giant like Reebok, these prizes were made possible. And big prizes mean big interest mean big participation. Again, growth in the sport. Good!

Many of the complainers are ‘originals’, having followed Crossfit methodology since it’s inception by Greg Glassman in 2000. Some are those who do their own Crossfit workouts in their garage or basement, getting their workouts from Crossfit websites. So my question to them is why does it affect you? Why does it affect you that Reebok has jumped on board? Why does it affect you that Crossfit is rapidly becoming mainstream? Why can’t you continue to do Crossfit the way you want to, the way you always have? I think the answer is it doesn’t.

My sister-in-law went to see the Games in Southern California this year with several friends from Calgary’s Crossfit Ramsay and she had the time of her life. I’m already saving my pennies for next year.

Look at the growth in our sport! From a ranch in Aromas to selling out the Home Depot Centre in only 5 years…

THIS is What’s Really Important

6 Comments July 9, 2012 drworobec

This weekend was a tough one. We’ve come through a health scare with my beloved father-in-law unscathed, although not entirely out of the woods, and it’s put life back into perspective. Why does it take some bad to make you appreciate the good? Why does the good get taken for granted? And why did I need to be reminded of what’s really important?

This is what’s really important:

Smiles and laughter.
Sunrises and sunsets.
New experiences and familiar knowledge.
Learning and growing.
Travelling and wandering.
Feeling pride and believing in hope.
Exploring dreams and chasing goals.
Family.
Health.
Time.

I’d love to hear your ‘this’.

THIS is what’s really important.

Friendship vs Competition: What’s the Priority?

4 Comments July 2, 2012 drworobec

As I’ve said before, I have Olympic fever. And my fever spiked this weekend during the Women’s 100m Hurdles final at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Calgary on Saturday.

For those who didn’t see the race, take a peek here– the drama and controversy that unfolded marked a pivotal moment in Canadian Athletics. Six of the eight women racing had already made the Olympic ‘A’ standard, meaning the field was jam-packed with superstars- however, only the Top 3 finishers would earn a spot on the Olympic team. In the end, media-favorite Perdita Felicien false-started (automatic disqualification) but raced under protest, while crowd-favorite Priscilla Lopes-Schliep tripped on a hurdle and finished 5th. Jessica Zelinka had the race of her life and finished 1st in 12.68. Here’s where it gets tricky.

Jessica Zelinka is a heptathlete. She competed on Canada’s Olympic team in Beijing in 2008 and finished in an impressive 5th place. While the 100m hurdles is one of the seven events in the Women’s Heptathlon, Jessica is not a 100m hurdles specialist (prior to this 12.68, her Personal Best was 12.76). And yet only 48hrs after winning the Olympic Trials heptathlon and securing her position on Canada’s Olympic team, she won the 100m hurdles and earned her right to represent Canada in the 100m hurdles AND the heptathlon. The controversy lies within the whispers that say Jessica should forfeit her 100m hurdles berth, allowing 4th-place finisher Angela Whyte (who is a 100m hurdles specialist and a two-time Olympian) to race in London instead. The whispers say that Jessica should focus solely on the heptathlon. The whispers say that Angela would have a better shot in London. The whispers say that it should’ve been Perdita and Priscilla anyways. I think the whispers are wrong.

At Olympic Trials, competition trumps friendship. There, I said it. Going into this race, all eight women were chasing the top three spots that would punch their tickets to London. Angela wanted it. Jessica wanted it. And Jessica got it. This was not a ‘training race’ for Jessica’s heptathlon career- rather, this was a race meant to give her a chance to compete as a hurdler AND a heptathlete in London. She’s going to get that chance.

She has dedicated the last 4 years of her life, and many years before that, to the pursuit of her Olympic dreams. In the sport of Track & Field, each individual must showcase their abilities; it is the fastest/strongest/fittest who wins. It’s not a ‘pass-the-puck-for-the-betterment-of-the-team’ sport. It’s a ‘be-the-best-YOU-can-be’ sport. Be the fastest. Be the strongest. Be the fittest. Be the best. And Jessica proved that she is.

During her post-race interview (at 10:20 of this 13-min race video), you can see Jessica’s emotion at being in this position. I think she made the right choice, and I will be cheering her on.