Crossfit 5k ULTRA CHALLENGE

web site for atlanta:

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=984094

I don't get it. Is it just a 5k race? Running only? If so the only way the cross-fitters can win is if the runners don't show up.

This is how CrossFitters are going to say they won this RUNNERS vs CROSSFITTERS duo. All the runners are going for the individual prize money and no runners are going put together 5 guys and 5 girls for a 10 person team. The runners will take the individual prizes and Crossfit folks will win the 10 person team comp. Then they brag they are better than runners at running and gush about how amazing they are and their training is even though they averaged 20 minutes for 5k.

[quote]Say Tann wrote:

around here is $250 per month to belong. it aint cheap

/quote]

Seriously??? I had no idea it was that much. I thought it was comparable to a gym membership. Well, if they want to toss $20k to a bunch of regional elite runners, then wonderful. Although, I suspect that the crossfitters will recruit some local ex-div 1 ringers to keep them from looking like dopes when the first crossfitter is three minutes back from the Kenyans who drive in from Chappel Hill, NC.

I heard Meb just picked up CrossFit as a sponsor. He'll cross the line first in his Sketchers.

How are they going to know if you are participating as a runner or as a Crossfitter? What if you are a runner who just happens to look like a D-bag?

Let's face it, with this much cash on the line, some seriously fast people will show up and take the top spots. That means the relatively good runners should band together to take down the team competition. But...

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101032596661120&ref=ts

Looks like they are making the team competition open only to CrossFit teams for the Seattle race, at least.

Ok infantry even though I shouldn’t do this I’m going to because I’m a runner at heart. I can almost guarantee this wont be a straight 5k and they won’t tell you this till the day of the event. Why else would they call it the Crossfit 5k ULTRA CHALLENGE? What will likely happen is you will complete a Work out of the Day (WOD) that has 5k of running in it. They will most likely do something like 5x1k+50 toes to bar, 50 squats (see video below). If you think of it from a financial point of view; what do they have to gain from essentially putting on a cross country style race and paying more prize money than most local races? But they can gain membership by showing you that you are not in shape at all. I know most of you are thinking I can run 14:xx or 15:xx therefore I’m in shape, you’re not. So if you plan on winning the race I would suggest looking at the main site, crossfit.com, and try some of the WOD’s. Its free and there's a link that has videos for most movements.

I will help you put this into perspective, if my prediction about the race is correct, being currently in sub-17 minute shape and relatively good crossfit shape, I would likely take down the 14:31 sheet metal man.

I’m sure some of you are thinking, yeah right I’d own this guy and you may be able to. But before you allow yourself to be so sure, go do the WOD I posted above and post your time here. If I have any takers I'll do the same to see how we match up.

Watch the videos because the competition will have 1:1 judging making sure your range of motion is good each rep.

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_Knees2Elbows.mov

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_AirSquats.mov

Good luck and heed to my warning.

It looks like there are only going to be runners for the first 20 minutes of the the post-race party:

SCHEDULE (subject to change)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

7:30-9am Registration

9am Kids K

9:30am 5K Begins

9:45am Post Race Party

"Name:" is probably correct. They'll probably have some sort of catch such as making you do a crossfit workout during/before the race. Otherwise it would not be fair at all.

How could they really expect even very fit all around athletes (the top cross fit types) to even have a shot at beating top level amateur or lower level pro runners unless they did some sort of exercise to give the cross-fitters an advantage.

With a prize purse like that, I would think 14:30 or faster type of guys in those areas would be licking their chops and coming out in droves. I know if they had a no-gimmicks sort of race down here in Austin, everyone and their mom within that kind of fitness would be signed up ready to take scalps and get paid in the team and individual contest.

I don't think they would be dumb enough to spring a surprise workout in the middle of the race. If some runner shows up and pops a L-4 trying to lift a barbell, Crossfit could get its pants sued off, even with signed disclaimers. I think there are enough decent ex-div 1 runners in crossfit that they think they will be able to have crossfitters win all the prize money if they do not publicize much beyond the crossfit inner circle.

Precious Roy you are so cute I just can’t stand it. If you read a bit closer, I said they wont tell you what the WOD will be until the day of, specifically before the race. At the Crossfit Games, think World Championships, the male and female winners both won $250,000 after completing essentially 8 events (games.crossfit.com). Each of the 8 events were not announced until an hour before they started. At my next local competition I will likely have to do 4 events but am not sure because they don’t tell you all of the details until the day of. The mantra of crossfit is to be prepared for the unknown and unknowable, not to specialize but be to be well rounded. The main disconnect is you are trying to apply your knowledge and experience of running to crossfit, square peg round hole my friend.

Some major marathons have a gender challenge where the ladies are given a head start in hopes of having the men and women finish very close together for an exciting finish. That’s how they will program this event. They will try to develop programming that will make for an interesting outcome and show the running community a new type of fitness that will make you a better runner.

If you dont think that “they would be dumb enough to spring a surprise workout in the middle of the race,” think again. This is a bait and switch which is working rather well. All of the 150lb 14:30 guys are thinking easy money and I’m thinking I'll hand you some water when you finish.

How fast can you do 200 double unders? You can go from 1st to last in a few seconds if you have to watch this video to know what I’m talking about.

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_DoubleUnders2.mov

Double Unders! I use to do that in 4th grade gym class. Jumping rope isn't not very hard.

About CrossFit Sports Series

The CrossFit Sport Series is an exciting new CrossFit event series aimed at taking CrossFitters out of their comfort zones and putting their skills to the test outside the box - literally. Trying your hand at new sports is written into our definition of fitness. The CFSS is helping CrossFitters and other communities to get out and use the capacities that we work so hard to attain. Not to mention that any time the CrossFit Community gets together, it's a guaranteed good time.

This description makes me think it's a straight 5k run. What could be more "outside the box" for a crossfitter than a simple 3.1 mile run as fast as he or she can run? Nothing goofy, just get from here to there in as little time as you can manage.

"All of the 150lb 14:30 guys are thinking easy money and I’m thinking I'll hand you some water when you finish."

- Probably closer to 125-135lbs, and if it was a true race, anyone knows they'd be getting paid and handing everyone else the water.

"This is a bait and switch which is working rather well"

- Bait and Switch is the first thing I had in mind when I heard about this, there is no way that they would slant it so strongly towards a real runner getting an advantage. It would be a massacre.

I wish they would provide more information... but then again, part of the anonymity is probably to lure runners in. Knowing that most every event, or most every move a for profit company makes is for positive promotional sake to get other interested, they don't want to get embarrassed at their own game.

Based on that video and a couple of the responses here, it seems like being annoyingly cocky is a big part of Crossfit.

Buffalo street steepler, you could definitely be right especially after doing some searching around on their fb page:

“The CrossFit Sports Series 5K presented by CrossFit, Inc. is giving you a chance to race for an unprecedented prize purse. $30,000 is up for grabs to the top male, female and team finishers. There won't be any surprise burpees during this race, but you can be guaranteed a great day, CrossFit style.”

With that said I still will be shocked if it’s a straight up 5k. I read “surprise” as we will tell you about the other exercises before hand and “CrossFit style,” as code for we’ll find a way to get you. If they do run a straight up 5k then it will be a great way for the 14:30 guys to own up on this washed up runner turned crossfitter and win some big bucks. But don’t be shocked if there is a twist the day of.

Only the Atlanta and the Chicago races have registration links set up on Active.

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=984155

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=984155

Both of the Active registration sites state:

"There won't be any surprise burpees during this race, but you can be guaranteed a great day, Crossfit style."

I truly think this is a pure footrace, although obviously Crossfit will be heavily marketed, particularly after the race. They will no doubt have "Crossfit Challenge" areas after the race where attempts will be made to bait the fast runners into doing exercises that they would suck at with thinly-veiled insults like the ones that have already appeared in this thread. I also predict that they call out the winner during the award ceremony: "Sure you're fast, but are you man enough to handle {insert random crossfit workout}?"

The dude's trying to expand his market. Take the cash and move along.