CrossFit v. Distance Running

Right. I always flip the two in my mind. Ectomorphs is correct. The testosterone lowering issue is largerly heavily exaggerated. I had mine tested (I am getting old and was curious) and was spot on normal even though I am running 60-80 mpw. The testosterone thing is overhyped. Some people have trouble with it the same way some people have problems with low ferritin levels. But it is not something that automatically follows with running.

The hate from runners on crossfit is return fire. Every argument about the benefits and burdens of crossfit v. runners ends up with crossfitters resorting to saying that running is for puny weaklings who cannot get girls and who could not help sandbag a levy when the river threatens to flood the town (that is an actual example of "functional strength" that I have heard from a crossfitter). Crossfit has never been about designing a superior fitness routine. It has always been about marketing a fitness routine to the alpha male wannabe to get them to pay big gym fees and keep them coming back by putting exercise routines to the clock for "PRs".

I've made this point before, and I'm being serious here, what the ACTUAL SHIT is a "converted 15min 5k"?

SCIENCE! wrote:

I've made this point before, and I'm being serious here, what the ACTUAL SHIT is a "converted 15min 5k"?

Sorry but if I slog around like you guys, at least I make sure to get a good burn out of it by wearing a weighted backpack. I know, sounds "stupid" to you guys.

hbhbfuyefyuef wrote:

I meant the OP not that you are a "hobby jogger" my bad. I think you should post a typical week of your training for us.

I may be a "hobby jogger" by your definition because I've never broken 3:00 in the marathon & didn't run in HS or college but I did successfully compete in collegiate & international wrestling at a high level (D-1). I also completed one of the Army's more difficult combat leadership courses when in the service (I was one of only 2 candidates from my branch attending the school). So I'm not exactly unfamiliar with fitness and various workout modalities.

Xfitguy_the_real_one_1 wrote:

Do you even know anything about training? Intervall training (like 800's or 1200's) and crossfit style sprint repeats are totally different. Or in other words (maybe that helps you understand), they have NOTHING in common. Repeat after me.

Right, one is effective, and the other is Saturday morning P90x/Insanity informercial broscience.

XFit_guy_the_real_one_1 wrote:

SCIENCE! wrote:

I've made this point before, and I'm being serious here, what the ACTUAL SHIT is a "converted 15min 5k"?

Sorry but if I slog around like you guys, at least I make sure to get a good burn out of it by wearing a weighted backpack. I know, sounds "stupid" to you guys.

If anyone still had any doubts about whether this guy was a troll this post should clear it up.

The Hobby Jogger wrote:

I may be a "hobby jogger" by your definition because I've never broken 3:00 in the marathon & didn't run in HS or college but I did successfully compete in collegiate & international wrestling at a high level

Sorry but wrestling is a show. Can't take that shit seriously. What's your stage name?

Not really sure why anyone would want to look like Rich Froning? haha if that's the goal of crossfitters you guys have put your standards pretty low. Guess that makes sense at the type of people i see doing crossfit at my gym..Sorry but I think it would be better to look like a runner than that goon. As for myself though, something like Josef Rakich, Joey Gloor, or looking like the king of aesthetics ZYZZ is much much better than looking like crossfitting god Rich Froning haha

Justin91 wrote:

If you want to get functional fitness, then (1) lift weights in compound freeweight exercises like the squat and pull-up, and (2) do steady state cardio.

That's exactly how NOT to get functional fitness. None of them has much, if anything, to do with real-life movements, which is what functional fitness is about.

Even separating other exercises from "cardio" is a departure from functional. Your CV fitness is in the muscles that are developed for it, veins, nerves, mitochondria and so forth. For example, you won't have good CV fitness in your upper body from just running.

So I am a girl and I am reading this thread now.

Runners bodies are so so so so much better than bodies of cross fit guys.

For example, this cross fit guy is so ugly

http://img.breakingmuscle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/aug_17_2012_-_856am/bm1.jpg

.

Runners don't grunt at themselves in the gym like they are making babies with the gym equipment. Runners bodies are evenly distributed, as they lose fat all over. Crossfitters judging from 99% of google pictures, have man boob pecs, and stomachs that look like there is a small child buried inside of their belly (and no this is not attractive muscle, it is really really ugly just so you know men).

Just from a group of girls sitting at this computer right now, after carefully looking through google pictures of both sports, I can say that 90% of crossfitters look like cavemen who would come up to a girl and say "oooo ha ooo ha ooo ha ooo fresh meat".

girlwithadvice wrote:

Just from a group of girls sitting at this computer right now, after carefully looking through google pictures of both sports, I can say that 90% of crossfitters look like cavemen who would come up to a girl and say "oooo ha ooo ha ooo ha ooo fresh meat".

That is perfectly in line with their paleo diet.

No offense, but wait till you grow up

girlwithadvice wrote:

I can say that 90% of crossfitters look like cavemen who would come up to a girl and say "oooo ha ooo ha ooo ha ooo fresh meat".

I hate to break the news but THIS is exactly what 99% of women appreciate.

Xfitguy_the_real_one_1 wrote:

girlwithadvice wrote:

I can say that 90% of crossfitters look like cavemen who would come up to a girl and say "oooo ha ooo ha ooo ha ooo fresh meat".

I hate to break the news but THIS is exactly what 99% of women appreciate.

But if you want that build, you are way better off bodybuilding than Crossfitting.

1. Crossfit lacks progressive, periodized strength training principles, which handicaps gains.

2. Crossfit only periodically hits major muscle groups. You can Crossfit 4 times a week and end out squatting three times and not doing any pullups/rows.

3. Metcons are incredibly catabolic.

Distance running is an Olympic sport, was is cross fit?

First off, doing crossfit is way better than sitting on the couch playing video games, so anyone who does it is alright in my book.

What I'm wondering is if crossfit is supposed to be about 'functional fitness', then what is the function? Hopefully a distance runner who is coached or self-coached is following some sort of schedule designed to result in improvements or good performances at some point. So, it might be to improve for the next phase of training, or improve/peak for a race or races. If you are a field athlete, like a shot putter or high jumper, you follow a training schedule that is designed to help you jump higher or throw further at some point. The training for distance running is specific or functional for distance running, and the training for high jumping is specific or functional for high jumping. For example, bounding is a great exercise for any athlete, but bounding is going to more directly help a jumper in the same way that running (short runs, long runs, whatever) is going to help the distance runner. Lifting is going to help both athletes too, but if a distance runner copies a shot-putter's lifting schedule, chances are the thrower will be reaping more benefits. (FYI I have all my distance runners lift and lift heavy, but it's a supplemental component of their training, and for my throwers, lifting is a fundamental element of their training)

So what is the functional goal of cross fitting? I know people will say 'to be able to do any activity any day' or 'to get better at exercising.' Unless there is a function besides that, I don't see how crossfit can really claim to be anything more than the 'general preparation' phase used by almost any track & field coach, even if they don't call it that or know that they are using periodization - basically "get the athlete in shape so they can train for their event."

Bobby1 wrote:

Distance running is an Olympic sport, was is cross fit?

Crossfit is on ESPN. The NYC Marathon, the biggest Marathon in the world, was CANCELLED ON ESPN. This says a lot.

Xfitguy_the_real_one_1 wrote:

Bobby1 wrote:

Distance running is an Olympic sport, was is cross fit?

Crossfit is on ESPN. The NYC Marathon, the biggest Marathon in the world, was CANCELLED ON ESPN. This says a lot.

Crossfit on ESPN is similar to what you were describing earlier about wrestling.

It is on ESPN so everyone can watch it and be like "WTF is this? This new reality show is outrageous, I'll keep watching."

It's more of just entertainment.

table wrote:

It is on ESPN so everyone can watch it and be like "WTF is this? This new reality show is outrageous, I'll keep watching."

It's more of just entertainment.

Right and the Chilean miner, the Biggest Loser Tara and Ed Norton in the NYC Marathon is all about competing. Right?