CrossFit NYC: The Black Box

thanks for the elegant and profound thoughts Keith. and for the box. i ask myself often what is so addictive; certainly the personal challenge but more so it is the opprtunity for an hour each day to watch and experience other people with the same drive and courage (and fears). yeah, getting those double-unders finally felt great, but nothing like watching jeff get his first muscle-up, seeing dammit do the same workout as me but with 20 lbs on his back, watching a2 laugh off 50 bw cleans in a row or just that look on anyone's face 1/2 way through a WOD (Murph day was particuarly amazing). that look is the engine of the world and it is a rare gift to see it once, let alone anyday you want just by showing up at the box. if you wanted to buld something to honor the spirit you write of, I think you've done it in spades. happy independence day!

John Hancock, you had me at "manly firmness".

On an completely unrelated note, are there any volunteers out there to apply some liquid bandage to my butt cheeks? I rubbed my coccyx raw on Annie's WOD.

Beautiful keith. You have created an amazingly wonderful community beyond imagination. Thank you for your pursuit:-)

Now I really fear what the WOD will be tomorrow...

Anyways, its always makes me smile when I walk into the box and see what grew out of where cfnyc was just a year ago. I remember when talks of this first surfaced and I thought, well, I'll be there, but not sure who else will. So glad that my initial doubts have been squashed and that I have met so many great people.

are we doing the total tomorrow? seems like there will be a ton of people for just one class.

Aw, nice one Keith! That was a great post, and I'd say you're right to be upbeat

I can't imagine a challenge great enough to stand in the way of the fine community that have flocked to your little box...

... we can take over from here Mr Divine Providence sir (you go look after Jeff's smoking coccyx for a minute)

Amazing post Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Fourth of July everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keith, you're truly a renaissance man. Your post is truly inspiring (and so are you). And come to think of it, everyone that I've met over the last month or so at the Box is an inspirational figure. Thanks everyone!
HAPPY 4TH!!!

Fuckin ay, Keith. Thanks for opening The Black Box.
(Josh as well and all included)

I suck at profound and inspiring, so that's all I got.
Well that and also that I (and im sure others at the Box, as well)
can be counted on for anything that'll keep the box open and
our happy asses coming back for more.

awesome.

yeah Tereza makes a great point...
EVERYBODY I've met at the box, is AWESOME.

Agreed. Everything you say Keith is profound and true. Each person before me has articultated the points well.

I still remmeber following you not even a year ago, and some 6 clothes sizes bigger, to 5 Points. I thought you all were f***ing crazy (that includes you Justin and whoever else was there too)! Now look at me--addicted and committed. Despite all your yelling at me--I am still there!

I called the CFT myself last night and knew that if it was gonna be such I would dishonor my rest day and take it another day this week! Now that I got PRs on DL, BS and SP each this past 10 days I gotta do it....

In many ways, the Black Box experience parallels the best of the American experience. We show up as newly arrived emigrants, coming from all over the fitness world. We leave behind our old ways and learn the new culture. We embrace the best of what works, and reject the rest. Our success is determined entirely by our own hard work.

But also missing from the Black Box is much of what many find cold about American. There is no hierarchy among our citizens. We all change in the same space, recover lying on the same floor, struggle with the same challenges. We’re not differentiated on the basis of anything other than objectively observed skills. There are no social or institutional obstacles impeding any of our progress--just the opposite. We’re constantly encouraged to advance. We know one another’s names.

Happy Fourth of July!

Thanks to our Black Box Founding Fathers.

sort of cut and copy from my posted comments monday; i can.t make the class today, anyone into a 'wod' in central park, run-pull-ups-jumps-push-ups type of thing? it is always better with someone pushing me.

Michael- bummer!-u have to do the total!

I'll have to take a2 to the park then since she is the official barbell sub...

36yo/m/195lbs
Back Squat 295 PR
Press 135 PR
Deadlift 355 PR

Total 785

TOTAL

Back Squat: 225
Sh. Press: 140
Dead Lift: 300

665

PR in everything.

635 (225, 115, 295) BW = 152

35yo/f/140lbs
back squat 175 PR
press 85 PR
deadlift 215 PR

TOTAL 475

somehow when I added this up at the gym I thought it was only 405. ("Math is HARD!") when I got home, calmed down, ate some food, and re-did the math, I realized that I did better than I had originally thought.

thanks to everyone for your support, it really helped. every one of you did great and tried their hardest--it was so inspiring! what a great way to celebrate the 4th of July!

allison, i'm in for the swing dancing.

Back Squat: 255 PR
Press: 125
Deadlift: 315 PR

695 Total.

Need to estimate better! I know I had more in me for the backsquats after the last set even though my previous PR on those had been 225. Not sure that I got stronger - more that I felt I was better at the motion process.

Beginning to think it would be easier for me to get my points closer/into Intermediate class by losing 1 or 2 levels of weight rather than lifting harder...

I always read the declaration on the fourth too. Great tradition. Contrary to just about every political document ever written, it's short, clear, and beautifully written. It's as if they wanted people to understand it! What a concept. Another fun part is reading the names of all the signers: Button Gwynnet, Charles Carol of Carolton, William Whipple...they sure don't name 'em like they used to.

Moon, I agree with you that technique plays a big role, though I'm sure you got stronger, too. Thanks for letting us use your SLR--can't wait to see all the pictures!

I posted the few that I took with my little camera to my Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/alizinha.

sorry i missed so many prs, congrats all.

i did y first 'distance' run, once around the reservoir which is i believe 2.5k in 11;38. then 20 pull-ups (10-3-2-2-2-1) and tabata squats.

i need to come in on my own and establish a cf total...

16yo/m/155lbs

Squat-275 pr
Press- 140 pr
Deadlift- 355
T- 770

Not a bad day, just wish I had more time to rest from this week. At least I pr'd in the press cuz its always sucked. Afterwards I did a backflip and jumped onto some boxes... with a pile of plates on it (42").

Wow--everyone did awesome today and it makes me proud to be a part of this community.

First off I need to apologize big time to Sarah. Sarah, what happened on my watch was totally inexcusable. My spotting sucked terribly. Thankfully you are OK.

45yo/f/137#bw
CFT Total--450
BS-160 (PR)
SP-70 (PR fm yesterday)
DL-220 (PR)

I hear ya Brian--it was a rough week and we did this after a few days of really intense workouts.

that should be 90-pound press and 480 total for mine. next time I'll remember to actually bring the card home with me!

brian, if that's "not a bad day", i'm kinda scared to see a good day.

everyone, Doug Chapman of Hyperfit USA, the Ann Arbor CF affiliate, looked so kindly on Keith's manifesto as to re-print it in entirety on his blog:

http://hyperfitusa.typepad.com/hyperfit_usa/2007/07/from-crossfit-n.html#comments

awesome!

Just wanted to thank all the ladies for letting me get my second and third deadlifts in so quickly since I had to leave. (By the way- I highly recommend the film " A Might Heart") I really appreciated it!
And Hari-thanks for all of your help! You are great!

37 yo/f/124 bw
BS-140
SP- 67 1/2 (PR)
DL-185 (pr)

TOTAL 392.5

Have a question about PRs... Now Im lifting more now than I have in years and since being an "adult". But I don't come close to reaching the maxes I had when I was in HS and playing football and wrestling. I don't quite know if I will ever hit 450 in deads and 405 in squats again. So technically when I hit better scores in my total, it doesn't count as a personal record, but its better than anything recently. So just wondering how I should count it? I know its not that important in the grand scheme, but hell everyone else is hitting PR's and I want to as well :).

Hey Allison based on your "little" major update I noticed you basically hit the advanced standard for the CFT(since your weight is in btwn 2 levels that is). That's really awesome! Congrats!

16 yo (oh wait, I'm 22)/f/130

BS-135
SP- 65 (thanks for cheering me on, everyone!)
DL-160
Total=360

Miscellaneous:
1)Allison is my hero.
2)Keith for President!

Justin - I'm not sure how far away you are from the HS days, but I would think that for our purposes, one should "reset the clock" for your CrossFit numbers. I feel the point of our being score-focused is to track our individual progression as participants in the CF system. To that end, if you hit a max weight in July that has put you past what you did in May, I think you would be entitled to put a little "PR" by that number without giving thought to your lifetime history.

In that slate-wiping sense, I think of CrossFit as the French Foreign Legion of the fitness industry.

Tereza, Sarah, Denise, A2 you guys really rocked it out today. awesome. great group to make me want to do better. And to boot neither I nor Sarah were decapitated thanks to the spotters! (my heart is still pounding fast from the" i am seeing my life flash by me" moment!)and i agree-allison is my heroine. and hero.
A2-thanks for ur help today as well. I hope i did not mess up ur index card while trying to help u out :(

I was thinking the same thing Moon... Plus my HS days are in a galaxy far, far away.

french foreign legion, huh.
hmmm you get to choose a new identity when you join those guys.
me thinks, we should get some new 'identities' via some 'wrestler/super hero' nicknames.

Keith, forgive me for not saying so earlier when I had the chance, but your post certainly deserves accolades and recognition from the other affiliates.

Congrats to Allison for her advancement!

I got new PRs in all three and I broke 700. I owe all my progress to the Black Box training crew and my fellow CF practitioners. I realize this will sound cliched, but together we truly are stronger than our individual selves. I've lifted for years without spotters or workout partners and I was severely plateau-ing. Without your expertise, support and inspiration, I never would have known myself to have the potential to get where I am right now.

5/9/07
225 + 140 + 295 = 660

7/4/04
250 + 145 (150 on 4th try) + 315 = 710

+50lbs in 2 months

correction: that should say "7/4/07"

I'm mixed about posting what I did yesterday, as now everyone who didn't already know how pitifully weak I am will know for sure. On the flip side, sharing just goes hand in hand with all the encouragement that goes on at the box, so here it is:

43 yo/f/134 bw
BS-95 (PR)
SP- 55 (PR)
DL-125(PR)
Total 275

Denise I had not seen you in a month and you look so amazing. u shoudl be really proud. u did so well. those were all prs! thx again for letting me sneak my last dl in. i made it on time to meet my husband after all. have fun on the yoga retreat! Also-can u give me ur email address? mine is michellefoxman@yahoo.com

Thanks Michelle -- so nice to hear! All this is certainly paying off, and seeing what you and others are doing inspires me more.
My e-mail is d.m.nelson@bc.edu (it's a forwarding service, and seeing that a job change is likely by the end of the year, the best to keep in your address book).