Ahhhhhh! The CrossFit Games are absolutely amazing! I keep referring to them as “CrossFit Christmas” because they’reΒ so fun! Again, a huge THANK YOU to GNC and Reebok for making this trip happen for me. I am forever grateful!
On Friday, Heather, Kelly, and I arrived at the Games around 10:30 AM. It was a gray, rainy morning, but we didn’t care. We were PSYCHED to be there. I’m not kidding, I literally danced as I walked through the doors of the Home Depot Center.
As soon as we walked in, we saw a huge expo with all sort of vendors and CrossFit-y things, so Heather and I went to check it out.
The expo had a number of fun competitions:
Products:
Food samples:
And even a place to WOD:
Rogue set up an outdoor box where people could sign up to do βGrace.βΒ So cool!
We wandered around for about an hour and then met up at the GNC booth with the other Fitfluential ambassadors on this trip: Joe, Heather, me, Jess, and Scott. They’re a fun group!
Then, it was finally time to watch the competition! Woohoo!
Heather and Jess!
Heather and me!
We arrived just as Heat 2 of the Men’s Track Triplet was starting. Each day of the competition, individual athletes (schedule below) and teams compete in two workouts each day.
Click for Team Events and Masters Events. Please see the Scoring Page for an explanation of the points system.
Men’s Track Triplet:
Athletes will begin this event just after completing the Ball Toss.
Sitting in the GHD, athletes will throw as many medicine balls as far as possible.
Men will throw 4 pound medicine balls.
Immediately after the event, athletes will reset together for the Track Triplet Event.Three rounds for time of:
8 Split snatch, alternating legs (115 / 75lbs)
7 Bar muscle-ups
Run 400 meters
Jason Khalipa, winner of the 2008 CrossFit Games, won the second heat in 8:49.
Nate Schrader, one of GNC’s sponsored athletes,Β put up a good fight during this heat.
He ended up coming in 14th place (overall) for the Track Triplet.
But, he won the Broad Jump event during Wednesday’s competition,Β so that’s pretty awesome.
Heat 3 included a couple of my favorite CrossFit athletes: Austin Malleolo and Spencer Hendel, who both train at CrossFit One.
The event started with the Ball Toss.
And then the men were off!
Three rounds of 115-pound Split snatch (8 reps alternating each leg).
Then, 7 Bar muscle-ups.
And, finally, a 400 meter run.
Go Spencer!
Austin gaining on Chris Spealler!
Go Austin!
Here comes Daniel Tyminski (red shorts) toward the finish line!
Daniel Tyminski won the heat and took first place in the heat and event overall with a time of 8:03.
Graham Holmberg and Chris Spealler race to the finish for second and third place!
Chris took second place.
Austin finished 4th.
And, of course, like every WOD, it isn’t over until everyone is finished. All of the guys came back and cheered on Austin Stack.
As soon as the 3rd heat ended, the 4th and final heat started.
Well, hello, Rich Froning Jr.
Once again, the event started with the Ball Toss.
And then three rounds for time of Split snatches, Bar muscle-ups, and a 400 meter run.
Looking good, Rich!
He was literally 5 feet away from me, so I snapped this video. Enjoy!
During the first round, Rich Froning was the the middle of the pack. I think he was in 5th place after the first 400 meter run.
But, he slowly and steadily improved his position as the workout progressed.
He just did his thing and stayed focused.
Rich didn’t look stressed or pained in anyway. He made it look so easy. And, by the second round, he was in 3rd place.
And then he won the heat! (He placed 4th overall for this workout.)
The barbell that Rich Froning touched:
Oh, yea, and I met him.
Part 2 of Day 1 coming up next! I have so much to share with you guys!
51 Comments
Love this re-cap! I felt like I was there π I’m going to try and watch videos online because I missed it on tv. And I definitely wouldn’t wash my hand or clothes after standing next to him- dang!
Fitness Lonnie!!
Can’t wait for them to broadcast it on TV. Not sure why it’s online on ESPN3. I was watching the 2011 games yesterday…intense!
CrossFit Christmas!!!!! I love it! I am still in awe at how close you were to the workout! Unreal!!! This is by far the best weekend of the year π
You’ve got “groupie” fever.
Haha! Totally! I’m just in awe of him– and pretty much every other athlete at the Games!
Your arms are ah-mazing!!
Whoa! That’s some intense stuff! Very cool.
Also, great video. Thanks for sharing. π
Whewwwwwwwww, free sample heaven!
Nice coverage, and the videos are a great touch.
You must be having the time of your life. Wish Mal could be there with ya, hopefully next year π
I know! He’s holding down our box back home (our coaches are out here at the Games), but he’ll definitely be here next year!
I have so much respect for anyone who can even do 1 muscle up, let alone 21!
Me too!!!
Living vicariously through your updates:)
ahh im wicked jealous! i’ve been streaming the games online all weekend, wish i could have been there! looks like you’re having a blast.
Looks so incredible! What an awesome experience.
CrossFit as a lot of good looking men!
Yea indeed! π
Aw man, you are the luckiest duck in the world. I never get jealous, but I’m jealous of you this weekend!! Thanks for sharing the awesome coverage. I am watching it on ESPN3, but you have a very personal seat and I didn’t know that they have music blaring for them to workout to! Nice..
I LOVE this!!!! Crossfit Christmas for sure! You all look like you’re having an amazing time. I absolutely love that they set up a WOD station. What better way to celebrate the games than to bring it yourself?? π
I officially want to learn to do a muscle up haha :)!
I’ve trying to keep up with the games online. Hopefully next year they’ll be on a major network other than ESPN3.
Everything looks and sounds awesome! If anyone is still on the fence about whether they should try Crossfit, seeing your recap should push them to the YES side!
I just did my first crossfit class today so I feel a little more in the “know” although this is much more intense! It definitely is a culture for sure, and I bet you loved every minute of it!
Wow…that is just epic….I think that’s the only way to describe it!
Ok I don’t know much about CrossFit besides what I’ve read on everyone’s blogs recently but I think I’d go to the Games just to watch those ripped men:) But seriously they are amazing athletes!
Crossfit Christmas is in no short supply of delicious men! Very nice!
Tina- random question but what brand spandex shorts are you wearing in pix? I am looking for a new pair for crossfit & yoga! Thanks!
@Renee C.: They’re actually more like running shorts (http://shopcrossfitreebok.com/womens-1/pants-shorts/board-short.html), but Reebok makes a ton of great spandex shorts. I have these ones and love them! http://shopcrossfitreebok.com/womens-1/pants-shorts/chase-wod-2-short-black.html
Oh my! That looks like a ton of freakin’ fun! I need to get my bum to one of those kinds of events. And yes… he is pretty good looking! Lucky gal π
Holy crap, you met Rich Froning Jr.!! I am in awe of his athleticism. I’ve been watching the events all day from the CrossFit Youtube channel. It’s addicting! And, you know, the men aren’t so bad looking π
This looks so cool! I love the sound of the outdoor box…
Wow! What an awesome experience!!! Great recap!
Wow you got so many great pictures! Kinda jealous!
Looking forward to part 2!
Loved watching the final last night! I have never watched the crossfit games until you talked about them, now my husband and I want to join! Such a motivating sport.
That looks so fun!
I streamed the Games the ENTIRE weekend (so amazing!), basically only leaving to actually take an Intro to CrossFit class on Saturday morning. I am STILL in pain today after 8 rounds of squats with 20 seconds on/10 seconds off, 8 rounds of pushups with the same time intervals AND practicing L-sits on parallette bars! Not sure WTF happened but I also LOVED it!! π
Hi Tina, I can almost imagine i was there at the event. Thanks for all the awesome photos! They are great. You must be having the time of your life! Cant wait for it to go live on TV π
Everyone is so intense! lol
WOOWEE! Thanks for that vid π Something nice to look at on a Monday!
They make it look so easy! I cannot get over how close you were to Rich Fronning. I would have probably gotten wrapped up in the moment and yelled something completely inappropriate at him. Thank you for covering the Games for those of us who couldn’t go or watch all of it online. If I’m this excited reading about it, you must have had so much fun being there.
I couldn’t see any of it on TV but I’m going to try and catch some recaps online later today. Its crazy seeing how strong some of these athletes are (not to mention HOT!) It must have been so cool to watch it all happen live, and to see just how far they can push their bodies. Pretty jealous that you got to meet Rich Froning, he looks like an incredible athlete and a nice guy. Glad you had a great time at “CrossFit Christmas!” Haha.
Awesome recap of the games!!! A female instructor from my gym placed 3rd in the games over the weekend!!
Can’t wait for part 2!
Some fiiiiiine lookin specimens in those photos π
Those muscle ups kill me just watching them! Great videos, your posts on CrossFit motivate me to begin! Personal trainer or CrossFit? Hmmm….I can’t decide!
SOOO cool! Wow. They are so strong! Love it.
even if you don’t know much about Crossfit, the eye candy makes it totally watchable π
The strength in those guys is absolutely insane!
Haha! Totally agree! π
WOW they make that look so easy! And I don’t think I have ever seen so many muscles in one post haha