All inclusive and infinitely scalable

Competing in CrossFit is inclusive to all ages, sizes, genders and physical capacities. You’re able to choose (or to not choose) to compete in the different age groups, so that you are competing on an even playing field. There are also divisions that cater to the needs of athletes with varying disabilities. Because there are different types of disabilities with varying degrees of severity, CrossFit has created workouts that all disabled or impaired athletes can compete in on an even playing field if they choose to. Lastly, there are divisions such as RX, Scaled and Foundations that you can choose to enter depending on your level, capacity and experience. You can think of these divisions as Hard, Moderate, Beginner as they aim to provide a difficulty that will cater to the needs of the people entered in them.

It is this in depth level of inclusivity when competing that creates such a caring, loving, and supportive community of like minded people. In a world where no two people are the same, it is reassuring and comforting to know that the sport of CrossFit is a means in which to provide everyone with an opportunity to compete together, grow together, learn together, and most of all connect with each other. 

Mental toughness & fortitude

Yes, pushing yourself to your limits in training is possible. However, in a competition when you are out on the comp floor, surrounded by your fellow competitors, being watched by a live audience, hearing the roar of support from family and friends and knowing that all the sacrifices you have made to be there on that comp floor takes you to a different place. You hear top tier athletes talk about being “in the zone” when they compete. That zone (in CrossFit) tends to either be a place of extreme focus and desire to attain a goal, or a place of pain, suffering, and willingness to hurt in order to reach said goal. It can  be very hard to get into this zone or head space in training.

There are a few missing factors in training such as nerves. Nerves stem from worrying about an outcome based on what your wants and desires are, or nerves from worrying about what others will think of your performance. Those two things tend to be missing from training as there is no real risk or reward, as it is you versus you – not other competitors. There are also less people watching, so you tend to feel less nervous about being judged on your performance. 

Another benefit to your mental toughness from competing in CrossFit, is that it teaches you to deal with decision making under pressure. Competition can be a high stress environment which triggers the sympathetic nervous system to put the body in a fight or flight response. This acute response to stress forces you to make quick decisions, to either dive into the pain and keep fighting against that stress on your body, or to stop and run from the pain as a flight response. It is this split second decision that can result in either helping you reach your goal or falling short. These levels of stress can be hard to mimic in training, making competitions very valuable for growing your mental capacity and decision making under pressure. 

Transferable positive habits

When preparing to compete in a CrossFit competition, it is important to build a few habits in order to get the best out of your mind and body come comp day. Habits such as sticking to a routine, getting sufficient amounts of food and sleep, planning your days ahead, following a specific program etc. These skills taught during the lead up to a competition not only prepare you for peak competition performance, but also teach you valuable life skills too.

Going to bed and waking up at a specific time are key for allowing your body to recover so that you can train again the next day at a high level. This is also important in your work life too. Brain function and having the capacity to focus at work can be increased tremendously by making sure you are having sufficient sleep, so the sleep routines gained from competition preparation can also be used for other areas of your life too.

Planning ahead allows you to mentally prepare for what is to come and to also give you a timeline to follow so you are on time and organized. It sounds simple and obvious, but this life skill is key if you want to be successful in any area of your life. Preparation and being organized mean that you have one less thing to worry about, as it is already set in stone – meaning you can focus more on other areas that need it.