Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 59, June 2014 | Page 34

Training

With the CrossFit craze
sweeping through SA, the
Modern Athlete team
went to see what all the
fuss is about, and came
out the other side with a
healthy respect for these
intense but fun workouts.
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

A

ttempting pull-ups, burpies, the perfect squatting
technique and more, all while running 400m in between
sets… let’s just say that the Modern Athlete newbies
weren’t the prettiest bunch in class. But while we
predicted a few sore bodies the next day, CrossFit did
give us a look into the importance of strength work to
maintain good form and avoid injuries on the run, and
made a pleasant change from the usual gym circuit.
CrossFit is an exercise philosophy that focuses on
strength training and conditioning, incorporating
weight-lifting, interval training, plyometrics (‘jump
training’) as well as gymnastics and strongman
workouts (deadlifts or squats). Typically, each class
or ‘box’ offers an hour-long session incorporating a
warm-up, a skill development period, and then a highintensity workout featuring whatever was learnt in that
session – usually with running in between. There is a
library of workouts to choose from, from a basic benchpress to rope climbing, and the workouts develop
stamina, strength, balance, flexibility and speed. You
definitely feel like you’ve worked your butt off at the
end!
Nicole,
Richard
, Charl
Lauren
ie, Jen
with P
and
ierre F
erreira
.

r.

n der Vyve

Lauren va

Richard Laskey.

We wanted to know if CrossFit will benefit us as runners,
so we asked Pierre Ferreira, owner and instructor at
CrossFit Flaming Heart in Bedfordview, about that after
the session. “I have encountered runners and cyclists who
have done CrossFit and it’s only benefited their training,”
he says. “They develop a stronger core and upper body,
and it helps for overall fitness, which you’ll feel helping at
the end of a run.”
Also, with CrossFit’s focus on conditioning, endurance
athletes become less prone to injuries because the knees
and core can handle hitting the road better, and with the
running intervals between sets, athletes can also test their
stamina and progression. “Running is important for base
fitness,” says Pierre. “I’ve been doing CrossFit for five
years and instructing and competing for three years. In
the beginning I didn’t focus on running that much, and it
showed.”

There are different styles from box to box, so find
the coach and style that suits you. To give CrossFit
a try with Pierre, call him on 082 532 2962 or e-mail
info@crossfitflamingheart.com. Or find the nearest
CrossFit to you at http://map.crossfit.com
Follow on Twitter: @flamingheartCF
Like on Facebook: CrossFit Flaming Heart.

Our Team on CrossFit

Nicole: “I was pleasantly surprised at how
effective the combination of cardio and
strength training is. I can imagine quick results,
as my muscles were aching afterwards!”
Charlie: “This mommy is so unfit, I’m in need
of a hell of a lot more exercise, but it was great
fun.”
Richard: “Was awesome to bui