First, welcome back! This is my first blog of a whole new year in a whole new decade. My records tell me this is blog #95; approaching that century mark. I certainly do not claim to be an expert in any area and I get as much growth out of researching topics and ideas to pass along to you, as hopefully, you get out of them. I always try to find a balance of topics; be it mental or physical, to try and better ourselves in fitness so that we are able to better ourselves in life. Thanks for sticking with me and here’s to the start of a new year worth of information to help you on your journey.
I wanted to steer away from the expected “New Year - new resolution” ruh-ruh thing you might expect from a fitness blog. There are more than enough three seconds reads on social media to help you out with that if you haven’t had enough of them already haha. Instead, let me share one exciting piece of news as we go into 2020 at Reebok CrossFit 306. If you want something to work towards, this might just be it.
On June 5, 6 and 7th 2020 the “CanWest Games” are being held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. This year, the CanWest Games are an official CrossFit Sanctional event. Meaning, the top male, the top female and the top team of four will earn direct entry to the CrossFit Games. Before you write this off as “only for the elite”, let me explain. For individuals there are four different divisions. Elite, Rx, Intermediate and Scaled. There are two different make-ups of team divisions as well. First, there are trio same sex team. The same four divisions apply here; Elite, Rx, Intermediate and Scaled. Then there is also a “Community Team” of four. These teams are made up of two males and two females. Because the winner of this category earns a Games spot, it is limited to Elite only. They also offer a full array of age group divisions. Teenager 14-15, Teenager 16-17, Master’s 35-39, Masters 40-44, Masters 45-49, Masters 50-54, Masters 55-59 and Masters 60+. There is literally something for everyone.
The CanWest Games operates very much like the Open we are all familiar with. You sign up on-line via there website. On January 24th, they will release five different scored workouts for anyone wishing to go individual. You have until January 31st to complete them. There will be three options for each workout released. “Elite and Rx” will have one version, “Intermediate” will have another, and “Scaled” yet another. Just like the Open but with three options instead of just two. If you want to try for team only, five scored workouts will be released on February 7th and you have until the 14th to complete them. Same options as individuals will be available for the trio teams, while the “Community Team” only have the one version to do. Athletes do not have to do the team workouts together or at the same location. All workouts must be video recorded. CanWest Games will all athletes in qualifying spots for video submission to prove standards are met. The workouts are going to be programmed at 306 during the qualifying weeks so everyone is going to be doing them! This is a great way to build community and lend support to anyone who is trying to qualify.
While the qualifiers are just a few weeks away, the event itself is not until June. Lots of time to fine tune and build before then. Setting goals and having something to work towards is probably the most effective way to keep yourself motivated. Having a big competition to look forward to can certainly fuel you until then to train hard! On a side note, our very own Be Like Bruce fitness festival will be very shortly after so you’ll be in peak shape for that as well.
If you are interested in the CanWest Games and competing in Vancouver in June, please check out the website for a little more information. We will have a sign up sheet created for those who want to do the qualifiers and I will email out important details and logistics to make sure nothing is missed. It would be amazing to have a big showing from 306 head out west for them!
Like I have said already, this is certainly not just for the “elite athletes” and there are plenty of qualifying spots available. If you are interested, why not sign up and see what happens! Let’s kick 2020 off with something big.
(If you are going to be proactive and go register right away, make sure to enter REEBOK CROSSFIT 306 as your affiliate)