Today we’re looking back at 20 years of CrossFit, groups using the fitness regiment to help fight addiction, and magnesium deficiency. Yes. So fun.
Good morning and welcome to the WODDITY podcast for news about CrossFit. We are a daily podcast, Monday through Friday, doing CrossFit news in five minutes or less.
My name is Ben Garves and today is Monday, the 30th of December, 2019.
SCMP on 20 Years of CrossFit
Patrick Blennerhassett from the South China Morning Post wrote a brief retrospective on CrossFit as it enters its 20th year since being founded. He highlights the three biggest athletes – Rich Froning, Mat Fraser, and Tia-Clair Toomey, and talks about how two unfortunate articles in the New York Times have misshapen public perception of the company and the sport.
Those articles are “Getting Fit, Even if It Kills You” by Stephanie Cooperman in 2005 and “When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit” by Mark Oppenheimer in 2015. We can trace many of the roots of CrossFit’s current reputation for injuries and a cult-like family back to these two pieces. It’s an interesting high-level read and you can find the link to it in my show notes or at WODDITY.com.
CrossFit To Treat Addiction
Local TV station ABC27 in York, Pennsylvania did a quick piece on how CrossFit CDI is using a free class called 48 for Life as a group fitness approach to group support in fight addiction. They join a number of gyms and foundations, like The Phoenix, who offer free classes and believe fitness can be a gateway to a more fulfilling and sober life. If you haven’t heard of The Phoenix, I’ve put a link to them in my show notes. According to their website:
“The Phoenix offers a free sober active community to individuals who have suffered from a substance use disorder and to those who choose a sober life. Using a peer support model, we help members heal and rebuild their lives while also striving to eliminate stigma around recovery. Together we…RISE & RECOVER & LIVE.”
If you’re struggling with addiction or know someone who is, sharing these programs with them can make a huge difference. Also, if you believe in the cause and are feeling generous this holiday season, they’ll always accept your donations. Just go to ThePhoenix.org and click the “Donate” button to give back.
CrossFit and Magnesium Deficiency
And our final story I’d suggest double-checking the accuracy on. If you believe in getting vitamin and nutrition advice from an online business journal, the International Business Times wrote a story on four symptoms CrossFit athletes should be on the lookout for when it comes to magnesium deficiency. Again…do your research on this. Magnesium isn’t on my radar and the International Business Times isn’t the global leader in micronutrients. That I know of.
2019 CrossFit Rap Up
I have such a huge surprise for you tomorrow. I’ll be releasing a year-end rap-up. And by “rap up”, you better believe “rap” is spelled “R-A-P”. Yes. I rapped a breakdown of the 2019 season. Four instrumentals, 192 bars. For better or for worse! Check it out on the podcast tomorrow. It’ll simultaneously be available for free download at WODDITY.com.
Okay, that’s it for news about CrossFit for Monday, December 30th. Thanks for listening. Please be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and share. For WODDITY, I’m Ben Garves. We’ll chat tomorrow.
