The CrossFit Games kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday August 1st. The first day's individual events look an absolute killer
Taking place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, CrossFit's elite will compete for the crowing glory in a series of brutal full-day schedules, finishing on Sunday, August 5th.
CrossFit have a tendency to delay announcement of the complete schedule until very close to the opening day. This has definitely created a suspense that seems completely justified when you look at the opening day's events.
A four-part day of full-body beasting beckons, taxing all aspects of physical prowess.
Here's what the schedule looks like:
CRIT
This is the first individual event of the CrossFit Games - a cycling session that will really make you wince. CRIT is short for 'criterium', the term given to cycling around an enclosed circuit.
Competitors will be tasked with:
- Completing a 10-lap bike race around the 1200 metre course
- They'll have to finish it as quickly as possible, and within 30 minutes.
CrossFit head honcho Dave Castro released an image of the bike all athletes will be using.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk7mJxwlRx_/?hl=en&taken-by=thedavecastro
Muscle-ups
All athletes will have to complete 30 muscle-ups in under 5 minutes. Each of them will work off a single set of gymnastic rings.
A muscle-up is the ultimate bodyweight exercise, essentially comprising a pull-up and dip into one movement.
Pull your body weight up so that your chest is in-line with the rings. This makes the transition into a dip much smoother. Use the strength in your chest, shoulders, triceps and core to then press your body weight above the rings.
The set rep range and time limit add extra difficulty.
CrossFit Total
Athletes will have to hit their 1RM (one rep max) on three staple lifts:
- Back squat
- Shoulder press
- Deadlift
They will have a four-minute window for each lift, in which they are allowed three attempts. Total score will be taken as a combination of their best squat, press and deadlift.
For example, if your max squat hit 200kg, press 100kg and deadlift 250kg, your total would be taken in pounds as around 1213 lbs.
These lifts must be performed with minimal access to supportive equipment. You won't find any safety pads here.
Marathon Row
Competitors will be feeling it by this stage - to say the least. The hard work does not end there, though.
Each athlete will have to row 42,195 meters - the equivalent to all 26 miles of a traditional marathon. It will be performed on a rowing machine, and must be completed in under 4 hours.
Castro has gone on record to suggest this will be the 'hardest day in the history of CrossFit' - and it's easy to see why.
