Training for the CrossFit Games: A Year of Programming used to train Julie Foucher, The 2nd Fittest Woman on Earth, CrossFit Games 2012
CrossFit Champions are not made overnight. The difference between ranking in the Games, and gassing out before the Regionals, is not the quantity of training, but the quality. Good form and good programming are vital.
Training for the CrossFit Games is a slice of history. It is the actual regimen used to train Julie Foucher (The 2nd Fittest Woman on Earth, CrossFit Games 2012) and several other competitors, for the 2012 Games. This is the complete training season, starting immediately after the 2011 CrossFit Games, through the development phases and the 2012 Games competition season, to the two-week 2012 CrossFit Games.
Training for the CrossFit Games programming sought to increase overall capacity in everything that could possibly be tested in Games competition. The methodology is geared to minimizing weaknesses, by consistent and frequent exposure to varied skill sets. It is an amalgam of nine years of programming experience at HyperFit USA (CrossFit Ann Arbor). It is the sum-total of training experience. It is a snapshot of what was done.
The purposes of Training for the CrossFit Games are several. Primarily, it is the training we used to prepare people for the highest expression of fitness there is, the CrossFit Games. It is also a record of how we operated our gym. We do not separate our aspiring Games athletes from our base program. We believe that at its core, CrossFit is a general physical preparedness program, broadening and deepening the human capability to do work in many testable areas.
Having our best people work alongside our newest people underlies one of the key tenets of CrossFit: that it is infinitely scalable. The daily chapters contain different sections. The first section covers the classes we did in our box, and in other affiliates. These classes have some common components. The training usually includes a warm-up; some are general, and others are multifaceted and dynamic.
The next component is either a WOD or Max Effort training. The sequence of these two items also changes at times, true to the ideal that CrossFit should be constantly varied. The classes often include extensive skills sets and movement progressions to help people move better. The programming is built around a highly organized, instructor-led training session.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE ACTUAL, UNALTERED PROGRAMMING. You will see it exactly the way it happened! For example, some days will include “Holiday Special”, “Instructor Play” or TBA. The training season between the 2011 and 2012 CrossFit Games was only 50 weeks; therefore, this “year” contains only 50 weeks.
Reviews of Training for the CrossFit Games
Training for the CrossFit Games Review 1: Fantastic resource
Doug Chapman has been my coach since I first started CrossFit over 3 years ago. Not only has his programming made me into a physically stronger athlete, but it has profoundly sharped my mental toughness. His ability to push me beyond my previously thought limits has lead to a personal redefinition of my potential. His understanding of sports psychology, evident in the particular evolutions he prescribes each week, allows for athletes to transform from simply great athletes to elite performers. This book is a fantastic resource for athletes and coaches who want to discover one interpretation of what it takes to improve the human mind, body and spirit through sport.
Training for the CrossFit Games Review 2: Great content and insight
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned athlete, if you have an interest in CrossFit or what it takes to be a great athlete, this book gives you a peek into the mindset of one of the best coaches and athletes around. It takes a lot of dedication, commitment and perseverance to get to the top of any competitive sport.
Julie Foucher is a talented athlete with an incredible work ethic and obviously chose to train with Doug for good reason. Simply put, Doug is dedicated to being the best at what he does. This book doesn’t necessarily prescribe what coaches and athletes should do, but provides insight and details into the actual programming that Doug and Julie used for her training in the games. The result speaks for itself.
Training for the CrossFit Games Review 3: It’s a reference book, not a novel- treat it as such
Kindle format is not great for this book. This is really only useful as a reference for creating or analyzing training programs, and like all reference books, it’s not intended to be read through cover-to-cover. Some of the other reviewers seem to have been disappointed with that format, but it’s pretty clearly described in the book description, and a free sample would have made it abundantly clear.
