TRAINING FOR HEALTH VS TRAINING FOR COMPETITION - Recognising the Differences & The Risks and Rewards Of Both!
CrossFit has come a long way in the past two decades, what originally started out as a means of training for health and fitness quickly evolved and a subsection of the brand branched off into a monster of a competitor sport, providing loftier goals to the individual and a spectator’s delight!
With that growth, the lines have blurred as to what CrossFit can mean to us, the regular gym goer vs the competitive athlete.
Understanding the differences between training for health and longevity versus training for competition in CrossFit is crucial for making informed decisions about your fitness journey. Here's a comparison of the needs, risks, and rewards associated with each approach and how to decide what’s best for you.
Training for Health and Longevity
Needs
FUNTIONAL FITNESS - Focus on movements that mimic daily activities to enhance overall functionality. E.g. being able to safely lift things around the house, having the capacity to go for long walks or quickly react to sudden dangers.
BALANCED WORKOUTS - Emphasis on a well-rounded fitness program that prepares you for general life by encompassing the 10 Aspects of Fitness. (Click for Definition)
SUSTAINABLE INTENSITY - Maintain a moderate and sustainable average intensity to avoid overtraining and reduce the risk of injuries. This is the average of your week/cycle. Being able to have high intensity days followed by lower intensity days.
NUTRITIONAL BALANCE - Prioritize a balanced and nutritious diet to support overall health and well-being.
REST AND RECOVERY - Allow adequate time for rest and recovery to prevent burnout and promote long-term sustainability.
RISKS
LACK OF INTENSITY OR INTENT - Stress breeds adaptation, “Just Moving” isn’t always enough, we need to find that sweet spot where the body feels a perfect level of stress and strain to create physiological adaptations to be fitter and healthier.
BIASED TRAINING - A tendency to pick favourite movements and workouts based on your strengths and what you like. From a coach’s programming perspective the problem with General class programming is that it assumes that everyone has the same weaknesses and it doesn’t always cater to individual needs. I.e. if you are strong and relatively have poor cardio and we train strength and cardio evenly, you’ll probably get better at both but still have a big discrepancy between the two components.
REWARDS
REDUCED RISK OF OVERTRAINING - Prioritising proper form and recovery helps minimize the risk of injuries. With no rush or time pressures to hit minimum work requirements for competition we can mentally accept, prioritise taking the time to master movements before moving increasing intensity during a workout.
SUSTAINABLE LIFELONG FITNESS - Develops a foundation for lifelong physical activity. Imagine being 50 and still being able to sprint on demand, or 60-70 and enjoying your retirement travelling around the world and being able to walk everywhere on your own.
IMPROVED OVERALL HEALTH - Reduces your risk of developing all Metabolic diseases (Heat disease, diabetes, high BP, High Cholesterol etc…) whilst enhancing bone density, joint health, and mental well-being.
Training Competitively
NEEDS
HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING - Focus on pushing physical limits to excel in competitive settings.
SPECIALIZED SKILLS - Target specific movements and skills relevant to CrossFit competitions - Not always relevant to functional living. Although an argument can be made all movements as means for improving neurological pathways, strength and coordination, some skills will never be seen in life e.g. Double unders, pistol squats or handstand walking up ramps
PERIODIZATION - Structured training cycles to peak performance during competition seasons. (Learn more here)
DISCIPLINE - There has to be a high level of intrinsic drive and focus to train day in day out, sometimes more than once a day, working on things that you don’t always find fun or stimulating.
WEAKNESS BASED TRAINING - A focus must be made to work on things that we arguably are not naturally better at and may affect our overall performance.
COMPETITION SIMULATION - Regularly include workouts simulating competition conditions.
RISKS
OVERTRAINING AND BURNOUT - The intense training and discipline required for competition increases the risk of overtraining and burnout. It is not physically sustainable to maintain a competitive lifestyle forever. Recognize the signs and symptoms here.
INCREASED RISK OF INJURY - The drive for performance might lead to pushing beyond physical limits, increasing the risk of not just acute injuries but also overuse injuries and lifelong ailments.
SACRIFRICE - Being willing to give up time with friends, other physical activities, and certain foods and drinks that may negatively affect your performance.
MENTAL STRESS - The pressure to perform at a high level can lead to mental stress and fatigue.
REWARDS
COMPETITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS - To achieve things you never thought your body was capable of that lead to opportunities to excel in local, regional, or even global CrossFit competitions.
SKILL MASTERY - Focus on specific skills and movements leads to mastery in those areas.
MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Develops mental resilience and the ability to perform under pressure. This mental resilience can carry over to all aspects of life.
What does this all mean? Which should I choose?
It is important to realise that neither option is right or wrong and training can live on a continuum between the two, you do not have to choose just one option for the rest of their life. You may find yourself training for fun and then one day changing your goals to become a competitive athlete or you may be already a competitive athlete looking to step back into training for longevity. The point of this blog was to highlight to you the potential risks and rewards of both sides to the CrossFit coin to help you make the best choice for where your personal life/health/fitness goals sit and being able to reconcile those choices with their potential outcomes. Ultimately, striking a balance between challenging oneself and prioritizing health is essential for a sustainable and fulfilling CrossFit journey and active long life.
Don’t Wait - Start your journey with us today!
Here at the MVMT Hub, we understand that starting your CrossFit journey be daunting and challenging, but with the right mindset and our guidance, it can also be incredibly fun and rewarding. We will help you focus on building a strong foundation, listen to your body, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment as you progress through your fitness goals. Starting your CrossFit journey at Mvmt Hub/CrossFit R.A.D. means embarking on a path to better health and fitness with a supportive community and expert guidance. Remember, every journey starts with a single step. We’re here to take that step with you.
Ready to dive into the world of CrossFit? Visit Mvmt Hub home of CrossFit R.A.D., your go-to CrossFit gym, or contact us to schedule your first class. Your fitness journey awaits!