Explore the competitive edge of CrossFit gyms across our region.
By Shane Arrington
HQ 100 | WINTER 2018
The traditional concept of working out in a gym is fairly standard: find the machine of your choice, pop in some earbuds, crank up the tunes and break a sweat. Alone. While surrounded by people with the same goal of bettering themselves — also doing it alone.
Why? Humans by nature are generally competitive. Even if the goal isn’t necessarily to win or beat the person next to us, we at least want to do just as well and work just as hard. But when you drown out everything around you by running on the treadmill, staring straight ahead and losing yourself in the music, there’s no one to push you but yourself — and sometimes that’s just not enough.
That’s why Drew Leonhart, co-owner of CrossFit Thunder in Huntington, puts so much stock in the importance of group workouts.
“It’s really pretty simple,” Leonhart said. “Whenever you or I see the circuit when we’re doing it alone, we tend to slow down after a while. But, if we are doing it together, human nature kicks in and even when we want to relax a little, if we see the other person still going strong we are going to find the energy to keep it up.”
CrossFit is a branded name for traditional circuit training. Instead of walking into the gym, grabbing a machine, working out for an hour and going home, Leonhart said CrossFit focuses on a complete workout, typically in a group setting to ensure maximum output. Even though CrossFit has been around nearly two decades, Leonhart said there’s still a misconception out there that gyms like his are filled with hyper-competitive youngsters, but the truth is most of his clients are average joes of all ages just trying to stay fit.
CrossFit can seem daunting to the uninitiated. With weights, running, pullups and more all packaged into one workout, but Leonhart, who also works as a physical therapy assistant, said one of the most important philosophies behind his gym is efficiency.
“One of the things that got me hooked on CrossFit is the idea of making the movements as efficient as possible,” Leonhart said. “A lot of what we teach in the gym is the same as what I teach in the office as a physical therapy assistant. Most of the time people get injured because they only focus on one thing. That’s why CrossFit incorporates a variety of exercises that focus on the whole body. By not beating down the same muscle group over and over, you are significantly reducing your chance of injury.”
CrossFit has gained popularity throughout our region, with three major gyms now in the area to better serve the Tri-State. Daily workouts are offered at flexible session times for the community — with times ranging from 5 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at some centers. Most CrossFit gyms also offer a free session or two, for those wanting to try the workout. Leonhart said he wants his clients to know they are going to enjoy their time in the gym before paying the first membership due. The most important thing to him, Leonhart said, is that those he works out with are happy, enjoy what they are doing and go home sore from a good workout, but injury free.
Crossfit affiliates in the area:
CrossFit Thunder
5th Ave. Suite 2516A
Huntington, WV 25703
304-638-3997
www.crossfitthunder.com
CrossFit Huntington
555 5th Ave.
Huntington, WV 25701
304-300-0930
www.crossfithuntington.com
CrossFit Barboursville
5636 US Route 60
Huntington, WV 25705
304-208-6688
www.crossfitbarboursville.com
