Overhead Squat: 5-5-5
Work up to a heavy set of 5 on the overhead squat.

“Annie”

50-40-30-20-10 Reps for Time of:
Double Unders
Sit Ups

Compare to 2.11.13.
Post loads and time to comments.

Zach and Joe warming up their snatch 

Ending Street Harassment: Thoughts from Janelle B.

Our latest Athlete of the Month, Janelle B., posted an article on her blog on Tuesday called “Smile, Beautiful”: My Own Story of Street Harassment and Why I Refuse to Smile. It’s an important piece about street harassment, and in it, she talks about the positive role CFSBK’s community played in an experience she had recently. Check it out, and share it with any friends that have wrestled with similar issues. 

Hiring Front Desk Staff 

CFSBK is looking for new talent to staff the front desk. Responsibilities include handling inquires from walk-ins, managing basic membership issues, light cleaning/organization, and other miscellaneous duties. Ideally, we’d like to hire from within so that candidates are already familiar with CrossFit and CFSBK, but we are open to talk to new folks if they’ve got good people skills and are committed to joining the gym. On top of an hourly wage, FD staff will also receive a comped membership. We are looking for people who can devote at least 2-4 days of their week to FD and can commit to 6 months of work with us barring extenuating circumstances. 

We will be interviewing in early August, training in mid- to late August, and you will begin working in September. The shifts we are looking to fill are below, so before applying, please make sure these openings fit with your schedule. 

AM: 5:45am-9:15am (Monday-Friday)
Late AM/afternoon: 9:45am-1:15pm (Monday-Friday)
PM: 4:15pm-9:45pm (Monday-Thursday)
OG: 5:15pm-8:15pm on Fridays, 5:45pm-8:15pm on Sundays
Weekends: 7:45-11am or 11am-2:30pm on Saturdays; 7:45am-12pm or 12pm-3:30pm on Sundays 

Email info [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com to inquire and include Front Desk in the subject line.

_________________
Stone Soup: How the Paleolithic life style got trendy The New Yorker
Spinning From Both Wrists in the Double-Under with Matt Lodin CrossFit
Running 5 Minutes a Day Has Long-Lasting Benefits New York Times
Volleyball Player Sabina Altynbekova’s Beauty is Called “Too Distracting” The Star

1) Rope Climbs
Perform 5-10 ascents on the rope 

2) Back Squat 3 x 1
Fitness: 3 singles at your 3 Rep Max
Performance: 3 singles at 90% of your 1 Rep Max

Post notes and loads to comments.

Sun’s out, guns out for the former PM cyclers of CFSBK’s new Olympic Lifting program 

News and Notes 

• Happy birthday, Lyssa H.!
• In case you missed it: Coach David has a new post over on his blog Inside the Affiliate, called “5 Things I Know to be True About Running a CrossFit Gym.” Check it out, share it with your CrossFit friendz!
• Did you know that there is an American Kettlebell Alliance? Did you know that they have competitions? There’s one coming up in NYC on August 23rd! Check out the deets on the event’s Facebook page!

CFSBK’s Olympic Lifting Program

The first cycle of our Olympic Lifting Program with Coach Frankie Murray went so well that we’ve brought it back for a second round! But there is only ONE space left in the PM cycle and a few spots left in the AM cycle, so SIGN UP NOW!

What: An 8-week Olympic lifting cycle meeting twice a week with Coach Frank Murray and/or Heather Farmer in addition to TWO Open Gym or group classes per week.
When: 2 options beginning the week of 8/4/14 
Price: $300 for each 4-week period, $600 total. The first bill is due at sign-up and the second bill will charge automatically to the card on-file 4 weeks later.

AM Cycle
8/5/14 – 9/25/14
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Register Here! 

PM Cycle
8/4/14 – 9/29/14
Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30pm to 10:00pm
Register Here! 

Each cycle is capped at 10 athletes. Learn more here and sign up now to secure your spot!

Coached by Frank Murray, “participants can expect to build a strong foundation focused around proper technique, mobility, and attention to individual weak points. Building this foundation will not only help lead to higher lifts, but also set the base for continued and consistent progress. Moreover, by developing proper technique, mobility, and focusing on weak points, participants will become more confident, less prone to injury, and more consistent lifters. All of this giving you the tools for a longer, healthier, stronger career with the Olympic lifts.” —Next Level Weightlifting

_________________
An Illustrated Guide to CrossFit Exercises for Beginners Funny or Die
How the Internet Puts You to Sleep New York Times
Burnout: The Enemy of Sleep The Atlantic 
What CrossFit Athlete Are You? Buzzfeed

Introducing JB: CFSBK’s New Coach!

David here! Please join me in welcoming Jessie Brown, better known as “JB,” our new coach, to CFSBK’s staff. JB reached out to me a few months ago and said she was moving to New York and was interested in continuing to work at a gym, since she had been working at CrossFit East Bay since 2011. As many of you know, I’ve never hired a coach from outside CFSBK, but if someone has a great resume, expresses interest, and seems friendly, I’m always open to chatting. When I met JB, I was instantly impressed by her warmth and how well our interview went. She was genuine, engaged, and had a great personality.

After that, I gave her a few free classes at the gym and encouraged her to shop around, to ensure CFSBK would be a good fit for both sides. I observed her in class, engaging other members and embodying the qualities I value not just in coaches, but people in general. I had a great feeling about her and offered her a part-time position with CFSBK. 

I’m excited to bring another strong female athlete onto our staff and look forward to getting to know JB even better in the coming months. For starters, her first interview with Kate is below…

CFSBK: Welcome, JB! Tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what are some interesting things we should know about you? 

JB: I grew up in Oakland, CA and just moved to Brooklyn from Oakland at the beginning of July! I went to UC Berkeley for undergrad and graduate school (where I studied American Studies and Urban/Architectural History, respectively) and somehow managed to spend an inordinate amount of time at the gym—both working out and instructing—while earning both degrees. If you ever want to nerd out about American popular culture, nineteenth-century history, urban design, or the proper usage of over vs. more than, I’m your gal. 

When I’m not at the gym, I like to be outdoors (hiking and camping especially—which seem slightly less accessible here than in Northern California), trying new beers (other than that I eat pretty healthy, I promise!), writing (when I have time), and reading (though, admittedly, I usually get half-way through New Yorker articles before I lose focus, decide I’ve gotten the point, and then move onto the next one.) I can sometime take myself seriously and be a bit hard on myself (especially when competing), but, other than that, I’m usually always smiling. Seriously, I’ve seen pictures of myself smiling while doing burpees. 

CFSBK: What’s your athletic background? 

JB: I swam competitively from the time I was eight until I was 18, but I was never great. In college, I became a bit of a gym rat, but spent most of my time doing cardio. I also briefly joined the Triathlon team, but couldn’t get used to the idea of getting kicked in the face during an open water swim, so never competed. Still, I spent a lot of time on my bike, in the pool, and running. I also dabbled in yoga and rock climbing, but gave up on almost all of these pursuits up when I started CrossFit.   

CFSBK: How did you find CrossFit? 

JB: Back when I was living in Oakland, I would rock climb at a gym that ran a CrossFit program in (what I think was) its garage (CrossFit East Bay). I spent months watching all of these fit people lift weights and do pull-ups while I belayed my climbing partner, but was hesitant to try CrossFit for myself. It was actually my boyfriend at the time who signed us up for an on-ramp in December 2012. I joined reluctantly, but after my first workout, I was hooked. He stopped doing CrossFit after the on-ramp. Clearly, I’m still at it.  

CFSBK: What was it about CrossFit that compelled you so much? 

JB: There were two things about CrossFit that really drew me to it. The first was the physical challenge of it. Certainly, I’d been super active in the years before I started CrossFit (or, really, for my entire life), but, since I’d stopped swimming, I’d struggled to find something that gave me the same high I used to feel after races or hard workouts in the pool. CrossFit provided me with that intensity. 

The second thing that compelled me to stick with CrossFit was the community. I was in grad school when I started CrossFit and desperately needed to make friends who weren’t constantly plagued by the stress of their imminent dissertations. CrossFit introduced me to so many amazing people—all from different backgrounds–each of whom was dedicated to living healthfully (usually) and improving upon themselves. I felt very embraced by the community immediately upon joining my box back in California, and, by the time I left, truly felt as if I’d developed an entirely new family. 

CFSBK: When did you start coaching? Were you already competing at that point? 

JB: I got my L1 Certification in January of 2013 and began a coaching internship at CrossFit East Bay immediately after that. At that point, I’d competed in the Open immediately after starting CrossFit, and participated in a couple of local comps as well. I think I knew immediately upon starting CrossFit that both competing and coaching were things I eventually wanted to try!

CFSBK: Tell us about your move to Brooklyn? How’s it going so far? Need any recommendations for the best place to creep on cool architecture? 

JB: So far, my move to Brooklyn has been great! Besides spending a couple of months in Providence and Washington, D.C., this is my first time living outside of the Bay Area, so it’s pretty exciting! I’m still getting settled and definitely trying to explore as much as I can, so yes, recommendations for cool architecture, museums, restaurants, bars, and other activities are all welcome! 

CFSBK: Any hidden talents, weird things, or bizarre parts of your life history we should know? Since we’re going to be family now and all.

JB: Hmm. Nothing too crazy. I am left-handed, have an identical twin (she lives in Oakland and doesn’t CrossFit), and have webbed toes. I’ve also never had a growth spurt. That’s about it.

Please join us all in welcoming JB to the CFSBK family, and give her some good NYC recommendations in the comments! 

Check out this hilarious (and true!) article that JB wrote for Bustle: “Is Crossfit Worth It? You Bet Your Fine Glutes It Is: 37 Things Only Crossfitters Understand.” 

Also, serious props to Asta for yet another stunning photo!

_________________
5 Things I Know to be True About Running a CrossFit Gym Inside the Affiliate

1) Push Press 5-5-5-5-5
Work up to a heavy, but perfect 5 rep push press. Start at or near your 5 Rep Max Press weight, or 80% of your 1 Rep Max Press.

2) Farmer Carry
5 x 50 meters. Work with a partner or two and rest as needed. Go heavy. 

Post loads to comments.

Rich Froning and Camile Leblanc-Bazinet are the Fittest on Earth!

News and Notes

• Happy birthday, Alex K.!
• Ron W.’s friend is doing a comedy show on Thursday, July 31 at 8pm at Littlefield (right across from CFSBK!) to support an animal shelter. Check it out! 
• LAST CALL TO PLAY SOFTBALL WITH THE CALAVERAS! CFSBK’s team still needs a couple people for their game TONIGHT at 6pm, at the Red Hook ball fields. Pitching softball experience a huge plus! Email Dan H. if you’re interested, dhalioua [at] gmail.com.

2014 CrossFit Games

The CrossFit Games concluded last night with these workouts:

1) For time: 4 rope climbs and 3 overhead squats at 245/165 lbs
2) For time: Double “Grace” (60 clean and jerks at 135/95 lbs)

Despite a not-awesome performance on Friday, Rich Froning kept climbing back and claimed the title of Fittest Man on Earth for the fourth consecutive year. IT WAS AWESOME. Check out the footage and highlights on the CrossFit Games website. 

Claim One of the Last Spots in the Next Strength Cycle

The following two cycles still have a couple openings. Both cycles culminate in a CrossFit Total on Sunday, September 14th. If you have any questions, contact Jeremy at Jeremy [at] crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com.

B cycle: Tues/Thurs at 7PM and Sun at 10AM | Tues July 29th – Sun Sep 14th
Cont Ed/D Cycle: Mon/Wed at 6PM | Mon July 28th  – Wed Sep 10th 

3x Week: $260 paid upon registration and then another $260 at the halfway point
2x Week: $175 paid upon registration and then another $175 at the halfway point

SIGN UP HERE.

Could Your Dog Use Some Lessons in Obeying You?

Anthony Newman of Calm Energy Dog Training was New York magazine’s pick for Best Dog Trainer of 2013, and he’s visiting CFSBK next Saturday to train your beloved dog.

When: Saturday, August 2, 2014, at 2:15pm
What: a 90-minute workshop will meet at CFSBK and include obedience exercises in real-world situations, techniques for calm city walking (including a packwalk down to the local dog park), and followed by a Q&A
Where: Your favorite gym
Cost: Specially-discounted cost for SBK: $55 per person/dog

This event is open to CFSBK members and their friends and dogs of all sizes, provided they are basically social and non-aggressive. Email Mare at mare [at] crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com to sign-up, and include any specific topics you would like to see covered. 

QOD: Did you watch the Games? What was your favorite part?

_________________
Hidden Miracles of the Natural World TED
How the Other Half Lifts: What Your Workout Says About Your Social Class Pacific Standard
Where Do Burpees Come From? (Spoiler Alert: Not Hell) Greatist
The Secret to a Tattoo’s Permanence: The Immune System The Atlantic

For Time:
21-15-9 reps for time:
Deadlift 275/185
Box Jump 30/24″

Post loads and time to comments.

Team CrossFit Invictus yesterday during the Worm Bob event at the CrossFit Games

Schedule Changes

Please make note of the following schedule changes:

Sunday 7/27 (TODAY): Active Recovery and the Teaser class are canceled
Saturday 8/2: Active Recovery is canceled

2014 CrossFit Games

The CrossFit Games are a grueling test for the world’s toughest athletes and a thrilling experience for spectators! Follow along on the Games’ Facebook page, and catch the last bit of action tonight on ESPN2 from 5-6pm PT.

_________________
The Olympian and the CrossFitter The Wall Street Journal
Don’t Suck Again Faster
3 Lessons We Can All Learn From the CrossFit Games Breaking Muscle