Alpinisto wrote:Question for you's guys (esp. bird and brandon):
What's so special about the WOD that, once you know what all the exercices are and the proper techniques for performing them, you couldn't design your own program? Is it *that* hard to come up with a challenging workout regimen? Assuming that you're logged your workouts, wouldn't it be possible to go back and use previous WOD's, but with increased weights (lifts)/longer distances (sprints)/shorter recovery intervals, etc.?
I'm a big fan of paying for value, which it sounds like these programs provide -- to an extent -- but I hate paying for stuff with limited/no value. Once the knowledge has been imparted, which I don't mind paying for, is it just the motivational/competitive aspect of these programs that keep people signed-up (which certainly has SOME value)?
Disclaimer: I don't work out nearly often enough nor intensively enough (and I haven't checked out the CF/GJ/MA sites in a long time) so I'm not 100% sure how they're currently set up.
Just to clarify CF WODS are free, Mtnathlete begins charging Dec 1.
The CF WODS are set up to maximize general physical preparedness. One of the best things about following the WOD's is that you will hit areas of weakness fairly regularly. For example, I hate jumping rope, but when it comes up in a WOD, I'll do it and now I am getting better at it. If you do your own programming, there is a tendency to stick with your "favorites". CF claims some "magic" to the programming, which I don't really see from the outside, but the results for most followers imply they are doing something right.
As for mtn athlete, you could very well go back and print all his workouts from last year and go through those. Other than providing 3x a week workouts (which are generally pretty good), mtnathlete does not provide much value for the reader (there is value in what he does in the gym and seminars, etc. Just not that much on his site vs CF)
As for knowledge being imparted, once I took the CF level 1 seminar, the main thing it taught me was how much more there is to learn. Crossfit has the Crossfit journal for $25 a YEAR. With video's articles, etc. Plenty of value there.
All that being said, I do about 50% of my own programming now. (after 3 years of CF/MTA). I'm finishing a "strength cycle" now and will be moving on to endurance/sport specific for the winter.