My Crossfit Training Result/Experience

This is Beginner Triathlete not Beginner Crossfit. 

If you ran instead of doing crossfit you probably would have smashed your previous time.

Let me start by saying the purpose of this post is not to throw a hand grenade in to the CF vs traditional training.  I just wanted to share my personal experience. 

In 2010 I ran the Huntington Beach ½ Marathon in preparation for the CA IM 70.3.  I was following the Beginner Triathlete Beginner ½ IM plan.  Prior to that I had done a few shorter triathlons and running events.  I came to triathlon because I wanted to be a fit person and training in three sports must mean you’re fit, right.  I ran the HB 13.1 in 1:57:25 with 3 mile split of 0:27:36 and a 8.2 mile split of 1:14:12.

I was introduced to Crossfit in the fall of 2010 and I thought it would be worth a shot for my off season training.  After CFing for about 2 months, I found my general fitness was much better than it ever was even at the peak of my tri training.  I decided due to the demands of my job the general physical preparedness was what I needed plus I really liked the fact most workouts are less then 30min. 

Fast forward a year I still CF and also do CE swim and run workouts just to maintain those modalities. I was asked by a friend to sign up for a 13.1 with her so she would not
have any excuse to back out.  I decided to treat the race as an experiment.  I decided not to train for the race and test CF claim that they train you for any physical demanding situation.  Leading up to the race, I have not run farther than 3 miles at one time.  I only did CF workouts and some CF endurance interval workouts.   Today, I ran the HB 13.1 in 1:59:05 with a 3 mile split of 0:27:48 and a 8.2 mile split of 1:14:15.  I was shocked, I have not run farther than 3 miles since summer of 2010.  CF prepared me to run 13.1 with less than a 2min difference of run specific training.

If anyone has kicked around the idea of giving CF or CF endurance a try, I highly recommend it, especially if you came to tri like I did just looking for a physically fit lifestyle. 

Thanks, to those that got it.  Today reminded me how much fun races are and as a "beginner triathlete" posting on beginner triathlete, I am already picking out my next tri to do for FUN. Sorry, Indianacyclist am still going to CF, like I said before I need to be GPP for my work. 

It sounds to me that you're main goal was to improve overall fitness not become a competitive triathlete. Crossfit allowed you to achieve that goal while still maintaining your HM time. Congrats!!!

Everyone has different goals here and we should cheer each others successes and encourage when needed. I don't see the point of bashing someone's success especially considering the OP disclaimer at the beginning of the post.

Let me start by saying the purpose of this post is not to throw a hand grenade in to the CF vs traditional training.  I just wanted to share my personal experience. 

In 2010 I ran the Huntington Beach ½ Marathon in preparation for the CA IM 70.3.  I was following the Beginner Triathlete Beginner ½ IM plan.  Prior to that I had done a few shorter triathlons and running events.  I came to triathlon because I wanted to be a fit person and training in three sports must mean you’re fit, right.  I ran the HB 13.1 in 1:57:25 with 3 mile split of 0:27:36 and a 8.2 mile split of 1:14:12.

I was introduced to Crossfit in the fall of 2010 and I thought it would be worth a shot for my off season training.  After CFing for about 2 months, I found my general fitness was much better than it ever was even at the peak of my tri training.  I decided due to the demands of my job the general physical preparedness was what I needed plus I really liked the fact most workouts are less then 30min. 

Fast forward a year I still CF and also do CE swim and run workouts just to maintain those modalities. I was asked by a friend to sign up for a 13.1 with her so she would not
have any excuse to back out.  I decided to treat the race as an experiment.  I decided not to train for the race and test CF claim that they train you for any physical demanding situation.  Leading up to the race, I have not run farther than 3 miles at one time.  I only did CF workouts and some CF endurance interval workouts.   Today, I ran the HB 13.1 in 1:59:05 with a 3 mile split of 0:27:48 and a 8.2 mile split of 1:14:15.  I was shocked, I have not run farther than 3 miles since summer of 2010.  CF prepared me to run 13.1 with less than a 2min difference of run specific training.

If anyone has kicked around the idea of giving CF or CF endurance a try, I highly recommend it, especially if you came to tri like I did just looking for a physically fit lifestyle. 

I think the reason these threads always "blow up" is that whether the OP wants to admit it or not - there seems to be an inherent agenda embedded in the post.  They always start with I'm not trying to start another big CF debate....but look how well I performed not doing sport specific training and you should drink the kool aid too, etc., etc.

I looked back through your training from before your HM.  If your logs are correct, in the months leading up to the HM you ran approx. 22 miles, 68 miles, 30 miles and 19 miles in Jan, Dec, Nov and Oct respectively.  Additionally, it appears your run training lacked consistency.  So while you had some longer runs it doesn't appear you maintained a training plan to maximize your performance in the HM.  I would suggest that had you maintained a solid running consistency you would have done better on your initial HM and the subsequent results from following CF would have appeared more substandard than a 2 minute decline.  Also note that your last 5 miles were where the 2 min decline in performance came.  Now, we are talking 2 races and many variables so really hard to make a comparison.

I think we can all agree that we are happy anytime someone finds a fitness program that works for them.  I think some of us want to throw the BS flag when people suggest that CF is the equivalent of following a solid training plan containing sport specific workouts.

He never said this will make you a better Triathelete. He said it was an alternative to "looking for a physically fit lifestyle". As this is a biginner site not everyone on here is looking to place in their age group. Some are just looking to be healthier and have some fun.

We should all be open to new ideas for enjoying a healthy lifestyle and acheiving specific goals. We don't all have to take the same path to get to them

Read it how you want - he states he wanted to do an experiment to see if CF would allow him to compete without run specific training.  He then states it did.   His point in posting was to say - see I can compete in a HM without run specific training. he then suggests it worthwile for others to try his approach too.  I disagree with his premise. Very simple.

And lets remember that there is a good bit of running done if you CF 4 to 6x per week and follow the crossfit endurance multisport training protocal of an additional 2 run, 2 swim and 2 bike workouts per week.

I trian this way and it ends up being 6 to 10 hrs per week depending on how many sessions I miss due to work. I'm not sure it saves me any time. I would max out at 10hrs per week regardless.

CF did help me make huge gains over 13.1 especially relative to my prior run training method. But it isnt because of magic. I am just working WAY harder now. I was stuck in the 2:20's for 13.1 prior to starting crossfit. I am now down to 145. But they also got me to commit to changing my eating habits and my weight dropped from 185 to 160 so that is most of it right there I am sure.

As for injury prevention - I can see it 2 ways. CFE will tell you that learning proper running form and logging fewer but more intense miles will actually prevent overuse injury. That may be true. But I have gotten more beat up in my 2 years of crossfit than in any other "hobby" I have involved myself in.

I keep hoping one day, about 50mi into the bike leg of a 70.3 that the race director will have everyone dismount and bust out 20 handstand pushups. Hasnt happened yet. But I will be ready!

CF is a blast. If it makes me train more/harder because I enjoy it then I ma all for it.

And to the OP - congrats on your run!

I think the reason these threads always "blow up" is that whether the OP wants to admit it or not - there seems to be an inherent agenda embedded in the post.  They always start with I'm not trying to start another big CF debate....but look how well I performed not doing sport specific training and you should drink the kool aid too, etc., etc.