Cross Fit, the new fast?!?!?

This AM I read this "interview"  and realized I have to forget everything I've learned so far about sport physiology/endurance training and become a certified cross fit trainer to have a clue as to what I am talking about and have the knowledge to be able to help guys like Macca win Kona! It seems I'll need to forget about concepts such as specificity and periodization and incorporate lots of anaerobic efforts including lots of weight training! uummmm anyone know where I can sign up to become a cross fit trainer?

About the interview; the guy has a point with the diet and "slow distance regime" but I think he gets confused making those points. When designing a training plan the load doesn't have to be and either or approach; IOW you don’t have to exclusively focus on volume or intensity but a mix and it has to be based on the athlete's needs, strengths, goals, schedule, etc. You also can address different adaptations during the none-specific phase and then progress towards the specific training required for the athlete’s main event.

He also seems misinformed; there are studies in which it is been demostrated at what training intensities (pace/power) certain adaptations are maximized i.e. slow twitch fibers are maximally trained at an intensity of ~83% of VO2max (Dudley 1982, Lenao 2003), hence we use training levels. Also there are studies in which an increase in volume and training at 60%> of VO2max can produce and improve certain training adaptations (increase LT, VO2, etc); the caveat is that you need to more of it (Harms and Hickson 1983, Lucia 2000). Also there are studies suggesting some anaerobic training can improve performance (Essen 1978, Billat 1999, Seiler 2001) this type of training has to be specific and as with everything it won’t be applicable to everyone and it certainly doesn't mean that pumping iron will benefit your sport specific performance.

Anyway, IMO it is easy to talk big but IMO the best way to support your ideas as a coach is via your athletes results. Also, it is easy to claim you can help average untrained individuals because their lack of specific training will allow them to improve with ANY training (even by parking the car at the far end of the all and walk more) but it gets more challenging once you deal with more trained athletes whose gains will be much less and will require that much more work.

Notice - this is not a jab at crossfit but a critique of the premise the guy in the interview suggests. For what I’ve read about cross fit they have a good concept for an specific niche in the market and even some of its concepts could be used by some endurance athletes as a way to compliment (not replace) some training, however I’ll have to remain skeptic with the ambitious statement this guy is making until there is actual both scientific and anecdotal evidence for it or have Macca win Kona again under his plan