Crosstraining

So I had a moment today....at Crossfit. My regular readers are shocked I'm sure. :)

Between a 1 week taper for the star-crossed Publix Tri and starting a new job this week (adjunct faculty thankyouverymuch) I have, GASP, not been to Crossfit it 2 weeks. Not that I don't ever do 100 burpies on my own but I don't need a gym for that.

So today I was talking with a regular who said it was good to see me back. We started the usual chit chat and I mentioned it had been hard to fit in Crossfit between the new job and ironman training.

There was a pause. A pause that gave me pause. Then the question that caught me unguarded.

"Which is harder, Crossfit or Ironman training"

Without thinking I replied "Ironman training."

This person was dumbfounded. "Really? It's harder?"

Yes, Ironman training makes Crossfit look like a day in the park. As physically challenging as Crossfit workouts may be, most of them last 15-20 minutes. That's it. No matter how hard it is, you'll be done in 20 minutes. Compare that with a 15 mile run or 80 mile ride or 2 mile swim. When the joy of the workout is gone and suddenly it's you, the sun, and about 2 more hours on the road, alone, with no company, wondering why the hell you got out of bed for this.

Or, you can workout for 20 minutes. 60 minutes, tops, if they make you run a 10K. Doesn't really compare, does it?

Standard Disclaimer:

Crossfit is not the devil or I wouldn't pay a bunch to attend each month. Parts of it I adore. It's short. And even with the misogynistic "the fat girl is slow" attitude, I have finally found a strength workout that fits me personality. And I look super cute in my jeans. And my swim is so much more comfortable now that I have some upper body strength. I love that aspect of it.

But if you want to be an ironman, you must train like an ironman. 20-30 minutes a day, 5 days a week isn't going to cut it no matter how cute those jeans are.