So, what brings you to Aromas?

July 13th, 2009, by Jennie

Ah, the 2009 CrossFit Games...The weekend was nothing short of amazing. We had the opportunity to watch some of the fittest men and women on the planet battle it out to become the 2009 Games champion. If you haven't heard, the athletes were asked to complete 5 workouts on Saturday, and then return on Sunday and complete another 3.  What a daunting task. I watched these athletes sweat, bleed, cry and struggle, and it was inspirational. To all the individual competitors at the Games, my hat is off to you.

With our busy weekend of traveling we got to meet a lot of people who were unfamiliar with CrossFit. No matter which way we tried to explain it, we always just got strange looks.

"So...you compete in workouts? So it's a strength contest?"

Well, kind of but not JUST strength.

"Oh, I see...so it's like a triathalon?"

Um....Not really. It's more like doing a bunch of workouts and seeing who has the best overall fitness.

"Ok, so it's like body building?"

(Sigh.) Yep. Body building. It's a strength, triathalon, body building race.

Eventually you'll just get tired of explaining it, because you can't just be TOLD what CrossFit is...you have to experience it. Before this weekend I thought I knew exactly what CrossFit was about, but now my perspective has changed. After being immersed in a group of 2,000 people who are all CrossFitters, NOW I know what CrossFit really is, and it's friggin amazing!

Thank you to everyone for your encouragement over the weekend. Your notes really helped keep the team moving! Knowing that you guys were at home cheering for us kept us pushing through, even when things got rough. And believe me, things were rough. (That'll be a separate post)

As Zach mentioned, our team placed 60th out of 99 teams, but surprisingly none of us were disappointed. In our minds, we won this weekend. We kicked ass, and showed how tough we are and nothing else matters. We finished workouts that others couldn't finish, and we LOOKED COOL doing it.

Keep your eyes peeled for the CrossFit Games Affiliate Cup 2009 compilation video.

CrossFit Fire Affiliate Cup Team

Category: CrossFit

16 Responses to "So, what brings you to Aromas?"

  • Tom
    July 13, 2009, 9:27 pm

    All I can say is that I really like that photo. No, wait! I have 2 more things to say:

    1) Long. Live. "The. Garth. Show."

    2) I look at Pete and Matty "Lo-Hawk" Lo-man and think "I'm about their height." Then I look at Wild Bill in this photo and then think "Shit man! He's like a foot taller than me....and everyone else."

    Great job everyone. Best of all, it's so good to have you all home!

  • Matt L
    July 14, 2009, 8:11 am

    ***Correction***

    Official scores are in.....55th overall.....sounds better than 60th, right?

    ...and what the F happened to OPT???...rumorrs going around about a possible failed drug test? say it ain't so.

  • Brit
    July 14, 2009, 4:21 pm

    Wow. What a spectacular group of ridiculously good looking people. Great job guys! You did us all proud.

    On another note - party time: To welcome home our victorious, I am opening my house up to everyone this Saturday for some grilling, beers, bags, ladder ball, and/or whatever other game you want to play (kickball, volleyball, bball, whatever...), and a bonfire. Feel free to bring friends, family. Also, my house is ridiculously kid friendly, just in case anyone was wondering. Anyhow, doors open around 6:30; any questions just hit me up at the Fort (I should be in this week) or on Facebook or something. My address is:

    1112 Paddock Road
    Spring Grove, IL

    And yes, there will be cake.

  • zach
    July 14, 2009, 7:32 pm

    Who cares about OPT? What happened to Everett? Why weren't you cheering him on Lohmann? WTF! He needed you!

  • Matt L
    July 15, 2009, 8:12 am

    screw Everett.....everyone says he is so modest...he sure didn't look play the part this weekend with the whole sticking his tongue out and nodding his head to the crowd during the deadlifts.....i have a hard time respecting a man who only has one drink during the whole year....i had one drink for each round of deadlifts he completed that morning...then i blacked out...

  • Garth
    July 15, 2009, 11:23 am

    Haha! Is that what happened Matt? You should have let me known that was the game. I would have hung with you brother. Then Bill, Jennie and Clark would have REALLY had their hands full ;)

    Loved the Games! Already planning for next year.

  • Clark
    July 15, 2009, 11:26 am

    Matt, that should be the beginning of the "Yes, the weekend was rough" post Jenni was talking about. Wow, talk about crazy.

    I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who supported us. Even though we didn't have the largest cheering section at the Games, we knew we had the most passionate supporters back home.

    Also, thanks to my fellow team members. You guys and gals are awesome!!! My training for next year starts TODAY!!!!!

  • Garth
    July 15, 2009, 11:29 am

    Handstand push ups and muscle ups are going to be a must. Those damn muscle ups are HARD! So are handstand push ups for that matter.

  • Matt L
    July 15, 2009, 11:58 am

    i think anyone who wants to compete in the games from now on must practice trail running.....unless they change venues, i predict a hill run (or two) in each of the next several future Games....Khalipa said he practiced A LOT of trail running before this years games and it paid off (minus the cramping, of course)...

    keep your eyes open for the best hills around the fort.....Garth can confirm whether they are steep enough....i think he ran that damn hill in Aromas about 100 times...

    and finally, thanks again to everyone who sent messages of encouragement!!!...and thanks for pushing us these last few months....our accomplishments were a team effort with everyone @ the Fort being a part of it in some way!!!

    ...and to my team members, all i can say is I am sorry!!! i promise to drink way more next year @ the games....i am keeping the 2009 CrossFit Games Drunkest Idiot trophy at my house....you can stop by and see it whenever!

  • Garth
    July 15, 2009, 12:57 pm

    35lb sandbags up the hill at Picnic Grove Park in Fox River Grove - stay tuned for event details (I have to find some sandbags first).

  • Garth
    July 15, 2009, 12:58 pm

    Matt, I am so going to kick your ass for the drunkest idiot trophy next year! That trophy is mine - you don't stand a chance ;)

  • zach
    July 16, 2009, 12:29 pm

    You BITE YOUR TONGUE, Lohmann! Bite it!

    Modesty and competitive showmanship are separate. Besides, he had just finished a Blue Raspberry Blow-pop and wanted to know if his tongue was "too blue". He was counting on you. Sonofa!

  • Garth
    July 16, 2009, 12:41 pm

    I can't wait to see who they have in the next episode of Every Second Counts - hope they include some of the women! BTW, Josh Everett seemed very clinical and calculating in his approach to the workouts but I didn't get the feeling that he really gave it his all like some of the other guys that were absolutely balls to the wall! Besides, if he had forgone the blow pop and had a Guinness instead, maybe he would have done better with those sandbags. What was up with that? I thought he was a track guy? He literally walked up the hill - didn't look like he was in a hurry at all ;)

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