News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Crossfit has caught on across the nation, offering variety, intensity and a high level of fitness. istockphoto.com/CEFutcher
Getting fit is at the top of the list every year when it comes to New Year's resolutions. In 2013, folks seeking a more fit lifestyle will likely catch the wave of fitness fads. Sometimes those crest and fade as quickly as your willpower - some become standard training techniques.
As in so many aspects of modern life, gadgets, apps and social media are the hot thing.
"They're all the rage right now," says Tate Metcalf, owner and operator of Sisters Athletic Club.
Apps like Map My Ride or Map My Run let folks - from elite athletes to weekend warriors - keep track of their training mileage and routes and share them through social media (see "Running Commentary," page 10).
That social media sharing is motivational for some.
"It holds people accountable," Metcalf says. "It's not so much for people who belong to a club. It's for people who do stuff at home, and they keep track of that."
Phone apps sometimes include motivational soundbytes from famous athletes like Metcalf's friend Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton.
Metcalf notes that the messages are things like "congratulations, you ran farther than last time," or "you ran faster than last time." Such feedback provides "instant gratification - OK, I'm getting better."
Such technological additions to the training arsenal aren't to everyone's taste, but they reflect a deeper trend in fitness - one that actually helps people stick with a resolution or a program: accountability to a group.
"For the club setting, group exercise is just out of control," says Metcalf. "That accountability comes from the people in the class."
Metcalf notes that many people don't want to have to think too much about their program or have to motivate themselves. Group exercise mitigates that.
"They're having somebody else lead, so they don't have to think too much about their workout," Metcalf says.
Among fitness trends, the powerhouse right now is Crossfit. The high-intensity strength and conditioning program has taken the fitness world by storm in recent years, evolving into a competitive sport through the Crossfit Games.
Mike Sundvall of Cascade Fitness introduced the program to Sisters, and it took off quickly. Now he's looking into a dedicated space just for Crossfit training.
Crossfit incorporates a wide range of exercises, from Olympic lifts to bodyweight exercises and sprints.
"The reason people like it is it's never the same, always different and it's high-intensity," Sundvall says.
A short, intense workout creates marked results quickly, and the program is scalable for any level of fitness. Beginners can work the same program as elite athletes, just at a different level of workload (Sundvall does urge supervision and training for some of the movements). Part of the philosophy is that varied training of the whole body helps you be ready for any of the physical demands day-to-day life throws at you.
Again, the group accountability element seems to stoke the program's popularity. People doing Crossfit encourage each other to push their limits and work harder.
"It's a fun, competitive environment," Sundvall says.
The majority of Cascade Fitness' Crossfit classes are women, Sundvall notes.
"Women find it empowering," he said.
Milder forms of group exercise are available. Sisters Park & Recreation District is launching an indoor walking program at Sisters Middle School (see story, page 16). And right now, nature is offering plenty of opportunities to cross-country ski or snowshoe.
Whether it's a formal class in a local gym, a Facebook group keeping track of each other's efforts or that now-rare lone ranger running the woods with no cell phone app or ear buds to be found, folks in Sisters Country will doubtless join the millions of other Americans dedicating themselves to a fitter, healthier 2013.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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