WoD - Monday 3rd September, 2018

WoD - Monday 3rd September, 2018

Marine Tony Evans and Marine Georgie Sparks, both of J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, were killed during an insurgent attack on the morning of Thursday 27th November, 2008.

The men had been conducting a foot patrol to the north-west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province. Marines Evans and Sparks had moved on to the roof of a compound when, at around 0900 hours, there was an attack by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades in which, the men badly wounded.

Both received immediate medical attention and were moved to a secure location before being put on a helicopter to be transferred back to Camp Bastion. However, both sadly died from their injuries during the flight.

Marine Tony Evans

Marine Tony Evans, aged 20, was born in April 1988 and came from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. He began his Royal Marines training in October 2006 and passed out in July 2007, joining 42 Commando a few days later. In February 2008 he completed arctic warfare training in Norway.

He leaves behind his father Tony Evans and mother Julia Churchill.

Tony Evans.jpg


Tony Evans
Complete as many rounds and reps as possible within 19mins of:
27 Calorie Row
11 Handstand Push Ups
13 Power Cleans (50/35kg)
For Georgie Sparks

Please write completed scores to the whiteboard...

WoD - Saturday 1st September, 2018

WoD - Saturday 1st September, 2018

Lieutenant Augustin and Marine Alexander were killed by an improvised explosive device whilst on patrol in the Loy Mandeh area of the Nad ‘Ali district in Helmand province.

The patrol, which was led by Lieutenant Augustin, was tasked to disrupt insurgent activity in their perceived rear area and provide depth to the Clear, Hold, Build Operation occurring to the north in Loy Mandeh Kalay further to expand the influence of the Government of Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Oliver Richard Augustin

Lieutenant Ollie Augustin Royal Marines was born in Kent on 16 March 1988. He attended Dartford Grammar School before leaving aged 18 to spend a year travelling.
During this time he spent two months volunteering at a school in Kenya before travelling down to South Africa through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana. He then flew on to Australia where he spent six months working, before concluding his travels in New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.
On return, whilst undergoing the application procedure to join the Royal Marines as a Commissioned Officer, he studied at Bexley College and was employed as a fitter and plasterer.
Lieutenant Augustin Royal Marines began Officer Training in September 2009, passing fit for duty in December 2010. His first appointment was in Command of Fire Support Group, Juliet Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines.

He leaves behind his father Sean, his mother Jane and his sister Sarah.

ollie .jpg

Marine Samuel Giles William Alexander MC

Marine Sam Alexander MC was born on 16 June 1982 in Hammersmith, London, where he grew up with his mother, Serena, father Stuart and sister, Sophie. He was married to Claire in November 2009 and their son Leo was born in July 2010.
He joined the Royal Marines in July 2006 and passed fit for duty in October 2007. On completion of training, Marine Alexander MC was appointed to the Fire Support Group in Mike Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines.
He later moved to Kilo Company and deployed on Operation HERRICK 9, during which he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. On his return from operations he trained as a Heavy Weapons (Anti-Tank) specialist and was appointed to Juliet Company, before returning to Afghanistan for Operation HERRICK 14.

He leaves behind his wife Claire and his son Leo.

Mne Samuel Alexander.jpg

"Oppo's"

Richard Augustin
For time:
54 Pull ups
54 Handstand Push Ups
107 Double Unders (Each)
54 Burpees
54 Air Squats
53 Pull ups
53 Handstand Push Ups
107 Double Unders (Each)
53 Burpees
53 Air Squats
Rest for 2mins in memory of Richard Augustin

Complete with a partner (Oppo), work will be divided as necessary unless stated

Samuel Alexander
For time:
27 Power Snatch (70/50kg)
5 Overhead Squats (100/70kg)
11 Squat Snatch (80/60kg)

Rest for 2mins in memory of Samuel Alexander

Both pairs complete the entire workout, one person working at a time. Move to next movement once both pair has completed each section.

Please write completed times, for each workout to the whiteboard...

WoD - Friday 31st August, 2018

WoD - Friday 31st August, 2018

Tomorrow we start, and with a bang! I strongly advise that you consider taking a rest day where possible, what is coming will make you wish you had. 

Throughout the month of September, being punctual to class is a must please. The usual Tom Foolery will be accepted again from October 1st, however due to the nature of the workouts in September the coaching staff will need to move quickly through all warm ups and teaching points. Come in and be ready to get stuck in. Please stay late, or come early to tell each other about your days, as the classes will be focused on one goal. 

633...how to get involved:

Two options:

A) Grab yourself a partner and sign up for an 8 hour block. Within this 8 hour block you will set about achieving 211 repetitions of the clean & jerk (one third of 633). The loading can be dictated by your individual capacity.

The 8 hour blocks will be:

  • 11:00-19:00
  • 19:00-03:00
  • 03:00-11:00

Each 8 hour block will be limited to 8 pairs. Please head over to the post that will be going live on the Reebok CrossFit Cardiff members page shortly and comment with your name, your partners name, and the time slot you wish to sign up to. We would love to see some of you sign up to join us in the early hours of the morning!!

Once you have chosen your time slot, share the Just Giving page amongst family and friends, and get raising some funds for a very worthy cause.

B) If you are unable to commit to an 8 hour slot, that's not a problem. You can sign up for a 1 hour slot as an individual or as a pair. We will have capacity for 2 individual slots, or one pair slot per hour. The same sign up process applies - head to the post on the members page and comment with your name/team name and the hour slot you would like to claim. The hour slots will run from 11:00 and will be on the hour e.g. 11:00-12:00, 12:00-13:00 etc. Within this hour you can determine your own target for repetitions and set your own loading.

Again, once you have chosen your time slot, share the Just Giving page amongst family and friends, and get raising some funds for a very worthy cause.

The final day of a great build up week, a cheeky spin on a benchmark...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For Time:
30 Ring Muscle Ups*

*every break = 200m farmers carry (2x24/16kg)

Please write your lightening times to the whiteboard and remember any scales or teaching progressions used, you may need them throughout September... 

rings.jpg

WoD - Thursday 30th August, 2018

WoD - Thursday 30th August, 2018

Nancy was more than just 'naughty'...she was a total bitch! There are no surprises there though hey! Just to throw a mere bit of perspective your way, below are the top male and female times of those utter nut cases from this event during the 2013 CrossFit Games:

Josh Bridges: 16:31 (Don't know him...google him!)
Kaleena Ladeairous: 1646 (BEAST!)

Now, I have some important info about the coming month, previously posted yet now added to...

Throughout the recent Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, the UK lost a huge amount of servicemen and women, unfortunately, many of whom went seamlessly unnoticed. The media reported on the goings on, yet so many of these lives were forgotten about almost immediately. 
Until you are in that world, it is very difficult to attempt to understand how it feels. These selfless heroes laying down their lives, fighting not to defend their country from bombing raids or invasions, but for each other. 
When searching for the definition of Camaraderie I found this..."mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together." In no way does that come close to describing the bond formed between soldiers. A Google for Military Camaraderie arrives far closer to the mark with... "There is nothing in the civilian workforce that can approximate the bonding that occurs in wartime. ... It follows therefore that finding the military version of camaraderie in a civilian occupation is almost impossible."... Quite possibly then, no words will suffice? Surely though, when confronted with such extreme environments, to protect one another is merely human nature? Like a mother or father protecting their children?

I may have fallen well short of the mark, attempting to describe this to you all, but what I do know is that I witness a part of it everyday. The support offered to each other throughout a tough workout, the shared suffering, binds people together like no amounts of bicep curls or calf raises every would. Did you ever wonder why you find so many friends at the gym?

I want to give back. On the 29th of September, at 11:00 the Trainers will begin a 24 hour event. In pairs, we will complete 633 Clean and Jerks, loading to be dictated by an average body weight per pair. One rep for each life. We have 24 hours to finish. 
Even though the full 24 hours is reserved for the team, on the day there will be various different ways in which you will all be able to take part. 

The Royal Marines pride themselves on peak physical performance and unbreakable mental resilience. Commando Training is almost entirely centred around a final hurdle; The Commando Tests. Four extremely difficult feats which not only test the fitness of the recruit, but also simply his ability to endure pain. Developed from the start, the Commando qualities are fully engrained into most by this stage and are exactly what, allows these young men to succeed: 

Courage, Determination, Unselfishness and Cheerfulness in the face of Adversity

Yet, these tests attempted separately, without the cumulative affect of the 30 week Commando Course are entirely doable. The 633 Event is no different. However, it too is placed at the end of a significant challenge. 

Each workout posted in the month of September, programmed for Monday - Saturday, will be a hero WoD. Most of these will be named after fallen Royal Marines, yet others from different services will be posted, each for good reason.
These workout will be hard, every single one of them. They will make you sore and challenge your body. Be careful and don't you be a hero. If you need to rest, do so. If you feel any kind of niggle then back off, listen to the team and scale when told to do so.
You will not necessarily get fitter during this month, and that is not our intention. You may have to perform the same movement two days in a row. You may work for long periods of time and feel significant discomfort as a result. Do NOT add additional workouts, train twice a day and be sure to rest when needed. 

We have the month of September to raise as much money as possible. Destined for the Royal Marines Charity, they will be sending the funds to Reorg. A Foundation who's mission is to help any Royal Marine, serving or veteran, suffering with the after effects caused by these brutal campaigns.  

The Just giving page is live, and ready for you to donate...

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/reebok-crossfit-cardiff

Please, do what you can. Various mini events will take place throughout September, get stuck in and help us to raise money for those who desperately deserve it. 

To get the ball rolling, where possible, we are requesting a £1 donation, in a bucket at the gym, per person, per hero workout attended. If this is something you are able to do then thank you.

We start on Saturday

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Complete as many rounds and reps within 20 minutes of:
10 Calorie Assault bike
10 GHD Sit Ups
10 Handstand Push Ups
10 Kettlebell Swings (24/16kg)

Please post rounds and reps to the whiteboard...

633-01.jpg

WoD - Wednesday 29th August, 2018

WoD - Wednesday 29th August, 2018

The "Embers" are fast approaching and we are all praying for an Indian summer. As we have already mentioned, September will see the gym embarking on a month of hero workouts, all designed for Royal Marines killed in the latest Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. 

I will be releasing further details of this month, including the charity event set for the final weekend on tomorrow's post, so be sure that you have a look. 

Back to this week though however and Ash continues his full frontal assault:

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

'Naughty Nancy'
4 rounds for time:
Run 600m
25 Overhead Squats (140/95lbs)

Please write time to the whiteboard, if you have done this workout previously...then good luck! 

Maughty nancy.jpg

WoD - Tuesday 28th August, 2018

WoD - Tuesday 28th August, 2018

Get back in, fresh and well rested from an additional day off rather than a 3 day hang over, Maybe some of you guys won't actually be in until this time next week, but its all cool. 

Thank you to everyone who came to the box for my stinker of a Birthday workout, and to the Sadistic mind of Ash, the creator. The sweat was definitely real! Who doesn't like a 36min AMRAP. 

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

'The Ghost'
6 Rounds:
1 Minute of Rowing
1 Minute of Burpees
1 Minute of Double Unders
1 Minute rest

The goal is to complete as many reps of each movement as possible. Rather that go nuts on the double unders as you know you can get the score up. 

Post a separate total score for each movement to the whiteboard...

The ghost.jpg

WoD - Monday 27th August, 2018

WoD - Monday 27th August, 2018

Happy Monday team. You guys will be loving life tomorrow, seeing as it is actually a Bank holiday this time around; not just one for the Scottish. 
Meaning that you get to have a chilled out day and another opportunity to either rid yourself of a hang over or...to give yourself another! 

Please remember, I am a nice boss and so have given my staff a little time off, no differently than hopefully yours has! Therefore below are the opening hours for tomorrow: 

Open gym: 10:00 - 11:00
WoD: 11:00 - 12:00
Remaining time of the day: CHILL

CrossFit Cardiff Partner WoD

Complete as may rounds and reps as possible within 36 mins of:*
27 Power Cleans (60/40kg)
8 L-sit pull ups
19 Shoulder To Overhead (60/40kg)
82m Buddy Carry

*Partners will split all work as required

Please record completed rounds and reps to the whiteboard...

Who wouldn't want Ben and his ball as a partner? 

Who wouldn't want Ben and his ball as a partner? 

WoD - Friday 24th August, 2018

WoD - Friday 24th August, 2018

Well, he certainly did not disappoint. However, unfortunately for me, I did not realise the extent of Nick's commitment to his demise. In his usual nonchalant manner, Nick set about his 21 rep calorie row, seemingly unconcerned with the clock timer...only choosing to complete said first round outside of the 2 minute mark. 
Rather than complete the second section of the workout, Nick was perfectly satisfied with part A and the response received. A gentle recovery row and some relaxed burpees was all that stood in his and the after pictures way. Great shout Nick! 

CrossFit Cardiff Partner WoD

For Time:
200m Sprint*
50 Deadlifts (70/50)
200m Sprint
40 Hang Power Clean (70/50kg)
200m Sprint
30 Shoulder To Overhead (70/50kg)
200m Sprint

*Each sprint will be performed by one athlete, while the other holds the barbell at the top of the deadlift. 

Please record your times to the whiteboard for the super exciting Sunday afternoon IG post...

Whoever can spot the difference wins a high five! 

Whoever can spot the difference wins a high five! 

WoD - Thursday 23rd August, 2018

WoD - Thursday 23rd August, 2018

Now I have something to live up to hey, I promised you I would deliver...

Sorry to say, that I don't have a huge amount for you, some house keeping and the hope that I am writing this prior to an evening full of folk losing their minds on the assault bikes and pummelling themselves into an early WoD grave. Nick for example, is a prime candidate. Nick if you are reading this and what I think will happen, actually did happen, know this...it warmed my soul!! 

Bank holiday Opening Hours

The weekend: as per usual
Monday: 10:00 - 12:00 (WoD at 11)

Do NOT be a stinker

If you lose half of your body weight in sweat and leave it on the reverse hyper, GHD, any other piece of equipment...clean it up you STINKER! 

Anyway, back to less pleasant things...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 20mins of:

30 Double Unders
10m Dumbbell Overhead Walking Lunge (50/35lbs)* 
15 Box Jumps (20")
5 Ring Muscle Ups

*One dumbbell is to be held overhead, alternating arms each round

Please write rounds and reps to comments...

Overhead walking lunge.jpg

WoD - Wednesday 22nd August, 2018

WoD - Wednesday 22nd August, 2018

Hump day! Thats all I have...sorry, more tomorrow...I promise!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For Time:
21 - 15 - 9
Calorie Assault Bike
Burpees

Rest 5mins

For Time:
21 - 15 - 9
Calorie Row
Burpees

Please write two separate times to the whiteboard...

assault bike.jpg

WoD - Tuesday 21st August, 2018

WoD - Tuesday 21st August, 2018

That cleared out the cobwebs hey?! 

So the reverse-hyper is up and running, and due to it being insanely heavy, is going to stay exactly where it is for a minute. In time, I will move it a little but will need to mobilise 45 Commando, Royal Marines in order to do so. 
In the meantime. The revers hyper is NOT for hanging your clothes off, resting push bikes up against or to be used as a preacher curler, but...for ridding yourself of back pain and fully ensuring that those butt cheeks no longer fit into skinny jeans...sorry Luke! 

Get after it. My recommendation for you is to begin with unloaded reps. 3 x 15 reps, 3 times per week. Once comfortable here, then begin to load, keeping the same rep ranges. Note pain reduction and tightening of glute region denim. 

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

A: "Isabel"

For time:
30 Snatches (135/95lbs)
10 minute time cap

Rest 5 mins

B: 1 Rep max Snatch

Lift fast before you lift heavy. Please post both times and loads to the whiteboard...

the girls.png

WoD - Monday 20th August, 2018

WoD - Monday 20th August, 2018

I hope each and every one of your weekends were as drunken and thoroughly enjoyable as mine! 

I would like to share with you a brief message. An extremely boozy, seemingly whisky sponsored Scottish wedding, full of kilt wearing CrossFitters (going "Commando") is absolutely no good for your health...turns out! It is however, huge amounts of fun! 
Congratulations to good friends, made family through a bond of shared suffering. How perfectly weird is that to all of us!? 

Start the week right...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

5 Rounds for time:
30 Wall Balls (20/14lbs)
20 Pull Ups

Legs and arms and shoulders...all a great recipe for wobbly whiteboard times...

IMG_E5AC1301C156-1.jpeg

WoD - Friday 17th August, 2018

WoD - Friday 17th August, 2018

Finally, it's Friday. Come in, smash yourselves with a cool assed finale to the Buddy Buddy week. 

Remember, morning dwellers you will be unaffected. Those of you lot planning to make your Friday night a special occasion for those buddies of yours, remember the timings posted below:

Open Gym: 15:00 - 18:00
Shit loads of cool fun and frolics with barbells and stuff: 18:00 - END
Town for lots more fun but now with beer: END - THE VERY END


Everyone is welcome, get your ass down to have it kicked all over the jazz! 

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For time:
50 Cal Row
40 Front Squats (20/15kg)
30 Burpees
20 Pull Ups
10 Box Jump Overs (30/24")

The above is the workout for the 06:30 class. Adjustments to the same workout will be made for the evening. 

As always, put your times on the whiteboard and send me a double biceps front group picture...

Doube bicepts Front Cropped2.jpg

WoD - Thursday 16th August, 2018

WoD - Thursday 16th August, 2018

So how was that? Improvement on the newly learnt skill of attempting to prevent yourself from slamming your face into the ground while sprinting forwards on your hands? There will be more and more of it, don't you worry. 

Now that you are safe and sound...are you ready for an assault?...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Every 6 minutes for 4 Rounds, perform:
20/15 Calorie Assault Bike
12 Alternating Dumbbell snatch (50/35lbs)
8 Press Ups
2 Power Clean (110/70kg)

Should you still be able, please write your scores on the whiteboard...

rambo WoD.jpg

WoD - Wednesday 15th August, 2018

WoD - Wednesday 15th August, 2018

Hump day and half way through the "Buddy Buddy" week. Meaning there is still time to brung your mates along, smash them into an oblivion and spend the rest of the evening attempting to convince them that it is actually fun!! We know it is! 

Now then, what better to do after a middle distance sprint...yep, heavy and high skill gymnastics...I hope you're not showing these posts to your buddies by the way...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

7 Rounds for Time:
100m farmers carry (2x24/16kg)
6m Handstand Walk*

*to scale: 3 wall walks or 10m bear crawl

Please write your blistering times with your fatigued grip to the whiteboard...

Don't be that guy!! 

Don't be that guy!! 

WoD - Tuesday 14th August, 2018

WoD - Tuesday 14th August, 2018

This is a day late, but unfortunately, at the time of yesterday's post I had no idea what was going of what was going on with these four badasses! 
Huge Congratulations to Prodders and Bri, and Conners and Suller, for showing up and whooping ass at the Pairs inferno this weekend in Cardiff.
A great showing from four legends! Most importantly, at no point throughout the weekend (not to my knowledge anyway) was Conroy found having to have a cheeky "lie down" after any of the workouts and was NOT, at any point in time found incapacitated either underneath any vendors stalls, nor in the front passenger seat of a car! Therefore he won!

Take a well earned rest and get back in tomorrow for this shitfest...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

3 Rounds For Time:
800m run
50 Double Unders
8 - 6 - 4 Bar Muscle Ups*

*These are depending rep ranges of t=each round. R1 perform 8, R2 6 and R3 4. 

Once complete, scribe your blistering times to the whiteboard please...

Inferno bitches.JPG

WoD - Monday 13th August, 2018

WoD - Monday 13th August, 2018

Its buddy buddy week!!! Get in! A bunch of new and cool buddies, wandering about the gym not having a single clue of what the hell is going on, I reckon there are going to be some seriously uncomfortable folk receiving sweaty, chalky and typically hairy hugs! Geeeeeeet used to it! 

Now you legends, be sure you are fully versed in delivering the well known sweaty hug. Identify your victim, disguise yourself advance from the unsuspecting buddy's buddy, post a smoke grenade and go straight "up the middle", Commando style! Squeeze for the appropriate amount of time, don't be creepy! 

Lastly for today, remember that there will be a class at 5:30pm. Get down there and get rid of your hang overs! 

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

A: Within 10 minutes, establish a 1 Rep Max Shoulder To Overhead

B: Within 6 minutes complete as many rounds and reps as possible of:
5 Shoulder To Overhead* 
25 Air Squats

*Bar loaded at 75% of load from A

Sweaty hug.jpg

WoD - Friday 10th August, 2018

WoD - Friday 10th August, 2018

The last day of a thorough beasting, and what a day it is! Now the picture attached to this post is not the one that I wanted, but it's kind of similar. 

Lets just say that the last time Conroy did this workout, it kind of hit him hard. Meaning, he received a stimulus! So much so that some significant time had past following the workout and I happened to find your beloved Trainer, lying face up behind the Cardiff Sports Nutrition store...messed up! Unfortunately for Al, we had to socialise following the event and despite his request to "just leave me here bro..." I dragged him into Got Beef and he was glad he did...new man following great meat! 

Speaking of which, get down there and utilities those kick ass black cards of yours! 

CrossFit Cardiff Partner WoD

For time:
21 - 15 - 9
Deadlift (100/70kg)
Burpees
Run 400m together
9 - 15 - 21
Burpees
Deadlift

Partner 1 does all the deads and partner 2 does all the burpees. Before the run. After the run swap movements...choose/get told wisely! 

Meaty saviour

Meaty saviour

WoD - Thursday 9h August, 2018

WoD - Thursday 9h August, 2018

How are the famous Monkey Butts? A bet there have been a few tears in the showers since yesterday! 

Anyway...here is some information about next week. Things are pretty simple and so I am going to do it in bullet (easy to follow) fashion. 

  • Get a buddy volunteer buddy, maybe more than one. If none volunteer then voluntell!!
  • Email Davs at dafydd@crossfitcardiff.com to let him know who they are and he will get in touch.
  • Bring them along to any class, between the dates of August 13th - August 17th.
  • Get them excited about Friday the 17th, as we have a mini team throwdown to complete the fun.
  • Relish in the fact that you have given your newly made best friend a seriously cool new hobby. 

    An event has been painstakingly created by Conner's the Facebook ninja on the members group. Get yourself onto it for more info: click right here

Timings for said Friday, should you be as technophobic as I:
Open gym: 15:00 - 18:00 (NO 17:00 CLASS)
Super fun, team throwdown: 18:00 - FINISH@ BEER O'CLOCK


Anyway, back to it...

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For 3 rounds:
Within 3 minutes:
Row 750m
In remaining time max effort wall balls (20/14lbs)
Rest 6 minutes

Bring a buddy.jpg

WoD - Wednesday 8th August, 2018

WoD - Wednesday 8th August, 2018

This is a very special day...Woody, one CrossFit Cardiff's longest standing members and absolute stud turns 30 again today!! And...you wouldn't have a clue! 

Almost immediately upon joining the gym, Woody adopted a strong role within the community. Through unrelenting kindness to others and generosity, often to her detriment, she would make all those around her feel happy. 
There was no fooling her, a tough shift on the ambulance, an argument with your other half, maybe even something as simple as a bad workout at the gym resulted in an invite to dinner; something that was very hard to say no to. Even though it's always kick ass, not because of the food, rather as you know how much better you'll feel when you leave her company. 

Woody, you may never know how much you mean to me, this gym and the people within it. You and your family are a huge part of our lives, so much so, I would hate to think of what it would be like without you.

I don't know who Alan Jenkins is, but a very Penblwydd Hapus to you from everyone at CrossFit Cardiff....

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

A: 
Within 15mins:
1 Rep Max Snatch

B: Within 15mins:
1 Rep Max Clean & Jerk

Another chance to test yourselves, but this time on strength. You know what to do after the class, and more importantly when to right in RED!! 

Woody.jpg