Training And Risks: An interview With CrossFit Coach, Blake Mellecker

According to Wikipedia, CrossFit was founded by Greg Glassman in 2000 and is now practiced by members of about 7,000 affiliated gyms worldwide, most being located within the United States.

Unlike most workouts that focus on one particular muscle or vascular group, CrossFit, as crossfit.com states, aims “to forge a broad, general, and inclusive fitness,” helping to prepare beginners and advanced fitness enthusiasts for any physical contingency they may encounter.  For those of us on the outside, CrossFit looks like the harshest form of punishments.  But for those participating, it is all about pushing yourself harder and overcoming the next challenge.

This intense and butt-kicking workout is taking over the nation and our college campuses are starting to catch the fever. We here at the University of Iowa are no exception.  Sitting down with Blake Mellecker, level one certified CrossFit instructor and coach of the University of Iowa’s CrossFit team, allowed me the chance to see just what everyone is buzzing about.

Image courtesy of Keep Calm O’Matic

Like I mentioned before, CrossFit is becoming a worldwide sensation. In fact, Reebok hosts the CrossFit games every year, where people from all over the world form teams to compete for most fit man, woman, and team. Where some people may find this to be a strong force of intimidation, Mellecker says it is meant as a challenge.

“Anyone can do it, but it is not for everyone,” he said.

In addition, it is not completing the physically challenging workouts that is the biggest problem for beginners.

 “The biggest problem a beginner has is finding a good coach,” Mellecker said.

 ”If you begin training with an unknowledgeable coach or instructor and they teach you bad form, it is extremely hard to change it. Poor instruction can be the biggest downfall.”

For those truly interested in becoming CrossFit enthusiasts, finding a knowledgeable and motivating instructor is your first step.

Image courtesy of Blake Mellecker

Once an instructor and the motivation has been found, the next step is perfecting the proper diet. It would be crazy to start creating a great body but continue to eat poorly.

“It’s like having a Ferrari and not fueling it properly,” Mellecker said.

Your body needs the proper fuel when it is working as hard as it does when doing CrossFit.  So what foods should you indulge in and which foods should you avoid?

“Eating properly involves staying away from bread and pasta, eating the right kind of carbs, meats, veggies, fruits, nuts, and some grains,” Mellecker said.

For someone like me who loves a good bowl of pasta and bread any time of the day, giving up two of my favorite things would be excruciatingly hard. Eating right and training at least 3 days a week will get any CrossFit fan off to the right start.

Image courtesy of Blake Mellecker

Like with any new exercise regimen, there are always health risks. CrossFit is no different.  Vanessa Weber, a reporter for ABCNews, reported on these risks, gaining her information from Eric Robertson, an assistant professor of physical therapy at Regis University in Denver.  Robertson wrote an article about the condition that many CrossFit fanatics find themselves victim to: rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, is a possibly lethal disorder, caused by many factors including overexertion.  Rhabdo damages the skeletal muscles by rapidly releasing proteins into the blood stream, resulting in damage of the kidneys and possible kidney failure.  While rhabdo is not a very common condition, so many CrossFit-ers have encountered it that a cartoon depicting a sloppy and somewhat disgusting clown who has fallen victim to the condition was created.

Image courtesy of Breaking Muscle

Those who have experienced rhabdo do not always feel or notice the symptoms.  Former college athlete, Jill Kloesel, now a physical therapist, noticed nothing different before she was diagnosed.

“Yes,” Kloesel said, “my arms felt tired, but nothing that I hadn’t experienced before when I had worked out several times.”

Little did she know this was a symptom. It was not until she found herself in the emergency room with swelling from her elbows to shoulders a few days after did she realize something was very wrong.

CrossFit is not the only sport that could result in the consequences of rhabdo.  Football players, triathlon runners, military trainees, body builders, and regular exercisers can all experience rhabdo.  When diagnosed with rhabdo, doctors search for the reason or cause of the condition and treat–occasionally hospitalizing–the patient. The good news? Rhabdo can be completely avoided with the proper instruction and care.

Image courtesy of Adventure Megastore

As I said before, CrossFit is moving faster than wildfire across the country and our college campuses.  Contact your college, university, or local gyms for more information on CrossFit in your area and how you can get involved.