There’s a disparaging joke about people who do CrossFit. How do you know if someone is a CrossFitter? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you. Which is to say, CrossFitters are unapologetically vocal. The members at Swamp Rabbit are no different. Part of it is CrossFit’s life-changing potential. Chrissy Ouellette, Paul’s wife, offers herself as an example. “I started out severely overweight, not being able to do a sit-up or a pushup. [Since then] I’ve lost 50 pounds.” Now, Chrissy, a mother of four, makes regular appearances at local CrossFit competitions. But more than anything, CrossFitters are passionately vocal because they love their community. “I’ve made some of my best friends here. I keep coming because it’s kind of like a hangout session—plus I’m getting in shape at the same time,” says Chrissy. Barbara Emerson, painter Jared Emerson’s wife, adds, “It’s good to see other girls like Chrissy. It’s like, ‘Oh, I want to get to her level.’ It’s just motivating.”
TALK LIKE A CROSSFITTER AMRAP — As Many Reps (or Rounds) As Possible. A term typically paired with a time limit. That is, do as many repetitions or rounds of the workout as possible within the time limit. Burpee — A full body, four-part exercise. Begin in a standing position; drop to the ground and kick legs out into a push-up position; push up and jump into a squat position; finish by jumping off the ground. E MOM — Every Minute, on the Minute. A term paired with an exercise or series of exercises, which are to be started at the beginning of every minute, and completed within each minute. Scaled — To account for individual levels of strength, endurance, and proficiency, workouts can be “scaled” by reducing the prescribed weight or substituting different movements. This avoids forcing individuals to perform workouts that are not suited for their strengths and weaknesses. WOD — Workout of the Day.
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2/ Coach Jessica Clohessy demonstrates a Turkish get-up. 3/ Paul Ouellette practices pull-ups. 4/ Owner William Timmons does a one-handed handstand on a kettlebell. 5/ Chrissy Ouellette works on overhead squats.
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Paul chimes in: “When you start making friends and seeing the same faces, it keeps you accountable. You start to measure yourself against your peers, and it helps push you.” German likens the experience of each hour-long session to theatre: athletes are both performers and spectators. “Our job is to give it our best effort and cheer people on. People feed off it. That’s your hour— to not worry about kids, bills, work. It’s your time to let go. You should leave riding high.” And I do. After 17 minutes, I can no longer get my 135-pound barbell overhead. I’m exhausted, but satisfied. The red digital timer keeps ticking onwards, and the only thing left to do is cheer on the few still grinding out thrusters. There’s satisfaction in the success of others, too. Swamp Rabbit CrossFit 25 Peden St, Greenville (864) 438-1450, swamprabbitcrossfit.com
JANUARY 2015 / 71