CrossFit

BY VAL SCHOGER; PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICH BROOKS

CrossFit athletes turned out recently for the Second Annual Winter SWOLEstice, a competition made up of more than 30 two-member teams from CrossFit gyms throughout the region.

Emerald Coast CrossFit in Panama City Beach sponsored the event that was held at a local marina. CrossFit workouts can include high intensity interval training, weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics, strongman and other exercises.
This type of workout quickly gained momentum since the first gym opened in 2000. Today, more than 140 gyms operate in six continents according to the founders.

Mike McAuliffe is a coach at Emerald Coast CrossFit. He believes in this type of exercise for more than just better health and looking good. “I have worked with an infinite amount of people who have completely changed their life – from 80 plus pounds of weight gone, reversing bulimia, crawling out of a hole of depression, etc.,” he says. “The list goes on and is much more important than the aesthetics side of results.”

Plans for the next competition, MAYhem, are already underway. Athletes are judged in several categories that test total number of repetitions at either body weight or weight assigned. Details for MAYhem are available on Facebook at Emerald Coast CrossFit.