It's a love hate relationship...

http://girlswhodocrossfit.tumblr.com/post/27300606587/julie-foucher

   

   Many people believe that Crossfit is similar to a cult. They think that these athletes separate themselves from the rest of the world and create one of their own. Sometimes, I think we forget that these athletes have a life away from the rusted bars, ripped calluses, unique language and insane workouts. We see them with their chiseled bodies and muscular appeal and forget that they are just like you and me.

http://cwru-daily.com/news/?p=4929

      Crossfit athlete, Julie Foucher, is not only the fifth fittest woman on Earth, but also a medical student who is enrolled in a five year program at Cleveland Clinic Lerner, College of Medicine. Her daily routines consist of a rigorous diet, class, and training. An outline of her day would be breakfast, school, study, train and sleep. In between these she eats well planned out meals that follow the Paleolithic diet. Foucher makes tremendous sacrifices in order to stay on top of her game but she believes that it is all worth it. "After the Games last year, when all that energy is gone, I asked myself why am I doing this," she says. "Then I remember how much fun I have, how rewarding the challenges are and how much better it all is the more difficult you make it. I just love Crossfit." This statement displays how much dedication, passion and commitment Foucher has for herself and the sport. 

     Her lifestyle appealed to me because it reminded me of one that I am familiar to as well. Being a student athlete at the University of New Haven requires the same concepts. As a player on the Women's basketball team, it is important to stay healthy, train regularly, and do well in class. Crossfit is becoming popular and is finally being recognized as a sport instead of just a way to train. The love-hate relationship that Foucher infers in her quote is one that can be used with any athlete and their sport. The blood, sweat, tears and passion of the sport are sometimes questioned. Why do we do it to ourselves? Why push your body to such hard limits? The answer is always confident. It's because it is what we do. It's what we know and what we love. Crossfit isn't a cult. It's just another sport, where athletes can give everything they've got, be disciplined in every aspect of their life in order to become successful.