The Crossfit Endurance Experiment

Sometimes life is just hectic. Right now is one of those times. Both of us are busy at work, church, extra-curricular stuff, and fitness activities. Sometimes it barely leaves time for Anique and I to just spend time together.

I'm not going to complain about life though because everyone on the planet is busy. It's just that it has come to the point where something has to give.

It can't be work. Mr. Hall pays good money for us to work our butts off 5 days a week. It can't be church...God comes before anything and everything. It can't be alone time with Anique. So gaining back time can only come from two areas - extra curricular activities and fitness activities.


First off, I need to learn how to say "no" to stuff. Then I wouldn't get caught with too much on my plate at one time. A wise man once told me, just because there's a need doesn't mean that is your calling! Great advice...

Other other hand, my fitness activities can definitely be modified. Right now I spend probably 15 hours a week - running, cycling (commuting), and lifting weights. That's a part-time job if you think about it (but I enjoy it!). So the change I'm making will mostly affect my running/lifting. I will still ride to and from work 3+ days a week. But instead of running long-slow-distance, I'm switching to Crossfit-style running.

Crossfit Endurance is all about quick interval type training that supposedly translates to ultra-running and short distance running as well. So I'm doing a little experiment - trying CFE for the fall/winter months and then re-evaluating in the spring. This will reduce my running miles from 45ish per week to about 20 per week. My legs are smiling but my mind is unsure....

Now instead of doing 20-25 mile runs on the weekends, I'll be doing 10k time trials, 9 mile time trials, hill repeats, etc. It'll be nice to sleep in a little bit more on the weekends (waking up at 6 instead of 4).

My next test will be in November when I run a trail race (31 miles), then a run in early January (8 hour run). Hopefully this change will allow me to successfully run these long distances. We'll see here in a couple months!