About 6 months ago, Coach Jamie offered up an idea for a community event: “let’s go camping at Casini Ranch!” We asked around and quite a few members said “great idea!”. So Jamie reserved a group campsite and put the word out. To make it interesting for CrossFitters, he also designed a really fun, family-friendly Adventure Race / Scavenger Hunt! During the day, we hung out at the river’s edge and in the evenings, we gathered around the campfire watching the kids make ‘smores and sharing funny stories.
Very cool spot for camping (or glamping!). Awesome group of people to hang out with! Jamie’s already planning for 2027.
“Don’t be perfect, just keep getting better.”
Frank Peretti
SOBER OCTOBER: GIVE SOMETHING UP
October is almost here, and I’d like to challenge everyone at Diablo to give something up for 31 days that you know will improve your health or life. For many people, “Sober October” means giving up alcohol. And if alcohol is something you enjoy regularly, that might be a worthwhile challenge. But, it doesn’t have to be about alcohol. Maybe it’s sugar (my vice), or, social media, online shopping, or, late-night doom scrolling.. whatever. Choose something and go without it for the entire month of October.
The point isn’t that these things are necessarily bad, especially in moderation. The point of my challenge is to find out how much control they have over you. And, there’s something valuable about occasionally telling yourself no and then sticking to it. We do a version of this in the gym all the time. We deliberately put ourselves in uncomfortable situations and practice continuing when our brain starts negotiating with us. That ability to tolerate discomfort and follow through is useful far beyond fitness.
Thirty-one days is long enough to notice your habits, experience the urges and excuses, and prove to yourself that you can choose your behavior rather than simply respond to it. And the timing is pretty good. November and December tend to bring plenty of parties, food, alcohol, travel and disrupted routines. Instead of waiting until January 1st to suddenly become disciplined, use October to strengthen that muscle beforehand.
Choose one thing. Give it up for 31 days. See what you learn about yourself. You’ve got 10 days to get ready.
Craig
#itsup2us
OG Of The Week – Brian and Anelyse George
Left/Top: 1st Murph together 2018. Right/Bottom: Diablo Campout!
Anelyse and Brian George joined Diablo separately – 2013 for Anelyse and ’14 for Brian. They were unmarried with no kids. Brian was an EMT and Anelyse was an Elementary School Teacher.
Fast forward 12 years later, and they’re an even bigger part of our community – married with FOUR beautiful children! Despite their incredibly busy lives (Brian’s now a Captain at Contra Costa Fire and Anelyse home-schools their children) they still make it into Diablo for workouts as often as possible. You’ll see Anelyse in the very early AM and you’ll always see Brian for ‘Murph, “The Shed” or the Filthy 50 (lol). They’re incredible athletes, amazing parents and all-around great people. We’re lucky to have them in our Diablo family.
Did you see Diablo member Marissa Manson on CrossFit’s IG?
Marissa sat down with the CrossFit Media team while at the CrossFit Games in July and shared her amazing story of how she got started at Diablo!
PROGRAMMING THIS WEEK:
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Benchmark Monday — Filthy Fifty
Tuesday: Jerk strength work + 7-minute ascending dumbbell complex
Wednesday: Heavy back squats + 3-round medicine-ball clean and V-up MetCon
Thursday: Running Isabel — 5 rounds of 6 power snatches and a 400m run
Friday: Descending row, hand-release push-up and thruster chipper
Saturday: Rope climbs, farmer carries and sandbag carries
Sunday: Partner workout featuring bike calories, farmer holds, dumbbell hang power cleans and toes-to-bar
There might be a few more tie-dye shirts left in the Pro-Shop.. these went FAST!
The Diablo Way Podcast Guest Schedule:
- Friday, Sep 25: Diablo Member Jax Wilson – Jet Pilot!
- Friday, Oct 2 (tentative): Diablo Mayor Dean Quiambao
CRAIG’S LIST: Stuff I’m Watching, Reading, Using or Listening to:
YOUTUBE: Dr. Andy Galpin – How Extreme Exercise Affects Your Heart – There is an inherent conflict with this data.. but the risk is there. Recent research shows a marked increase in arterial calcium buildup in extreme athletes – the same athletes who have the strongest hearts! While a higher VO2 max correlates with increased lifespan, the risk of cardiac disruption with higher arterial calcium deposits is real. Fascinating discussion.
