April Newsletter

Kris Gregory • April 1, 2025

April Newsletter

What's in the Newsletter?
~April 15 Mile Community Challenge
~Year of  Nutrition Spotlight
~Manion WOD - COMMIT
~Mothers Day - Kids & Pancakes
~Murph T-Shirt Pre-Order
~Squat & Strict Gymnastics Cycle

15 Mile Community Challenge

Walk, Ruck, Run... doesn't matter. Get outside and enjoy it. The goal here is to soak in the Vitamin D and come out of hibernation. Do it gradually if you need to but use THIS RUN TRACKER sheet to help set a plan and hold yourself accountable.


Need one printed? Just say so at the gym, we'll print a blank one off for you so you can take it with you.


 The whiteboard at the gym will be where we store your collective running total for the month, so make sure you're tracking your miles by either logging it in Wodify by "adding results". Here's a link on HOW-TO ADD RESULTS! Very easy!


Manion WOD

Saturday, April 26th

6:30 AM (Ruck Version) or 8:30 AM (Classic Version)


7 Rounds For Time:

400m Run

29 Back Squats (135/95)


If you want to sign up and contribute to the Travis Manion Foundation, you can do that with the button below. You DO NOT need to register via that link, but if you want a bad-ass shirt and to put some money to a good cause then please do so! Here is a short video walk-through of registration.



As always, there will be scaling options and a fully run class for this workout. This will be a fantastic way to end our 15 mile challenge... let's get after it!

Get Your 2025 Manion Shirt

Mothers Day - Kids WOD & Pancakes

Saturday, May 10th

8:30 AM


Yeah. For real! Mom's, bring your kids for a special workout which is designed to have some elements that are welcoming to kids 5+. Coach Dustin is going to be leading you guys through the workout while Coach Emily will be bringing the giant griddle for pancakes immediately after.


Here is a link for you to fill out for your children on your behalf! Do this in advance and we'll be sure to save them a spot in class!


HERE IS A LINK FOR KIDS WAIVER


Murph Apparel

T-Shirts, Tanks, and Crop Tops available this year!


Orders due by May 6th to be sure we have them in hand before Murph! This will be the biggest and best Murph yet!


This year we will be throwing down at 8:00 & 9:30 and we will have a grill out shortly after the second heat at a members house! If you are free memorial day than save the date for your first half of the day to be spent with your CrossFit Fam!

Buy Your Murph Shirt

Programming Emphasis

Coming off of the annual cycle which peaks for the Open we have now had two transition weeks. One de-loaded, and one full of some classic CrossFit. You can expect the next 6 weeks to biased towards strength in the form of building up the Squat - but especially when it comes to gymnastics. Take this opportunity to push for strict gymnastics modifications and scales.


Dare I say it, but with this combination of squats, strict gymnastics, and a fun running challenge... you may be ready to tackle Murph at the end of May. Regardless of your mentality towards Murph, know that it's a workout which is a test of many simple yet effective modalities of training - one being the mental toughness and ability to endure.



If you did not TEST your 1RM BACK SQUAT please take any class time this week as an opportunity to do so. You can use Mondays warm-up and ramp-up to get primed. Just let the coach know it's your plan for the day so we can provide assistance or spotters if necessary.


YEAR OF NUTRITION

CFWDM Nutrition Spotlight this Month
Your Primary Carbohydrates - Fruit & Veggies

I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone about the importance of prioritizing fruits and vegetables as your main source of carbohydrates. While starchy carbs like potatoes, rice, and pasta are fine in moderation, fruits and vegetables offer a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health and performance. They are naturally nutrient-dense, meaning they provide more health benefits for fewer calories, helping you stay energized for those high-intensity WODs and promoting faster recovery.


To make this easier, try aiming to fill half of your plate with non-starchy veggies like leafy greens, peppers, broccoli, or zucchini. You can also mix in some fruits like berries, apples, or citrus, which are packed with antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and improve your recovery. A simple tip is to include at least one serving of veggies with every meal and snack—whether that’s adding spinach to your smoothie, tossing some roasted veggies on your dinner plate, or munching on a handful of carrot sticks between sets. If you’re craving starchy carbs, keep them to about a quarter of your meal and opt for nutrient-rich options like sweet potatoes or squash.


Incorporating more fruits and veggies into your meals not only helps with sustained energy levels but also aids in digestion, immunity, and overall vitality. Keep it colorful and diverse, and your body will thank you!


DATES TO REMEMBER

Coach Development Kick-Off, April 6 @ 5:00pm

Zoom Link

Password = Pj1efJ


Saturday, April 12 @ 6:30am

Urban Ruckers Ruck

Browns Woods - 3.1 mile loop

 

Suggestions?

If you have any ideas or suggestions regarding fitness activities or socials - please feel free to reply to this email. If there's more information you'd like to see in our monthly newsletter, also let us know. Thanks!

 

Stay strong and healthy,

Coach Kris

By Kris Gregory April 17, 2025
Memorial Day 2025 Monday, May 26 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM The WHY BEHIND MURPH AND OTHER HERO's If you've been around CrossFit for a year or so then you've heard the infamous name - Murph - thrown around. You get done with a long grind of a Saturday workout and someone might say, "That was Murph-esque". Or sure enough the week after Memorial day you'll hear some of the stories of what went on by the groans of someone holding their biceps with sad eyes exclaiming, "Murph got me." Let's not forget... Murph's got us! There are thousands of "Murph's"! These are people who have stepped forward voluntarily to fight for our freedom. However, these individuals have died doing their job and truly became a living sacrifice for our privilege's. This life you have, the comfort of our lives and abilities we have are not free. It takes many large organizations to protect us and these rights we have. It's called freedom - but it's not free - and it's not cheap. Murph is a workout. But Murph is a symbol and tribute before it is a workout. CrossFit has done an incredible job bringing to light the combination of movements and defining fitness as a measurable and repeatable process. By formatting workouts and then saying, "now do it as fast as you're able" brings out an entirely different intensity and quickly becomes a test of the body and mind. When we do a "Murph", a "Manion", or a "Jack" or a "Bert", this is not just a workout but a expression of gratitude towards the men and women just like them fighting every single day. Risking their lives. When you participate and wear your Murph Shirt... it's you saying, "Thank you. I see you. I support you." Their sacrifice is our privilege. So when we mention Murph and invite you to do this "workout"... understand that we are inviting you to pay your respects and suffer a small fraction of what suffering has been done for us. The fact that we can go to sleep and wake up in peace, have the option to go to the gym and spend time with our families is such a beautiful thing. I don't know about you, but one day per year to bow our heads and willingly go through a "tough experience" for an hour while enjoying the rest of the day off to remember and acknowledge our past and present military and armed forces... especially those who died serving, or spent their entire lives doing so... is a low price and an ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE!