Fitness crosses over

Electronic music pumped loudly in the park as the “Dynamic Duos 2” CrossFit competition welcomed CrossFit gym groups from all over the state at the Marina Green Park in Long Beach.

The competition was held for teams of two, competing together in three “Workout of the Day” sets. These sets included intervals of burpees, weighted squats and pull-ups.

The event featured the competitions in beginner to advanced portions, allowing all types of CrossFitters to participate.

“This is why I love CrossFit: you get to see yourself grow,” CrossFit Evolution competitor Chris Valor said. “I used to be a beginner, and now I’m already working out as an advanced competitor. It’s cool to see how far CrossFit has taken me.”

Many different CrossFit affiliate gyms, or “boxes” as the CrossFitter’s call thy gyms, joined to compete against each other as well as against themselves.

“It’s fun to compete in your hometown,” said Brandon Kubo, a competitor from CrossFit Long Beach. “I just hope we can do Long Beach justice.”

CrossFit was founded in the early 2000s by coach Greg Glassman in which, according to crossfit.com, Glassman was the first person in history to “define fitness in a meaningful, measurable way” by combining cardiovascular and strength training.

CrossFit optimizes fitness by integrating varying types of strength exercises, gymnastics, core training and cardiovascular exercises into fast-paced, timed workouts, according to crossfit.com.

“I absolutely love that CrossFit focuses on the entire body,” CrossFit Long Beach competitor Melissa Jones said. “I never have a dull workout.”

The benefits of the workouts of CrossFit include burning large amounts of calories and increasing strength in all regions of the body and mental awareness of the body’s limits and agility, according to crossfit.com.

“Not only do I get an amazing workout from CrossFit, but the relationships I’ve made with my fellow CrossFitters [are] definitely the best thing I’ve gained from starting [CrossFit],” Jones said.

However, there have been multiple reports of herniated discs, muscle and tendon ruptures and rhabdomyolysis – a disease caused by overworking the body that can swell muscles, intensify soreness and introduce kidney failure, according to getbetterhealth.com, a medical news source website.

“This regimen is no joke and should be taken seriously,” CrossFit Evolution coach Kevin Gherhart said. “But if approached in the right foot, it’s very beneficial.”

The event highlighted the basics of the Workout of the Day. The competitions included an interval workout combining dumbbells and water at the beach.

Special Olympics Southern California sold tickets to a beer garden that included beers from Redland Brewery Hangar 24, as well as food options. All the ticket proceedings went to the Special Olympics of Southern California, according to the event’s press release.