A letter

from Angus Rickard

Dear Adam and Scott,

I’m writing this email in as much as way as expressing my gratitude for CrossFit Victoria’s dedication and love of achieving holistic improvement for its clients as well as a way of documenting my intentions for the foreseeable future.

Studying Music Performance during 2001 to 2003, I was playing my guitar between two and six hours every day. During my second year, I developed tendonitis in my arms and wrists, forcing me to see a variety of allied health professionals until I could play again. After seeing a chiropractor, I was able to play again and finish my course. I still experienced a little pain and tiredness in my wrists until some years later when I joined a gym and began to develop strength and fitness. As well as working out, I attended some classes and found enjoyment in Ashtanga Yoga, later studying it for 24 weeks at the Ashtanga centre in Fitzroy. This led me develop an interest in meditation and I began to practice this nightly. Feeling as though I was on the path to physical and mental development, I would update my chiropractor regularly on my achievements in the gym (I was particularly proud of my leg press – 17 reps @ 700lbs). During one adjustment, he asked me if I was doing any compound movements and suggested I look at the CrossFit website, read the philosophy and implement some of the exercises into my ‘routine’.

I was immediately intrigued. Here was a way of training totally different to what I’d been taught. Knowing nothing about developing fitness, I had previously signed a membership, was given a ‘bodybuilding’ program (all isolated exercises), told to eat a ridiculous amount of processed carbs (rice, bread, pasta) and to lightly jog once or twice a week. I put on A LOT of muscle. Weighing in at 68 kgs I skyrocketed to 82 kgs in 18 months. Sure I was a little slower that I used to be, but having no other knowledge of fitness, I thought that a lot of visible muscle must have meant I was fit. Reading the CrossFit philosophy of training was worlds away from what I’d been taught.

I went back to the gym and asked the owner if he knew of CrossFit and if he could help me implement the exercises into my program. He said that he’d heard of it, that it was similar to lots of exercise programs out there and that to get the same results, I should up the reps and sets of each exercise. This was the owner of a gym telling me that to develop fast, balanced and functional fitness, I should up the reps and weights of isolated exercises. Two weeks later I saw the CrossFit Victoria centre open up in Fitzroy and I cancelled my gym membership.

My first CrossFit session was a scaled Christine. It hurt, I loved it, CrossFit was for me. Over the next few months I progressed in leaps and bounds, improving my speed and strength, eating less processed carbs and getting as much sleep as possible. I absolutely love training in a group, giving me a healthy competition and forming friendships with the other clients and trainers. I thrive on the support and motivation given to me from you, the trainers at CrossFit Victoria. You push me further than I could push myself, take a real interest in my progress and encourage me to return week after week, allowing me to make improvements I never thought possible. All my friends know I’m dedicated to and support my involvement in this model of training. Some of them have joined themselves and are reaping the benefits. So here is a big ‘thank you’ for making a huge impact on my life, it means more than I can express with words so I’ll do it in busting my gut on the WOD.

- Angus Rickard.