Healthy, Strong, and No More Back Pain!
August 24, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
I was introduced to CrossFit in spring of 2007. At that time I lost my running partner and was lacking a motivation to continue on my own. I got a gym membership and with that came a fitness assessment. That it were I met Adam. He did my assessment and suggested a visit to the CrossFit gym. After initial hesitation – I experienced some geriatrics gym classes before – I decided to give it a try. After all, it couldn’t be too difficult for me since I had been running 3-5 times per week and doing my little workout routine at home. I was wrong! I met burpees! There could not have been anything more effective, in showing me how out of shape I was, than long sets of burpees I was asked to do in my first CrossFit class. I experienced a lot of muscle pain, which was new to me. I became aware of muscles in my body I did not know existed. And I was hooked. I started to attend Adam’s classes twice a week and very soon realized that even this low frequency of CrossFit is more effective than any other physical activity I have ever done. I can again do, at age 42, things I was not able to do since childhood – pull-ups, push-ups, box jumps, double unders… Over time I increased frequency of workouts to 3-4 times a week. I feel strong, healthy, have more energy and my persistent lower back pains disappeared. Classes are always fun and workouts vary every day. Group setting is very motivating and difficulty of workout can be scaled to a fitness level of individual, which makes classes challenging, but not intimidating. Adam does excellent job in explaining every excises we do and supervising us to prevent injuries. He is incredibly encouraging even with his sadistic grins. I also attended Adam’s nutritional seminar, which helped me to improve my eating habits. Now I can’t imagine my life without CrossFit, it became important part of it.
Thank you Adam for never ending challenge.
Michaela
June 25th Work-out of the Day – WoD
June 26, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Workout of the Day
W/U: 400m run; 50 Wall Ball (Light, focus on form); 3 rounds of 10 pull-ups/10 ab mat sit ups
Skill Work: PISTOLS (one legged squats)
WoD: AMRAP for 10 mins:
10 KB Swings (16/24)
5 Pull Ups
10 Push Ups
Craig aka “Plyo-Boy” pushes hard every time – the intentsity will pay off brother! Alison also really put it out there and scored 7 plus rounds – an impressive effort in the “sweat-box”! Yes – it was hot yesterday, but that is what CrossFit is all about – be ready for the unexpected, bring it on no matter what the conditions. Think about pioneer farmers in the 1800’s, Bush firefighters, construction workers – they didn’t or couldn’t give up or quit because of the conditions! Pace yourself, drink plenty of water – you will adapt to the heat, you can still build fitness – great effort today!
Definitely seeing the results
April 16, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
It has now been almost 1 1/2 years that I have been attending classes at Crossfit Hamilton, with Adam as the trainer. Looking back to my first class, it was incredibly hard and I didn’t know if I was up for it. However, there was one thing that drew me back- that being the encouragement and practical advice that Adam gave through out the session. Thanks to him, I have now reached several of my fitness goals and am definitely seeing the results- both on the soccer field and at the gym. It was exactly what I needed- that gentle push to try harder and the many pointers on how to improve my technique. Adam definitely encompasses the balance of the ideal trainer. One who challenges you to try harder, yet recognizes personal limits and can cater the workout to your needs. He is very knowledgeable, yet also quite approachable. I would not hesitate to recommend anybody, be they a professional athelete or somebody who simply hopes to improve their fitness level to attend a session run by Adam.
Layli
Avid soccer, football, field hockey player
Medical Student, McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
The most beneficial exercise I have ever done
April 13, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
I’ve been going to CrossFit for about 6 months now, and I can honestly say it is the most beneficial exercise I have ever done. The first couple of classes I attended were brutally hard, but the fundamental lessons I learned made it possible for me to achieve a level of general fitness I have never experienced before.
I think the real key is that you don’t only learn 1 or 2 skills at a time; you learn 5 or 6. Then these skills can be applied not only to other exercises, but to your everyday life. I play guitar and sing in a band, and the endurance and confidence I have learned at CrossFit have made my ability to perform much easier and better. It is a very difficult regimen, but incredibly effective, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
James “Rock Star” Nelan
I thought that was “working out”
April 13, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
Before starting CrossFit I would go to the gym, do my 3 sets of 10 for a few exercises, do some sit ups, then some cardio. I thought that was “working out”. I was encouraged to give CrossFit a shot, and I thought it would be a good supplement to my workouts. As it turned out, the CrossFit warm up was more intense than my original “work outs”!
Through CrossFit and Coach Adam Morden’s constant “encouragement” I went from 210 to 185 pounds, all the while adding 70 pounds to my squats 80 to my dead lifts and 50 to my military press. I went from sets of 5 chin ups to 15 full pull ups and 10 dips to 12 dips on the gymnastic rings! I also improved my cardiovascular conditioning, my endurance and my athletic abilities!
Through CrossFit Coach Adam taught me to push my physical and metal limits, pushing, pulling, jumping and swinging more weight and more reps than I ever thought possible for me or anybody really. The pain was just my weakness leaving my body! The combination of Olympic weight lifting, cardio and endurance training gives real, lasting results.
The group atmosphere of CrossFit is great. CrossFitters are from all walks of life and all ages from mid-teens to mid-sixties. Every day you go, you know others will be going through the work out of the day (WOD) together and putting out the best of their abilities, no matter their age, strength or conditioning; everyone sweats, suffers and success the same!
After starting CrossFit I only go to the gym to improve for my next CrossFit Class!
Thanks Adam,
Paul Jarrett
Adam Morden Rocks!
April 13, 2009 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
Adam Morden Rocks!
I met Adam Morden a little over two years ago when the Steel City Crossfit opened. I was introduced to both the program and the “Coach” with a free one month trial as my women’s gym was moving to a new location. As someone who is uncomfortable in the standard gym atmosphere, and in particular group exercise programs, I was skeptical. It didn’t take long to become hooked on the Crossfit way of life, and I believe that for me this was mostly because of Adam.
Adam is the best coach/trainer I have ever met. He truly believes in each person he coaches. His enthusiasm is infectious, even through the pain of a “hellish” work out; his sense of fun makes you want to come back for more; and his never ending encouragement makes you try harder and do better every class.
Coach Adam has helped me become leaner, stronger, and healthier; while at the same time helping me believe in myself, push myself harder and build my confidence right along with my strength. I am a petite woman, 36 years young, who used to smoke and eat very unhealthy food on a regular basis. I started rock climbing 10 years ago and fell in love with it, but quickly found my “wall”. Adam and Crossfit have helped me get past this physical and mental barrier to become a stronger, more confident climber.
Adam has convinced me to try many new types of workouts and exercises – all of this leading to a new addiction. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that now I can complete 25 pull ups consecutively, dead lift 255 lbs, and bench press 115 lbs. I look forward to an evening with “Fran”, “Angie”, surviving the “Filthy Fifty” and the “300″. I am not the easiest person to encourage and push through difficult tasks – but Adam takes the punishment and the reward with an eager grin and unending patience.
Thanks Adam. You will forever be one of my favorite people. To you, everyone is a superstar. You help us shine!
Denise Magnini
“ONE YEAR LATER…”
October 7, 2008 by Coach Morden
Filed under Testimonials
“ONE YEAR LATER…”
It has been one year since we became acquainted with Adam Morden and his CrossFit ways – and what a year it has been!
My knee no longer aches and hurts from years of running abuse.
Debbie can perform “11 kipping pull-ups”; a year ago this count was “0”!
Adam introduced us to lots of girls with names like “Fran”, “Cindy”, “Angie” and “Barbara” – very tough girls!
We both discovered muscles we never knew were there, or that we could use.
We learned to “Jerk” and “Squat” and “Snatch” and “Clean” – movements that are much more complex than they sound.
Thank goodness we have had someone with Adam’s expertise, experience and patient coaching to guide us through and train us.
No matter how sore or stiff or whiney we were, Adam always met us with an enthusiastic smile and another diabolical WOD!
You can always tell when someone loves what they do and excel at doing it – they make it look and seem easy, they smile and laugh a lot, and before you know it…
You are doing things you never thought you could do or would do…
You are doing Muscle-ups, Kips, Handstands, Burpees, Norwegian falls, …
You are pounding a tire with a sledgehammer, climbing a rope, sprinting, lifting 10,000 lbs over your head!
You are doing all these things with pride and enthusiasm – because the guy who is telling you to do it:
Has taught you how to do it properly, he has encouraged you to do it, he has done it carefully and made sure you were safe,
He has CHEERED for you as you did it.
He has given you a gift, an awesome gift…
He teaches you the CrossFit way, to embrace the unexpected, to challenge yourself, to fight to the finish, to get it done!
The ability and belief that you can do anything that life may throw at you.
He has prepared you both physically and mentally to take on any of life’s great challenges – and he has done it expertly!
Thank You Adam!
3,2,1…GO
Andy and Debbie O’Rourke
