The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: LESLEY ONSTOTT Crossfit Athens owner Adam Head, a University alum, demonstrates a weight training exercise for "functionl fitness." [Click to enlarge]

University graduate Adam Head stands in the center of his large, airy garage-turned-gym, watching a group gather their belongings after the workout. Exercisers, who included teenagers and parents, looked exhausted but elated.

There is not a workout machine in sight, save a lone treadmill that sits unplugged in the corner. Instead, there are parallel bars, mats, giant tires and weights scattered everywhere. No mirrors either. This is CrossFit Athens, an alternative to the typical gym.

Head said CrossFit Athens' objective is to teach its members "functional fitness." The fitness programs are designed to improve one's general physical preparedness, and to increase fitness capacity.

"Elite soldiers have the same physical needs as stay-at-home moms," said Head, who opened the gym in October 2007. "Whether it is running from fire or picking up a suitcase from the floor."

Every workout pertains to real life movement patterns.

"After graduation, I started something called 'In Home Training' in my basement. It turned into CrossFit Athens when I applied for an affiliation with the [previous] original establishment," Head said.

Written on a dry erase board was the work out of the day: "Morph."

Although it changes every day, "Morph" was named after a soldier serving in Iraq. Morph consisted of a one mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and concluded with another one mile run.

"We offer free coaching to make sure everyone has the right form and right techniques." Head said. "We scale down the loads to fit peoples' needs, but ultimately high intensity equals high results."

Members are required to keep a nutrition and workout log during their first month.

Sound intense? Maybe, but the enthusiasm of the members was palpable.

"It's kind of addicting," said Cheri Rose, who has been coming to CrossFit Athens with her daughter for almost a year. "My impression of other gyms is that people there are already in good shape. Those gyms are very image based. Here is comfortable and supportive."

Kyle Dondero, a senior Spanish major from Jackson County, made similar remarks.

"Other places have individualist goals, but here we have a workout of the day that everyone does together," Dondero said. "There is a little friendly competition, but it just makes you work harder."

As an added bonus, Head has promised a 100 percent refund to anyone who doesn't see results after three months of training. So far, Head said, no one has asked.

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