Linchpin Conversations

1. What are a few of my favorite workouts I've created? 2. Trapped on a desert island, what would be the 3-4 workouts I'd do for the rest of my life? 3. If you identify personal deficiencies, what is the process to improve them?

If you truly want to be prepared for any challenge life throws your way, then training with intelligently designed variance is critical. It can be easy for many people to let biases creep into their training, but that does not produce well rounded fitness. Variance is the key!

Layne is approaching 6 months old. I've had to modify, scale & rearrange more workouts in the last 6 months than the previous 16 years. Here are my lessons learned & observations.

1. Why are Sumo Deadlift High Pulls one of the L1 movements, but rarely programmed? 2. Nasty workouts that were never repeated. 3. Accessory Engine building.

Dr. Smith shares her unique, expert perspective about the current state of the world. She has seen first hand what happens to people who do not make their health & fitness a priority.

1. What is the Linchpin "DT" challenge? 2. What are 1st, 2nd & 3rd Wave adaptations? 3. Can you be too strong? 4. Rower vs Air Bike. 5. Develop strict or kipping movements first?

We discuss how movements & loadings change across various Age groups in competition & whether or not that should influence your training if you're a Masters athlete.

1. What is intentional interference in workouts? 2. What are benefits of a "Heavy Day at a High Heart Rate"? 3. What are slow twitch & fast twitch muscle fibers?

Matteo Pizzi is a CrossFit Level 3 Coach who has taken courses to improve his knowledge about programming & modifying workouts to meet the needs of Adaptive Athletes. Matteo lives in Milan, Italy & is a full time coach. He is a member of the Linchpin community & creates an Adaptive Athlete video every week for the CF Linchpin YouTube channel. He shares what he has learned with us during this conversation.

Zack Lewis is a husband, father, school teacher & a CrossFitter. At his heaviest he weighed over 400 lbs. He has lost over 100 lbs & is till making progress towards his goal. Zack candidly talks about his journey, his struggles, & the ups & downs we all face when trying to make big changes in our lifestyle.

1. How to use workout data optimize your fitness. 2. What data should go in the "notes" section on btwb? 3. What makes programming intelligently designed? 4. What are some programming "secrets"?

I'm very happy that some of my all-time favorite CrossFit workouts were created many years ago...& I explain why.

1. Veteran's Day workouts/traditions. 2. Devices that measure recovery. 3. What goes into prepping for a Live broadcast like the Rogue Invitational? 4. How will my fitness today truly help when I'm 75 years old?

We discuss what is included in the CF Linchpin private track from the detailed warm-ups, 5 different workout options, goal times, videos talking about the intended stimulus, movement demo videos, optional accessory work, btwb specialty programs for strength & gymnastics, an amazing global community, videos on modulating intensity, access to our private Facebook group & much more for ony $10 a month.

1. Does missing a workout throw off the entire training block? 2. What are the benefits of pairing push & pull movements? 3. What athlete did I want to meet at the Rogue Invitational? 4. What was my favorite event from the Rogue Invitational & what athletes stood out to me?

I discuss the competitors, the leaderboard, the venue, the Strongman competition, the prize money, the live broadcast & the hotel workouts I did.

If you only hang out with other CrossFitters you may get a jaded perspective regarding your level of fitness. The truth is you are probably doing far better than you give yourself credit for! My recent trip to Disney brought to my attention how unhealthy & sick a large segment of the population is.

1. What is the best way to get back into working out after COVID or any long time off? 2. What to do if you don't have enough time to work on flexibility. 3. How do you deal with relative who constantly expose you to poor food choices?

Distance coaching is becoming more common every day. Eric is a Linchpin member who lives in New York, but he coaches athletes from all around the world. He shares his best practices & lessons learned to effectively coach someone from a distance using video.

1. What is the history/evolution of CF Linchpin? 2. Is cooling down & stretching actually effective? 3. Applying the Sickness-Wellness-Fitness continuum to CF Linchpin.

Understanding & implementing these concepts is mission critical to your success in CrossFit regardless if you are brand new or have been working out for a decade.

An interview with Abbie Pritchard. Abbie is my sister-in-law & over the last 18 months she has lost nearly 100 pounds. She walks us through her weight loss journey, shares best practices as well as lessons learned.

Do you have limited time each day to workout? We provide you the simple information you need to take control of your fitness even if you only have 30 minutes a day. We cover how to modify any workout, including heavy days to fit a tight timeline.

1. Knee push-ups vs elevated push-ups 2. Some strength & conditioning coaches say training only 3 times a week is optimal, why does CrossFit train more? *WARNING...Question 2 leads down a long rabbit hole. 🤓

Brian & Anne are members of CF Linchpin who train in their garage/driveway every day. After learning their 70-year old neighbor, Mr. John, recently fell in his home & was unable to get up, they decided to help him get back in shape. They share their experiences & lessons learned through this incredible journey.

1. What is the process for coming up with the various workout options each day? 2. Did I ever get a question at a CrossFit seminar that I could not answer? 3. What advice would I give to a new CrossFitter? 4. What advice would I give to an experienced CrossFitter? 5. Hand width grip for various styles of pull-ups.

Hard skills vs soft skills required to be an effective coach are discussed with real life examples.

1. What movement is effective, but not programmed for some reason? 2. Best way to incorporate hypertrophy work with Linchpin? 3. Are Dumbbell workouts enough to be for life? 4. How has Linchpin evolved over the years?

Jay King is a CrossFit Level 3 Coach as well as a school teacher. He started a CrossFit kids program at his school that had 400 children participating in it. Jay shares his knowledge & expertise regarding programming, training & coaching for kids.

1. Does the Linchpin programming & goal times get adjusted based on data from the community? 2. What to do when a gym owner is making bad programming decisions. 3. What is the future of CrossFit Health?

A member of the Linchpin community asked for suggestions to help sustain his health & fitness over time. He said he struggled with consistency & getting back into working out after life/work disrupted his schedule. Recommendations are given to help increase consistency.

1. What was my favorite lecture to give at CrossFit Seminars? 2. Status of the On-ramp programs. 3. In-person meet-ups are happening. 4. Goal times & dumbbell workouts. 5. Favorite tv shows and/or movies.

We also discuss how "Nobody Cares. Train Harder." and "Scaling is Cool." can both coexist in an athlete's life.

1. Should you prioritize sleep or training? 2. Which is worse, Hell Week or a baby with colic? 3. If you could only do 1 workout for the rest of your life... 4. Signs of Good vs Bad programming in gyms

He discusses what lead him to CrossFit, why he opened a gym, what their community is like, how they dealt with COVID and offer advice to new gym owners.

1. The mysterious post-it notes on my wall are explained. 2. Does athlete participation influence Linchpin programming? 3. What are some of my quick & easy meals? 4. Does my wife plan on competing again? 5. Is it okay not to workout during a vacation?

I discuss the pros & cons of the many ways I have experimented with working cheat meals into my nutrition & life. Some things worked well & others were epic failures. The good, the bad & the ugly are exposed.

1. What are the BTWB Challenges all about? 2. How to build an engine, aka improve conditioning. 3. What did I think if the 2021 CF Games programming? 4. What gyms around the world follow CF Linchpin? 5. What are the considerations for programming a competition? 6. How impressive was Annie Thorisdottir's performance at the Games? 7. Will there be a Linchpin meet-up at the Cascade Classic & at the Rogue Invitational?

Jordan Holland is one of the main organizers of the Cascade Classic. This event is in its 8th year and attracts as many as 600 competitors. It is a highly inclusive and fun event that takes place in Washington State. Jordan discusses the event, how people can compete and/or volunteer and why he chose to have CF Linchpin program the qualifier events.

A recap of my quick trip to the 2021 CrossFit Games & my participation in the CrossFit Health panel regarding chronic disease.

1. If you go to a CrossFit gym how can you evaluate the quality of the programming? 2. Simone Biles, gymnastics & mental health. 3. On-ramp programs. 4. How to overcome a fear of handstands & being upside down. 5. How to get back into fitness after pregnancy. 6. Advice to young gymnasts.

Social media is a tool with the power to significantly impact our physical and mental health in either a profoundly positive or negative manner. The potential pitfalls of social media comparison are discussed as well as why it is most important to only compare yourself to you.

1. Why have some gyms gone away from classic CrossFit programming? 2. How am I enjoying being a "girl dad"? 3. If I competed at the CF Games what workout would I want to see & not want to see? 4. How important is a "CrossFit" style shoe for training? 5. At some point should Masters athletes not lift 1RM's?

My new baby girl is 3 weeks old and I'm exhausted. This is forcing me to realize my daily sessions in the gym are about making smart decisions, moving my body and relieving stress. During this phase with the newborn I need to realize that I will most likely not set any PR's and that's okay. I discuss my performance, both physically and mentally on two recent benchmark workouts.

1. How big is the Linchpin community & what do the demographics look like? 2. Should you buy an Air Bike, Rower or Ski Erg? 3. If you frequently scale the loading in workouts so you focus on building strength for a while? 4. How to fit in fitness in a hectic life. 5. Food prep, tips & tricks. 6. How to avoid biasing workouts based on your personal preferences.

Greg Stephens is a real estate agent, a PGA professional & a member of the Linchpin community. He shares his journey from previously weighing 260 pounds to now weighing 180. He tells us how he found CrossFit & how it can benefit golfers.

1. At what distance do I decide to use a dedicated running shoe? 2. Can a tall person win the CrossFit Games? 3. How can one program (i.e. CrossFit) get everyone "fit"? 4. How is "fitness" defined? 5. How do different people's goals factor into fitness?

We just had our 3rd child, so there is a little newborn baby in our life! Fitness, sleep and nutrition continue to remain priorities, but adjustments need to be made. Whatever life throws at you does not need to completely derail your long term health and fitness journey. I discuss the steps I've taken in the first week of my new daughter's life and my plan moving forward.

1. Funny and/or worst experiences coaching or training. 2. How to break through mental barriers with Oly lifts. 3. Are there movements to avoid or modify for older athletes? 4. How to use the BTWB specialty programs for barbell lifts & gymnastics.

Real life disrupts your workout schedule. I walk through the last 3 days of poor sleep, less than ideal nutrition, travel and how I heavily modified workouts to make fitness possible.