When I was in Grade 10, my school decided to put us in gender-segregated fitness classes. 

Twice a week, we took a school bus to the local gym “Fitness Avenue” and spent our time in the “Women’s Only” room.

Disengaged girls with nobody to flirt with stood around looking bored, applying lip gloss between sets of whatever lame movements we were doing that day.

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I’ve never understood the concept of “Women’s Only” gyms or classes. Never understood how it benefits women. While I’m sympathetic that some women might be intimidated and scared of aggressive men dominating the squat rack, I just can’t wrap my head around the idea that shying away from it is somehow a solution.

I’m proud beyond belief to be able to call myself a CrossFit Games athlete, and more motivated than ever to continue to improve.

But I’m not a courageous athlete.

It’s not that I didn’t have to overcome my fears, but the truth is competing is second nature to me. It would actually be more difficult for me to stop competing than it is to continue doing something I’ve done my entire life.

It would take far more courage for me to stand up and sing and dance in front of a crowd, which—trust me—nobody wants to see, than it was to qualify to the CrossFit Games. And the chances of me singing, even happy birthday, as a solo are less than tiny.

That being said, I did witness courage this summer. In a big way. In two of my longest standing clients: Jennine Stockall and Mike Fransblow.

CrossFit clients far and wide. Listen up:

“We love you. But sometimes, you’re impossible to please.”

Well, what I really mean is: Pleasing everyone is impossible.

Juxtaposed in my mind were two vivid images. One was remembering seeing Lindsey Valenzuela burst into tears as she ran through the tunnel at the Stub Hub Center into her husband's arms at last year's CrossFit Games. The other image was my client beaming, high fiving anyone she could. While she avoided tears, her excitement over 8 tabata squats was the same feeling Lindsey felt when she earned a podium finish at the CrossFit Games.

CrossFit tells us to regularly try new sports, yet the more we get into CrossFit – especially if we compete in competitions – the less likely we seem to be to venture into unchartered waters of often pathetically attempting new sports.

In fact, I asked a class of 25 CrossFit athletes the other day how many people try new sports and I received nearly 25 blank stares. Many of them couldn’t even remember the last time they went swimming.

If you’re a CrossFit coach, here’s why you should encourage your clients to get out of the box now and then and try a new sport!

I’ve never met a person who did the Open who didn’t say she was so glad she did it. Never heard anyone regret to compete, not even my client who couldn’t do a toes-to-bar. The only feedback I’ve ever received are either stories of people exceeding their own expectations of themselves, or stories of athletes learning valuable life lessons.

Here's why your should do the CrossFit Games Open!

If you’ve ever seen Parker compete live, he is as cool as a cucumber, and he manages to maintain his poise and stick to his game plan even when he’s competing in front of thousands of viewers at the CrossFit's biggest event The CrossFit Games. It’s actually the craziest thing to watch Parker compete as he looks completely un-phased, utterly unruffled by the chaos around him. I can’t even imagine how calm he looks when he’s performing the Open workouts in the comforts of his home box CrossFit Zone in Victoria.

Here’s a sneak preview of the subjects Parker will discuss at “Open Prep with Parker”

A while ago, I wrote “Don’t be that Guy,” and “Don’t be that Girl” from a coach’s perspective. I know, however, that there are very annoying, counterproductive things, that coaches do, as well. Nobody is getting off the hook here!

I surveyed my own clients to find out what they feel are the coaching Faux Pas – the things that annoy them most.

A while ago, I wrote “Don’t be that Guy,” and “Don’t be that Girl” from a coach’s perspective. I know, however, that there are very annoying, counterproductive things, that coaches do, as well. Nobody is getting off the hook here!

Without further ado, Introducing the 7 Deadly Coaching Sins...