Competition breeds excellence

[Evan B]

When I was a CrossFit competitor the best dudes (I wasn't one of them) came from gyms that were full of dudes just like them. The best coaches I know come from the best leagues...it goes on and on. There is no doubt that competition drives excellence.

I will say, after 12yrs in the Crossfit world, I think the vibe at a lot of the gyms has really improved with the lowered emphasis on competitiveness that they've been softly promoting from the top. I've been a member of 5 different CF gyms over the years after some closing, me moving, office moving, etc. My absolute favorite is my current one where they promote members doing competitions as part of their fitness goals, and for the enjoyment of it vs it being a serious competitive environment. I've made more real friendships and had more fun, and been more motivated in that environment than I ever have.

My least favorite gym I was a member of turned every day workouts in to a competition. Everyone's scores/times were put up on the board for everyone to see for the rest of the day's classes. Everyone had a competitive attitude toward everything and it honestly became toxic. That toxicity hit critical mass eventually and there was a mass exodus of people who rage quit, making the gym lose over half their members in a few months' time.

I think competitiveness in fitness for the vast majority of regular people needs to be more personal goal based to be healthy. Maybe throw in a Crossfit competition or 5k race to really measure yourself and give you something to work toward. Not to say serious crossfit competitors are a bad thing, but it's a very different type of person than you will find wanting to be a part of most the gyms, which are the folks those gyms need to survive as a business.

 

[RCF]

I think everyone has some competitive attitude within each of us. The biggest difference is how one shows it. Some are very overt and in the face - look at me. This can be off-putting to some or will drive others to try to improve. Then there are some people that quietly notice, and challenge themselves to be better than what they were. Others will notice - it is just how and when it is noticed.

I prefer to challenge myself to be better quietly and let the results get noticed over time, if ever. If I am happy with the results of the improvement I have met my goals only then to make a new goal to continue to be a better person. At the same time I luv to help others be better. It is not a competition of how fast or how far they progressed, rather that they are better at something where they acknowledge to themselves and get the satisfaction of doing so. It is not necessarily showing them how but rather, in some cases, asking them questions to lead them to the discovery all on their own.

 

[swimmy]

And while I am not competitive by nature, I have conceded that I do need some level of competitive motivation to meet my fitness goals. So while I don't get obnoxiously competitive in that arena, I do allow myself to at least compare my progress and abilities to others to give myself personal goals.

I can't tell you how many hundreds if not thousands of miles I ran listening to this song back in the day. And with every step all I could think about was destroying anyone who got in the way way of achieving my goal. To this day I still get chills whenever I hear it.



Swimmy
2x GA state wrestling Champ
1996 Georgia Wrestler of the Year
125 lbs of pure stomp ass

 

[swimmy]

Shit, now I'm back in this rabbit hole

 

[Merle]

I can't tell you how many hundreds if not thousands of miles I ran listening to this song back in the day. And with every step all I could think about was destroying anyone who got in the way way of achieving my goal. To this day I still get chills whenever I hear it.



Swimmy
2x GA state wrestling Champ
1996 Georgia Wrestler of the Year
125 lbs of pure stomp ass

Shit, now I'm back in this rabbit hole

That was a kick ass movie that takes me back. I was never a wrestler though.

Did you ever climb that peg board thing? That was awesome.

 

[Coach Potter]

I will say, after 12yrs in the Crossfit world, I think the vibe at a lot of the gyms has really improved with the lowered emphasis on competitiveness that they've been softly promoting from the top. I've been a member of 5 different CF gyms over the years after some closing, me moving, office moving, etc. My absolute favorite is my current one where they promote members doing competitions as part of their fitness goals, and for the enjoyment of it vs it being a serious competitive environment. I've made more real friendships and had more fun, and been more motivated in that environment than I ever have.

My least favorite gym I was a member of turned every day workouts in to a competition. Everyone's scores/times were put up on the board for everyone to see for the rest of the day's classes. Everyone had a competitive attitude toward everything and it honestly became toxic. That toxicity hit critical mass eventually and there was a mass exodus of people who rage quit, making the gym lose over half their members in a few months' time.

I think competitiveness in fitness for the vast majority of regular people needs to be more personal goal based to be healthy. Maybe throw in a Crossfit competition or 5k race to really measure yourself and give you something to work toward. Not to say serious crossfit competitors are a bad thing, but it's a very different type of person than you will find wanting to be a part of most the gyms, which are the folks those gyms need to survive as a business.

I agree with you on that...that's the smart approach. That said, I would have left your gym in search of one that posted the daily times, and every day was a competition. I'm not saying that's right, but I didn't really care all that much about being in shape. I got in shape trying to beat everybody on the board. It was a rare occasion that I did but that competition made me WAY better than I would have been otherwise.

 

[swimmy]

Tying flies, if there's a feather not laying right, I'm gonna fix it no matter if it will fish just fine, or the fish won't care.

Guilty.

 

[Flymph]

I have been coaching Wrestling for almost 50 years and am very competitive. When I am fishing, I don't want a competitive thought to enter my mind!

 

[Dustin Chromers]

I have been coaching Wrestling for almost 50 years and am very competitive. When I am fishing, I don't want a competitive thought to enter my mind!

I have a very hard time being competitive over tricking a fish with a pretty small brain as well. I mean don't get me wrong I'm unsuccessful lots and get skunked but I've always disliked bass competitions and fishing competitions in general as it didn't seem the appropriate arena for it. Most sports I do are individual. People get competitive but that's on them. I'm generally trying to do better than I did last time and grow a skillet. If I'm backsliding that bums me out a bit. If I'm gaining skills I get lots of satisfaction from that. One thing about fishing is you can do it over an entire lifetime so there's no real rush in getting great at it in short order. The journey and enjoying that journey are the things that make me continue. In fact I really don't have a destination or goals anymore. I used to but I don't really have that anymore. One might say I'm unmotivated or I ticked enough boxes to figure out that isn't what it was about to begin with.

 

[Evan B]

I agree with you on that...that's the smart approach. That said, I would have left your gym in search of one that posted the daily times, and every day was a competition. I'm not saying that's right, but I didn't really care all that much about being in shape. I got in shape trying to beat everybody on the board. It was a rare occasion that I did but that competition made me WAY better than I would have been otherwise.

You and I are seeking something very different from our daily gym experience

Another thing to consider is how many injuries accumulate from most "regular" people trying to be that competitive (I'm very injury prone). I don't think it's a healthy approach for a huge chunk of people. Thus, there being gyms that cater to both types of athletes.

Edit: If I do get one competitive bragging right, I've never had a single person at any Crossfit gym or competition beat me in any run between 400m and 3mi. Even among the best athletes at any of the gyms I've been a part of, nobody has even come within 1min of me in a mile run even.

 

[jasmillo]

I am very competitive. When it comes to fishing, I’m not competitive with other anglers, just myself and the fish. If I am having a horrible day on the water while a fishing buddy is having a great day, I am elated for them while at the same time annoyed with myself for not figuring it out. Does not mean I am not having a good time, or treating other people like shit over it. I would not do that during an activity where competitiveness is expected. That’s just being a dick IMO..

It will eat at me though….”what the f*ck. I stood next to @mtskibum16 or @Tallguy or @Kfish or whoever all morning on that beach and they out fished me 3-1….what the hell do I need need to change up” I’ll take that and think about it a lot until my next trip…about flies, tides, specific spots in a rip, lines being used, etc. etc. etc.

I am always legitimately happy for those folks (known or unknown) when they do well though and I get particular enjoyment helping folks get on fish directly if they have been having trouble. Also, legitimately bummed when a nice fish is lost by another or they did not have success when there were fish around.

I don’t know. I’ve fished with and around a number of folks on this board over the years. Maybe I become an insufferable prick when I’m having a slow day. Not like insufferable pricks usually know they’re being insufferable pricks .

 

[John Svahn]

Not competitive in fishing. Sometimes I forget to fish and just look around. I fish with a guide around once a decade and this decade's was last weekend on the Trinity. The guide was getting annoyed that I wasn't "fishing hard enough." I was very happy to see my buddy that gets out once a year out-fish me.

I have spent most of my life racing. First swimming then bicycles and Nordic skiing. I can get very competitive in racing but it needs to be side by side- no time trailin'. Time trails are the same issue with fishing: I will be trucking along and then I'll pass a barn and wonder if there is an old Farm-All in it, or a cool old muscle car annnnddddd next thing I know my speed has dropped 25%. But gimme someone to race and it's on!

 

[Coach Potter]

You and I are seeking something very different from our daily gym experience

Another thing to consider is how many injuries accumulate from most "regular" people trying to be that competitive (I'm very injury prone). I don't think it's a healthy approach for a huge chunk of people. Thus, there being gyms that cater to both types of athletes.

Edit: If I do get one competitive bragging right, I've never had a single person at any Crossfit gym or competition beat me in any run between 400m and 3mi. Even among the best athletes at any of the gyms I've been a part of, nobody has even come within 1min of me in a mile run even.

I agree 100% with that. Our environment wasn't for everyone, but it was perfect for me. I wore myself out but, in the process, I got to see what I was capable of and that's what I was after.... then I had my hip replaced.

 

[Coach Potter]

Shit, now I'm back in this rabbit hole

Tha scene was shot where I went to HS.

 

[Evan B]

I agree 100% with that. Our environment wasn't for everyone, but it was perfect for me. I wore myself out but, in the process, I got to see what I was capable of and that's what I was after.... then I had my hip replaced.

I totally believe that. I've seen a number of people just completely wreck themselves over the years. I'm very careful, but have sustained some injuries, but weirdly, mostly outside the gym. Like damaging a tendon in my left leg during the Hood to Coast Relay last year. I also stay out of a few movements just because of past experiences, like rope climbs and high rep deadlifts. Two things I see almost no physical benefit from (with way better alternatives), and both with a high injury rate. I'm all about that longevity. I want to be doing this when I'm 65.

 

[Guy Gregory]

Tha scene was shot where I went to HS.

Rogers guy, eh?

An interesting thread, and look into some of my fellow anglers.

I'm not into competition between myself and other fly anglers.

But some of us, it seems, are.

Best wishes and happiness to you. I'm not gonna be any fun for ya. If I was fishing to eat, I'd do it differently.

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

Swimmy
2x GA state wrestling Champ
1996 Georgia Wrestler of the Year
125 lbs of pure stomp ass

I went to school for a time up in those hills of northwest Georgia, so I appreciate what it’s like to be a champion wrestler and an esteemed fisherman in that part of the world.

 

[Chris Bellows]

You can be competitive without being a dick.

You can still compete and help others at the same time.

The best competitiveness is competing with yourself to improve and learn as much as possible.

When being competitive causes you to dislike or think poorly of your "competition" you've already lost.

 

[_WW_]

This is so nice!

I was going to reply that I’m not a competitive person at all, and if so it’s mostly against myself, ( as when i used to run, trying to beat my personal best or setting a personal goal).

However I just remembered this:

I play Wordle every day. I don’t have many talents but I’m good at Wordle There is a woman i know who used to date a friend of ours years ago. She was pretty nerdy and irritating in that she seemed to have this need to always be the smartest person in the room. She would often correct people, including their grammar. She made me afraid to express an opinion because she would always have some information she thought you needed. One time I asked her if she had a 150 IQ and she told me that she did.

I haven’t seen her for years but she used to be a friend of mine and my husband’s on Facebook. I deactivated my account quite a few years ago, but sometimes I checked in on my family using my husband’s Facebook page, mostly to check out photos of my great niece and nephew ( he gave me his password to do so). And I noticed this woman was posting her Wordle results. (The results link shows not the word, but how many tries out of 6 it takes to solve it.)

So each morning if i made a good Wordle (like three guesses, or it was a difficult word), I would ask my husband to check her results so I could compare mine. The first time i missed guessing it correctly I loved finding out that she too missed it. I had this need to beat her and her so called 150 IQ!

It’s my own little competition and she has no idea that I’m playing this game with her. So yeah, it’s pretty bad how jolly i get each morning when i find out i solved it in less tries than she did!

Wordle stalking. I have to confess, this is the first time I've run across it.

 

[Peyton00]

My winning % is very high. It doesn't bother me when i lose because it rarely happens.