“Any time you do one exercise over and over, like running, you’re creating imbalances in your body,” says Duvall, who was so smitten with CrossFit’s holistic nature she opened her own studio. “You think you’re fit, but when you begin to look at muscle systems individually, you realize there are weaknesses,” Duvall says. “And that’s when you get injured.”
But CrossFit will only take a runner so far. The training sessions will build a more balanced body and could shave time off your desired distance, but you can’t ditch running altogether. Eidson’s aspiring marathoners still put in occasional long runs of up to 13 miles, and Duvall will soon hit the track to build the form and speed she needs to break her five-minute-mile goal.
“Crossfit is used as a baseline to build strength, then you get into the specialty training,” Duvall says.
Web Exclusive: Watch a CrossFit running workout.
Fit Bonus Feature:
Power Bracelets Debunked Power Balance bracelets claim to have an “electrical frequency” imprinted onto a mylar hologram that “resonates with and responds to the body’s natural energy field,” resulting in improved speed, strength, and balance. Pro athletes from Shaquille O’Neal to surfer Bruce Irons swear by the bracelets, which reached $35 million in global sales in 2010. However, the technology behind the bracelets was recently debunked. According to a University of Wisconsin study, there is no difference in the performance of athletes, whether they wear Power Balance bracelets or silicon bracelets without the holograms. After pressure from Australian authorities, Power Balance released the statement, “We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims.”
Seasonal Superfoods Work these two veggies into your dinner a couple of times a week this spring, and load up on B vitamins and antioxidants.
Artichokes: They’re in season from March until May in the South, and they come packed with 10 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and the highest antioxidant content of any veggie according to the USDA. Note: Romans considered them an aphrodisiac. Just sayin’.
Asparagus: One of the earliest veggies to pop out of the ground in the spring, asparagus is packed with vitamin C, K, B2, B5, B6, and omega fatty acids. It’s like a multivitamin from the ground.
