Icon Athlete Podcast

The post Back Again appeared first on Speal Programming.

Thanks for all the kind words and reviews!  Refreshing for us to know that we don’t have to have any specific content or magical guests.  We are going to keep the podcast going as we can fit it into our schedules and are thankful for the value it brings to you! The post IA 172 Back Again appeared first on Speal Programming.

Doug and Chris are back after a bit of a break.  Looking to provide good, quality information for the community and not just more “noise” this may be the end… or the continuation of the podcast.  Listen in and provide some feedback on what you find most helpful or valuable. The post IA 171 appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post Future of Podcast appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week, Doug and Chris discuss proper grammar rules, REAL SPONSORSHIP, and cover the new challenges of re-opening the gym. The post IA 170 appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post New Challenges, New Solutions appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post Body Composition appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week Chris and Doug talk about body composition and talk about Adele’s recent weight loss. How did we get here?!   The post IA 169 Body Composition appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post Starting Up appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week Chris and Doug discuss starting the gym up again and how they don’t like the term “new normal”. What doe that even mean? The post IA 168 Starting Up! appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week Chris and Doug chat about how much exercise is enough, how much is too much, and how to keep yourself in check! The post IA 167 How Much is Enough? appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post How Much is Enough? appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week Chris brings on a special guest!!!  He and his wife, Sarah, talk through their experience with COVID-19 in their home and how they handled it as well as some of its effects on the family dynamic.  You’ll get a full background on how they met as well thanks to Sarah. The post IA166 Podcast With Sarah appeared first on Speal Programming.

The post Podcast with Sarah appeared first on Speal Programming.

This week Chris and Doug answer a specific question they got from one of their listeners. Get the background on what kind of training Rick (that athlete) does, where he has come from, and what he trains for now. Much of the questions revolve around the balance of developing the skills in CrossFit or getting the meat from strength and conditioning. Can you do both? The post IA 88: Skills V Fitness appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Doug and Chris answer one of the questions they received in a review a few weeks back regarding partnering in a Gym. Lots to think about that many often don’t consider when it comes to this topic. Not only what the value of the affiliate is, but what are you really getting into and what will you get out of it. Asking the right questions and finding someone that knows their stuff in regards to business is a must. The post IA 87: Partnering in A Gym appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Lets face it, even within CrossFit there are "fads". Doug and Chris talk through some of them this week. Everything from apparel to programming and what the hang ups can be when we lose track of the core of what we are trying to do. Most of these fringe type things can be super beneficial, fun, or even educational. But if we lose sight of what really brings us the results and the goods they can be distracting. The post IA 86: CrossFit Fads appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The demographic of Masters is a big one in CrossFit! Especially if you are considering it to be 35 or older. Does training need to change, what does it look like, and how do we maximize our time in the gym with the responsibilities we have in life. Doug and Chris run through some of the philosophy of their programming for the masters community with Icon and what their members have had success with in a 90 min window of training. The post IA 85: Masters Programming appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Another week down in Regionals and this was an exciting one. It brought to mind what it really takes for any of us to be the very best at something. The risk vs. reward, sacrifices we have to make, and how it applies to us being the best version of ourselves in and out of the gym. Doug and Chris hash through the topic after finding out how possibly unprepared Chris is for this dirt bike race. Plus, who is Loni Anderson again? The post IA:84 Do You Really Want To? appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Join Chris and Doug as they recap the first week of Regionals. Chris had a chance to help out at athlete in the South and got the scoop both behind the scenes with time between workouts, prep routines, and staying mentally present. Of course they get off topic, have some technical issues, and even ask what McGuyver is up to these days? The post IA 83: Regionals Recap Week 1 appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Doug and Chris get a bit off track as usual this week. Jumping right into some of the stereotypes of CrossFitters, elite athletes in general, and what can seem silly at times. Regionals is here though and much of the conversation revolves around what these athletes are prepping for, how they should be doing it, and what some of the veterans will be doing. Plus, how do "stainless steel" pans stain? The post IA 82: Prep for Comps and CrossFit Stereotypes appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Regionals Events have been released... at least some of them. Doug and Chris walk through some of their thoughts on what we have seen so far as well as the mental approach athletes should be having with just a week away of competition for many. Competing to win, what that looks like over the entire weekend, and when you know a workout isn't in your wheelhouse. Doug fires away the questions. The post IA 81: Regionals Events appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Chris and Doug walk through some of the ways we can develop as a coach. Many of us look to put a check in the box but it's much more in that. How can we be invested as a coach, develop our craft, and become a true professional? Listen in on our take. The post IA Ep 80: Developing as a Coach appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The Age Group Online Qualifier is over and there were some crazy performances from all age groups. Doug and Chris talk through some of the performances, the programming this year, and may even help with a bit of perspective that can help those of you in this category The post IA79 Age Group Online Qualifier appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The post IA78 Building Off Strength appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The post IA77 Off Season Competitions appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The Open is over!!! Many made the cut to regionals but a number of people didn’t that some of us may have expected to see there. Doug and Chris run through some of the names and their take on the Open. Was it fair, does it matter for the very fittest? Plus, take a trip […] The post IA76 Not Making Regionals appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Chris and Doug are a bit all over the place… surprise. They answer questions from one of their reviews on when to go from competitive training to GPP, the handstand push up standard that gave some athletes headaches, and what the next cycle of programming is going to look like for Icon. The post IA75 Last Week of the Open!!! appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Lots of things covered this week! Doug and Chris go through some questions they received in emails as well as one of their reviews for the week. All sorts of good info on this one in varying topics. How do those calves feel from 18.3… Doug’s aren’t even sore. The post IA74 18.3/Seminar Staff/What is Rhabdo appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Hacking the Open… and maybe not in the best way. There is a difference between hard work, technique, and efficiency of movement vs. finding ways to cut corners, trick monitors, and cross your fingers that it gets you further in the ranking. Lets be honest, the Open can bring “bro reps” and some pretty interesting […] The post IA73 Hacking the Open appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Chris and Doug test out adding another caller to the podcast with our guest visitor…. Kenzie! All working within Icon Athlete they run through what training should look like on those days between Open workouts. Regardless of your level of commitment or what your approach is we cover some ways to keep the […] The post IA72 Training Between Open Workouts appeared first on Icon Athlete.

It’s here! 18.1 is getting announced tonight and people start getting antsy. Regardless of how you are participating and what your goals are Doug and Chris run through some of the things that can help keep you grounded and have perspective going into the next 5 weeks. The post IA71 Grounded For the Open appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The Open is here!! At least it starts next week, so you better make the most of it. This week Doug and Chris run through ways to maximize your environment for both performance an enjoyment of your CrossFit Open Experience this year. You may be able to control much more than you think for these […] The post IA70 Maximizing Your CrossFit Open Experience appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Doug and Chris address a question they got a few weeks back. Individual Coaching or Online Programming? Are they comparable, is one better than the other, and why? They have a seriously honest conversation on the benefits, cost, and appearances that can be projected from some coaches or programs. Plus, Doug has a […] The post IA69 Individual Coaching vs. Online Programming appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Doug and Chris take on a question from one of their reviews on the spot. They dive into the topic of aerobic capacity, the use of heart rate monitors for CrossFit specific workouts, and get off track as usual talking about Masters athletes, training volume, the list goes on and on. And what’s […] The post IA68 Aerobic Work and Heart Rate Monitors When It Comes To CrossFit appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Where do these even come from and should you get bent out of shape? It’s easy to start hearing the buzz in the CrossFit community of Open workouts and standards of movements this time of year. Doug and Chris jump in on where standards originated from the best of their knowledge and how they have […] The post IA67 Movement Standards?! appeared first on Icon Athlete.

When do you take this CrossFit stuff you have been doing in your garage to the next level? Or do you? This week Chris and Doug tackle the question from and email they received earlier in the week. Plus… there is a gofundme in place for Doug to see if he spends the night in […] The post IA66 Making your Garage Gym an Affiliate???? appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week we keep it positive! Doug and I run through a number of our favorite things about CrossFit. The training methodology, teaching seminars in the past or present, workouts, out gym at Park City… the list goes on and we get WAY off track. More importantly, how much would it take to have Doug […] The post IA65 CrossFit Favorites appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Sports dietitian Kary Woodruff identifies practical strategies for reducing mindless eating habits that so often derail our healthy eating goals. The post ICON Nutrition – Mindless Eating appeared first on Icon Athlete.

It’s the new year and people get all amped on setting goals. But do they set them with purpose, direction, and even know why they have those goals? This week Doug and Chris run through how goals should be set so you can have a successful season or year and look back with no regrets. […] The post IA64 Setting Goals appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Selling yourself short? It’s one Chris’s pet peeves. The comments of “I can’t” before even trying it. Do you fall into the trap of this as an individual or affiliate owner and does your programming end up reflecting that. This week Chris and Doug talk about the gains that can be made by just taking […] The post IA63 Selling Yourself Short appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Doug and Chris continue tackling the remaining common CrossFit questions that most of us have to navigate at one point or another. We get a bit off track with all sorts of things like cardio respiratory endurance, that fact that most people are in your doors because they want to look good naked, […] The post IA62 Common CrossFit Questions Ep. 2 appeared first on Icon Athlete.

All those commonly asked questions we get in CrossFit… you know the ones. You could be an affiliate owner or one of those nagging friends that all you do is talk about CrossFit and try to get your friends to do it. We know, most of them are misunderstandings but this week Chris and Doug […] The post IA61 Common CrossFit Questions Ep. 1 appeared first on Icon Athlete.

How much strength is enough strength? What about aerobic capacity, gymnastics, or even things like flexibility or coordination? This week Doug and Chris run through the list of 10 GPS that CrossFit uses to help explain it’s definition of fitness. After coming off of the Liftoff when we are all fired up on our lifts […] The post IA60 The 10 General Physical Skills appeared first on Icon Athlete.

We got a super cool email from one of our listeners with an inspiring story as well as some ideas for a podcast. We went with it and go through the run down of hero workouts, their meaning, what some of our favorites and most dreaded are along with some of the stories behind them. […] The post IA59 Hero Workouts appeared first on Icon Athlete.

We hear the term “Open Prep” thrown around often as the Open comes around. What does that mean anyway? For some, it’s the assumption that it’s time to start doing CrossFit to get ready for the open. For others it’s specific programming that will help them “prep” for the Open… but aren’t we always, or […] The post IA58 What is “Open Prep”??? appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Should they?!?! It’s a question Chris used to get asked on a frequent basis when he was competing. You may be surprised to hear his response. Hear Chris and Doug’s take on the Lift Off having weight classes vs. the CrossFit Games events and season having them. No beating around the bush when it comes […] The post IA57 Should CrossFit Have Weight Classes??? appeared first on Icon Athlete.

The new Regional format is out… at least some of the new info regarding the super regions and who gets what spots. Doug and Chris geek out on where they think the spots came from and where they are going for the individuals. Who does it effect and how? The team changes to 4 bring […] The post IA56 New Super Regions appeared first on Icon Athlete.

This week Doug actually comes prepared… and with a word association game for Chris to take. Doug reads out a variety of words or phrases and Chris has to say whatever comes to mind right away. Some good ones in there… and then Doug highjacks it with his own words to wrap things up. The post IA55 CrossFit Word Association appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Whether we know it or not there seems to be some unspoken code of CrossFit etiquette. Each gym has it’s own sub culture that is in some way or another part of the CrossFit movement. Each has it’s own vibe, way of doing things, and approach to the methodology but there are often some things […] The post IA54 The Unspoken CrossFit Etiquette appeared first on Icon Athlete.

Yep, it’s that tough topic. This week Doug and Chris get in on some of their PED’s. With athletes at higher levels getting exposed does it mean all athletes are on them? What about those that are at lower levels and may be taking them? Does it mean everyone else performing better than them is […] The post IA53 Performance Enhancing Drugs appeared first on Icon Athlete.