On Episode 299 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed HQ Seminar Staff member Chriss Smith and multi-year CrossFit Games competitor Brandon Phillips. This episode was webcast on Oct. 9, 2013.
1:48 Chriss Smith owns Trident CrossFit in Alexandria, Va. Smith described his efforts to make the community aspect of CrossFit as fun and vibrant as possible, and he says his gym markets community and not exercise. Smith talked about fun things he inserts into the programming, as well as how Trident CrossFit uses social media. He also addressed a hot topic in the affiliate community: how to balance programming for the general athlete with programming that will challenge those who want to compete in CrossFit competitions.
16:03 Brandon Phillips left his career as a high-school teacher and wrestling coach to open CrossFit Bound, and he talked about making the transition. Perhaps as part of an odd “honeymoon,” he opened his affiliate but two days after getting married and was stressed when only a pair of people showed up for his first class. Phillips barely missed qualifying for his fifth Games last year and spoke about his own training and the changes he has made to improve for 2014. After talking about coaching points for the push press, he stepped up for the Lightning Round of questions.