Kody Goings, a freshman exercise science major and a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, is competing in the Open WOD (Workout of the Day) to qualify for the North Central CrossFit Regionals and ultimately for the Reebok CrossFit Games 2013.
The CrossFit Games is a gathering of all the athletes from the country in which they compete to be the “Fittest on Earth.” The Reebok CrossFit Games 2013 consists of three stages: “The Open” (March 6 – April 7), “The Regionals” (May 17 – June 9) and “The Games” (July 22 – 28).
Goings started CrossFit in March 2011 after spring break of his junior year in high school, when his cousin, also a CrossFit trainer in Tuscaloosa, Ala., got him into it. Goings became a CrossFit Level 1 trainer this past.
“I went to CrossFit TNT (Today Not Tomorrow) in St. Charles, Mo. and spent two days of a weekend listening to lectures and going to more than the nine fundamental movements of CrossFit,” Goings said. “On the second day, I took a written multiple choice test and received my certificate.”
For Goings, the definition of CrossFit is constantly varied and functional movement performed at high intensity, as well as a relationship developer, a stress reliever and hard work.
Goings said the benefits of CrossFit are endless. To name a few, CrossFit offers the development of an elite fitness level, the establishment of relationships and the knowledge to live a fit lifestyle. In addition to these benefits, Goings said what excites him the most is that it offers a door to competitive individuals, because he can compete in CrossFit as a sport.
“My personal goal for CrossFit is to make it to the North Central CrossFit Regionals and also make it to the (Reebok) CrossFit Games,” Goings said. “Regionals is the competition that an individual goes to once they have completed the CrossFit Open (March 6 – April 7) and finished top 48 in their region. The top 48 then go to regionals to compete and the top 3 on the podium at regionals go to the CrossFit Games.”
According to the athlete profile of official website “games.crossfit.com,” Goings’ best lifts are as follows: clean & jerks, 235 lb; snatches, 180 lb; deadlifts, 365 lb; and back squats, 300 lb. The website said he is currently ranked 135th out of more than 4,200 athletes on Open Week 4 stage in the North Central region.
Goings said his motivation for CrossFit comes from the community at Searcy CrossFit and his home gym “CrossFit Spa City” and that both of these “boxes” (CrossFit lingo for gym) have members that push him every day. He said he believes community is what CrossFit builds on and that everyone pushes one another to work harder, to lift heavier and to reach goals.
“To me, CrossFit means a home, a privilege and a blessing,” Goings said. “I’ve never been a part of something that I have been so passionate about.”
