CrossFit Canmore is escaping the box for a run in the mountains and they want the public to join them for the jaunt.
The Rocky Mountain Crusher race will make its debut at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Sept. 14, challenging competitors to complete a five kilometre trail run and five separate crossfit-style workouts. For every kilometre of trail, athletes will encounter a new activity.
“We’re putting a spin on a standard trail run, pushing people to a new extreme,” said spokesperson Micaela Zagozewski. “The neat thing is they are crossfit-style workouts, but you don’t need to be a crossfit athlete to do them. If you just want to challenge yourself, you don’t need experience.”
The workouts will remain a secret until a week before the race, but Zagozewski said the run will include 200 metres of elevation gain, and the first and last workout will be in the stadium, which is perfect for spectators.
Obstacle-style races are becoming increasingly popular, especially with crossfit athletes. This will be the second obstacle race of the season at the Nordic Centre, following this weekend’s Proving Grounds event. While the workouts have sparked much debate in the sporting world, there is no doubting their popularity.
“There’s a huge phenomenon with races like Tough Mudders and Spartan races. This is CrossFit taking the idea and moving it into the mountains. It’s a great opportunity and it showcases Canmore,” Zagozewski said. “The reason we do CrossFit at our gym (CrossFit Canmore) is so we can best enjoy Canmore. We go to the gym so we can be stronger and more efficient when we do go on the trails. That’s the big tie-in.”
The sport is still growing in the Bow Valley. Banff and Canmore both have crossfit gyms, and the Canmore location will move to a new, larger location in September. The event is capped at 150 spots, and athletes can sign up as a team.
Visit crossfitcanmore.com for more details and for updates on the Rocky Mountain Crusher workouts.
