I Bleed Apollo's Creed

A few weeks back, we put together a team for an upcoming Crossfit competition in November.  It's been great to work out with a team again.  The camaraderie, the push, the accountability; all good stuff.  So, I finished writing up a "Team Creed" to help motivate us over the next few months as we look to go into St. Louis with full preparation; both mentally and physically.  Here ya go:

Crossfit is for a special breed of individual; humble, with an uncommon desire to succeed. Forged in adversity this individual stands alongside their teammates to serve them and push them; I am that individual.

It is a privilege to train the way we do. A blessing that goes beyond the four walls we call “our box.” Though we all possess different strengths and weaknesses, we push each other beyond common limits, evolving the team into a single unit that disposes of all weakness; becoming defined by our collective strengths.

 For this reason we expect to lead and be led. When I’m weak, I expect to learn and be pushed beyond the self-imposed limits that seek to destroy me (us). When I’m strong, I expect to lead and do so by example in every training situation.

 The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of ego, pride or circumstance, sets me apart from other individuals. For this reason, I remain calm and confident in the heat of competition.

 I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity because I know it’s in these moments when I am most alive and where I go beyond fitness for the body, but preparation and strength for life. I will be physically tougher and mentally stronger than my competitors. If knocked down, I will get back up…every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to exceed my own expectations and push my team towards victory…every time. I am never out of the fight…ever.

 We demand discipline and thrive on the growth pains it provides. We realize that our training is never complete. There is always room to improve upon technique, strength, conditioning, flexibility, capacity and mental toughness.

 We don’t make excuses. In times of affliction, injury or sickness our efforts remain above reproach because in moments of good health, our work ethic had been solidified. We edify and walk through the fire with our teammates until affliction is no more. The result: collective strength.

 We train to compete and compete to win. We are always ready and will not fail if we give our whole selves to those short, treasured moments of training and competition.

 These principles don’t begin and end in “The Box”, but it is here they are sharpened for life. Let’s do this!

Acknowledgment:  I used the structure of the Navy Seal creed when writing this