Constructing The CrossFit Games

by Dave Castro, Mike Warkentin (Editor)

The CrossFit Games determine the Fittest on Earth. The process of finding these elite athletes is not simply a matter of jotting down some movements on a piece of a paper. Nor is it random, although the best athletes are prepared for any physical challenge. The purpose of this book is to chronicle the process used to develop and refine the events that tested the best athletes in the world in 2017. Dave Castro, Director of the CrossFit Games, will take you from the early stages of the season to the end of the final event in Madison, and he’ll share detailed thoughts on every aspect of the competition, including the workouts of the Open and Regional rounds. In 2017, this is how Castro constructed the tests that defined the CrossFit Games and determined the Fittest on Earth.

Genres: Sports, Fitness, Nonfiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2018

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the Games. Made me like Castro a lot more too

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dave Castro's journal on the process of programming the 2017 CrossFit games, and it is provided as a day by day journal There are a few story lines here. First, his actual thought process of how he determines the workouts. This includes the test workouts which has some fun discussions of working with the athletes that help him test. It also includes the way he thinks of making up the workouts, how he classifies the workouts, describes the stimulus, and how he makes sure that the overall event covers a broad range of classifications and stimuli, and does this all within the time available during the weekend for all competitor categories. The stories are fun, but the discussions near the end of how he classifies workouts was something I was very interested in (I am an engineering professor)

The other big story is how he manages the CrossFit games. When I run my university department's senior capstone project class, I have a requirement that they include their weekly reports in their final report. Because I want a record to see how sausage is made. This book strikes me as being in the same spirit. The Games are a very big project with many parts. So we have day by day stories of how he is addressing one small piece of this big project, the false starts, the tests and what did or did not work, of incremental improvements, and the interactions with staff and his test athletes that lead to a final product. And at the end was a reflection, how each event went compared to how it was planned, warts and all. And so what I will most remember about this book is this reflection, and Castro's transparency and raw honesty with what worked and did not.

[Alex Carravetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a weird one to review. If you are already very invested in the world of CrossFit and programming, you fill find interesting aspect of this book. If you are hoping for a griping narrative, this is not it. It is incredibly repetitive, with effectively the same “X athlete came to test workout 5. They got X:XX time and I was/ wasn’t impressed. I think I’ll have to play with this one a little more.” Over and over again. It was interesting a couple of times because it showed how and why he changed workouts, but it got to be more like reading a log book by the end. I was hoping for some more emotion when it came time to actually talk about how the games played out, but it was mostly the same. “This was the workout. The top three times for men and women were X,Y,Z. I liked or didn’t like how this played out.” There are interesting pieces to be found when he talks about hanging out with the testing athletes or some of his friends that are worth reading, but you’ll be digging through the catalogue to find them.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting insight into the process of building the Games, probably only if you are a nerd about Crossfit like me. I never really thought about all the considerations that go into programming to make a well balanced test of fitness. Time domains, weights, setups, having different modalities, etc. It got really repetitive about three quarters into it and I wish he delved more into the actual games and the process of running them instead. There's close to nothing about his private life, which I respect, but he does gossip about the people he has beef with (the Tiger Woods gossip is hilarious). The lack of remorse about the pec injuries is disappointing but not surprising. Overall, interesting for process nerds and crossfit junkies

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing to read the thoughts and break down of the Games. Castro does a great job at depicting only a snapshot of the process.
I now have a new appreciation of the Games. I finished reading this book just prior to the 2018 Games and I watched each event with a different set of eyes, savoring each event for all the trials that go into each workout. Will now see the Open, Regionals and Games in a totally different light.

[Natasha Ferreti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I have a entire new perspective on the sport itself, thanks to this book.
Dave is a master at his work and it was great to feel like we were part of what was going on in his mind. Now I want to
rewatch the events. I can’t wait for the 2018 Games!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about Castro's creative process. You could really tell how much passion he puts in to creating a challenging and entertaining competition. He considers all points of view and works hard.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into how Dave Castro, Director of the Crossfit Games, programs the Games and events. If you’re into Crossfit and learning the machinations of the sport it’s the perfect book. If you’re hoping for an insight into his life as a Navy SEAL, as Dave puts it, this book isn’t about that.

[Carl Robben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in terms of the process he goes through, but does get a bit repetitive. Would have preferred a more rounded autobiography. It left me with the impression that he works seven days a week at all hours, and made me wonder when he sees his family.

[Dave Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all CrossFitters who are interested in insight about he games and how to organize an epic event!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the Crossfit Games, so it was really cool to get insight into what goes into making them such an impressive competition.

[Kelly at · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book and getting to learn a little about how the 2017 Games came together. It was also fun because I was there.

[Sean Coombs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the trip through Dave's creative process that generates the greatest spectacle of fitness every year. The unique format was well suited to the story it conveyed, bravo!

[Jonathan D Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a CrossFitter, it was neat to see how the process is done.

[Ellen Penney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dave is an excellent programmer of WOD's his organisation of the games is fantastic. I didn't enjoy his writing however. It was an interesting read but not overly engaging.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it as a gym owner

Simply put its great for gym owners and competition programmers. Terrible for anyone else. I totally approve for my work.