Ep. 062: Defeating CrossFit Mayhem

07/20/22 • 45 min

“I think with the team side, there are some unique things to consider. ... A combination of men and women, how they work together, how they communicate, the way they’re training leading up to competition, how they were able to build their individual fitness all year long. ... There are so many more variables with teams than there are with individuals.” — Adrian Conway
Multi-year Affiliate Cup champion Adrian Conway joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to talk about team competition and what it’s going to take to beat Affiliate Cup reigning champion CrossFit Mayhem at the CrossFit Games.
Having captained a CrossFit Games affiliate to victory against Mayhem and also having experience as an individual competitor, Conway shares his knowledge and experiences competing in both divisions. He weighs in on the varying degrees of pressure, discusses the differences between four- and six-person teams, and reflects on what he’s learned over the years to maximize his team’s and his own potential.
Conway and Ingraham discuss balancing strategy, teamwork, and fitness in team programming, and how and what athletes should be tested on to determine the fittest affiliate on Earth. They also note challenges athletes can face working as a unit, and identify mental and physical characteristics that make a formidable team member.
The duo close out the podcast by sharing their best strategies for defeating CrossFit Mayhem. Conway and Ingraham highlight events and movements that tend to favor the dominant affiliate, note the advantages of confidence and momentum on the competition floor, and acknowledge the impact of a flawless performance.
Will anyone beat CrossFit Mayhem? Tune in to the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games, Aug. 3-7, to find out.

Previous Episode

Ep. 061: Drug Testing in CrossFit

“We’re not trying to protect the athletes, we’re trying to protect the claim. And the best thing we can do to protect the claim is to test the athletes.” — Justin Bergh
General Manager of Sport Justin Bergh and Athlete Relationship Manager Kurtis Bowler join host Chase Ingraham and Adrian Conway on the podcast for an extensive discussion about CrossFit’s drug-testing protocol, recent positive test results among top-performing athletes, and best practices to prevent positive results in the future.
During the 2022 CrossFit season, a number of athletes have tested positive for banned substances, including CrossFit Games qualifiers. To protect the integrity of the competition and its athletes, CrossFit strongly enforces an anti-doping policy.
In the podcast, Bergh and Bowler thoroughly explain the drug-testing process that athletes undergo. They also explain how athletes can appeal their drug violation and how Games spots are backfilled should a Games qualifier test positive for a banned substance.
Bergh also explains CrossFit’s mission to ensure that all athletes are able to compete on an even playing field, protecting its integrity as a sport and the claim of finding the Fittest on Earth.
As a former collegiate athlete and a Games competitor who’s been drug tested, Conway shares his experiences with the process and gives his opinion on being a responsible athlete in a professional sport.
In an attempt to help the CrossFit community, Bowler offers guidance on how athletes can better familiarize themselves with CrossFit’s Drug Testing Policy and as well as advice on how to better educate themselves about the supplements they’re taking.
Bowler encourages athletes to reach out to CrossFit’s team with any and all questions, advises athletes to read supplement labels, and urges athletes subscribe to “The Hopper,” which contains informative literature about the competition and drug-testing policy for the community and competitive athletes.
Bergh and Bowler also list the most common banned substances found in positive results, weigh in on the severity of the penalty imposed on the athlete, and address the misconception that CrossFit protects athletes by not disclosing positive tests.
For more information on CrossFit’s Drug Policy, visit games.crossfit.com/drug-testing and/or reach out to [email protected].

Next Episode

Ep. 063: Programming the CrossFit Games

"These are not meant to be workouts. ... The goal here is not to leave that competition floor pushing the needle forward with your fitness. ... What is supposed to happen is that you're supposed to take what you've been training all year and see what you can do with what's put in front of you." —Adrian Bozman
CrossFit Director of Competition Adrian Bozman joins the podcast to discuss the theory behind programming for the CrossFit Games — the ultimate test of fitness.
After 15 years of programming by Dave Castro, the Games will now be designed with Bozman at the helm.
Bozman shares his approach to programming and outlines what goes into creating a well-balanced test of fitness when the goal is to find the Fittest on Earth. He also opens up about his objectives for the competition, not only for the athletes but for the fans and spectators as well.
Bozman also shares the cut schedule for the individuals and teams at this year’s Games — age-group and adaptive athletes will not be cut.
The cut process started in 2009 and has been carried out intermittently since. Bozman explains the rationale behind the process.
For anyone expecting something new and unique at this year’s Games, Bozman says, “There are a few things that are unique as far as equipment (and) format, which I'm really excited about.”
During the podcast, Chase Ingraham and Bozman also discuss the impact of an athlete’s size on programming, how the athletes and sport have evolved since the inception of the Games, and how the tests at the competition differ from regular training workouts.
Learn more about Bozman’s approach to programming, how cuts will affect individuals and teams, and what unique elements athletes and fans can expect to see this year.