S06E198 Dark Week Revisited: When CrossFit Athletes Trust Their Fitness

The HERD FIT

What happens when your CrossFit gym goes dark? Coaches David Syvertsen @davesy85 and Sam Rhee @bergencosmetic dive deep into their CrossFit Bison's unique Dark Week experience – where workouts remain completely hidden until athletes walk through the door.
They explores the fascinating psychological impact of removing workout previews. While some members struggle with the lack of control, others discover unexpected freedom when forced to trust their fitness completely. As Coach David explains, "If your true goal is to become a fitter version of yourself, you're going to have to do things you don't want to do."
The hosts share candid insights about programming challenges, athlete reactions, and even expose how some members secretly try to peek at workouts ahead of time (spoiler: it ruins the experience like finding Christmas presents early). They tackle practical concerns like equipment preparation while highlighting profound benefits including breaking the subconscious bias of cherry-picking workouts and building mental resilience.
Perhaps most compelling is how Dark Week reveals character. Those who embrace the unknown with humility often benefit most, while those who resist relinquishing control miss valuable growth opportunities. The discussion ultimately circles back to CrossFit's foundational principle of preparing for the "unknown and unknowable" – something many athletes gradually drift away from as they settle into comfortable routines.
Whether you're a CrossFit veteran seeking to recapture early excitement or a fitness enthusiast curious about mental training aspects, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives on breaking patterns and embracing discomfort. Listen now to challenge your own approach to fitness and discover why sometimes not knowing might be exactly what you need.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Dark Week (00:00:00)

2. The Coach's Perspective on Dark Week (00:05:18)

3. Programming Challenges and Strategies (00:10:14)

4. Cons and Equipment Concerns (00:15:23)

5. Mental Benefits and Cherry-Picking (00:17:39)

6. Relinquishing Control and Building Trust (00:25:16)

7. Final Thoughts and Future Dark Weeks (00:27:57)