CrossFit Bridge & Tunnel Blog

This is my first blog post. Ideally, it’s one of many to come. I have a long list of topics I want to explore or, ramble about; training, longevity, strength, consistency, coaching, community, and how all of this fits into real adult lives. But before getting into any of that, it makes sense to start with something more basic: What do we actually mean when we say “fitness”? And just as importantly: why do we train the way we do? A lot of confusion around fitness comes from the fact that people are often talking about very different things while using the same word. So let’s clarify. A Practical Definition of Fitness In 2002, Greg Glassman wrote an article called *What Is Fitness?* It became foundational to how CrossFit Bridge & Tunnel and, gyms like ours, think about training. The definition is simple: Fitness is increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains. That sounds technical, so let’s translate...in simple terms... Being fit means you can: Do more work For longer periods and short bursts of time Across many different kinds of tasks In other words, fitness isn’t about being good at one thing, it is about being capable across many things. Strength matters. Endurance matters. Power matters. Coordination matters. So does balance, speed, stamina, flexibility, and accuracy. Fitness is not specialization. Fitness is versatility. Why This Matters for Adults Most adults don’t need to be the best in the world at anything physical. What they need is to be: Strong enough to lift, carry, and move objects Conditioned enough to climb stairs, walk distances, or keep up with life Coordinated enough to move safely and confidently Resilient enough to recover, adapt, and keep going year after year Real life doesn’t ask you to perform one task repeatedly under perfect conditions. It asks you to do unknown tasks, at unexpected times , often when you’re already tired. That’s why we train broadly. The “Unknown and Unknowable" One of the most useful ideas from Glassman’s article is the concept of preparing for the “unknown and unknowable.” You don’t train because you know exactly what challenge is coming. You train so that when something does come, you’re more capable of handling it. That could mean: Carrying groceries up multiple flights of stairs Getting yourself off the floor Managing stress and fatigue Staying independent as you age Helping someone move Fitness, in this sense, is preparedness. Health Is a Continuum Another important idea is that health isn’t a fixed state. It exists on a continuum. On one end is sickness In the middle is wellness On the far end is fitness Training consistently, intelligently and progressively moves you along that continuum. Not toward perfection. Toward capacity. Why We Train the Way We Do At CrossFit Bridge & Tunnel, we don’t chase extremes. We train: A wide variety of movements Across different time domains At loads and intensities appropriate to the individual The goal is not to crush yourself. The goal is to build a body that works well, holds up, and keeps working over time. Consistency beats intensity. Quality beats chaos. Long-term thinking beats short-term results. A Starting Point This post isn’t meant to answer everything. It’s meant to establish a foundation. If we don’t agree on what fitness is, then none of the programming, coaching, or philosophy that follows will make much sense. This is the framework we use. It’s the lens through which we coach. And it’s the reason our training looks the way it does. More to come...