If you’ve ever seen the CrossFit Games on TV or social media, you might have thought, “That looks intense. I could never do that.”
We get it. Watching elite athletes flip tires, sprint uphill with sandbags, and deadlift hundreds of pounds can feel pretty far removed from your daily life.
But here’s the truth:
CrossFit classes at your local gym and the CrossFit Games are not the same thing.
In fact, the athletes competing in the Games are the top 0.01% of CrossFitters in the world—basically, the Olympics of CrossFit. For the rest of us? CrossFit is one of the most scalable, supportive, and beginner-friendly fitness programs out there.
Let’s break down the 3 key differences between attending CrossFit classes and competing in the CrossFit Games—and show you why CrossFit could be exactly what you need to get stronger, healthier, and more confident.
1. Purpose: Health vs. Sport
CrossFit Classes = Functional Fitness for Everyday Life
Most people who walk into a CrossFit gym just want to feel better, get stronger, have more energy, and move well into their 70s, 80s, and beyond.
That’s the focus of your daily CrossFit class—functional movements like squatting, pushing, pulling, running, and lifting light to moderate weights. You’ll work out alongside others who have similar goals: to lose weight, gain muscle, stay mobile, and protect their long-term health.
CrossFit Games = Elite Sport
Now flip the script. The CrossFit Games are for professional athletes who spend hours each day training for this sport. Their workouts are extremely high intensity. They push their limits with the goal of standing on a podium. For them, CrossFit is their job.
Here’s a great way to look at the difference:
CrossFit as a training methodology is for everyone—the Games are for a few. The CrossFit Games are the sport of fitness. CrossFit the training method is for health.
2. Coaching & Support
CrossFit Classes = Guided, Scaled, and Safe
In a CrossFit class, you are coached every step of the way. Your coach helps you warm up, teaches you proper form, and offers modifications based on your experience level. Whether you’re 20 or 70, brand new or years in, everything can be adjusted for you.
You might do push-ups on a box. Use lighter dumbbells. Row instead of run. That’s normal. In fact, that’s the point.
You’re not expected to know what to do—you’re taught. That’s what makes CrossFit so effective, especially for beginners.
CrossFit Games = Personalized Teams and Rigorous Training
Games athletes have teams of coaches: strength, conditioning, nutrition, mobility, recovery, even sports psychology. They eat to compete, sleep to recover, and often train 4-6 hours a day.
Most of us? We train 1 hour a day, 3-5 days a week. And we do it with jobs, kids, pets, and a life.
3. Intensity: Scaled vs. Maxed-Out
CrossFit Classes = You vs. You
The intensity in a class is personal. You work at your pace. One person might be doing burpees, while someone else is doing step-ups. One might be lifting a barbell, while another uses a kettlebell or dumbbells.
You can choose your level of challenge. Your coach helps you find the sweet spot between comfort and growth.
CrossFit Games = Maximum Effort, All the Time
At the Games, the intensity is extreme. These athletes are chasing seconds, reps, and PRs that take years to build. They do workouts that would leave the average person wiped out for a week.
Here’s a sample workout from the 2023 CrossFit Games:
All for time:
126-foot sled push, starting with all six kettlebells (443/546 lb)
Then 3 rounds of:
2 legless rope climbs
12 kettlebell clean and jerks
42-foot sled push, starting with two kettlebells* (53/70 lb)*Add two kettlebells to the sled after each round.
Compare that to a beginner-friendly class:
4 rounds of: 200-meter run, 10 ring rows, 15 sit-ups, 10 step-ups on a box.
Can you see the difference?
Why This Matters for YOU
If you’ve held back from trying CrossFit because you were intimidated, we want you to know this:
You do not have to be fit to start.
You just have to start to get fit.
CrossFit classes and personal training sessions are designed for real people—busy moms, retired dads, working professionals, teenagers, and people recovering from injury. It’s common to see someone in their 60s learning to deadlift safely with a kettlebell… right next to a younger athlete doing the same movement with heavier weight.
We offer 1-on-1 personal training or small group classes where you’ll be encouraged, coached, and challenged at your level. You’ll be surrounded by a community of people just like you—people who want to be healthier, move better, and feel stronger.
Still unsure? Check out this article from CrossFit Journal: “No, you do not need to be fit to start CrossFit. You do CrossFit to become fit; you don’t become fit to do CrossFit.”
What Makes CrossFit So Effective?
✅ Coaching – You’re not on your own. You’re guided every class.
✅ Scalability – Movements can be scaled up or down.
✅ Community – You work out with others who cheer you on.
✅ Efficiency – Most workouts are just 60 minutes, warm-up to cool-down.
✅ Real-Life Results – You’ll build strength, endurance, mobility, and confidence.
Ready to Give It a Try?
If you’ve been looking for something that actually works—and a community that supports you along the way—CrossFit might be exactly what you need.
You don’t need to be fit, fast, or fearless to start. Just show up, and we’ll help with the rest.
👉 Curious about what your first class would look like? Click here to book a free intro session.
Don’t let the CrossFit Games scare you away from one of the best things you could do for your body and mind. Those athletes are incredible, but they’re not the standard. You are the standard. And you belong here.