Varied Not Random

-Pam started off doing CrossFit for 6 years & then fell in love with powerlifting.-She is 68 years old & holds American Records for the Squat, Bench Press & Deadlift. She also holds a couple of World Records as well.-She tells us about her fitness journey, lessons learned & what it takes to get strong.

-In Part 2 of this lighthearted series Pat & Boz give their answers to the final 10 of 20 fun, CrossFit related questions ranging from the hardest workout they’ve ever done to one CrossFit myth they wish would die.

-In Part 1 of this lighthearted episode Pat & Boz give their answers to the first 10 of 20 fun, CrossFit related questions ranging from the hardest workout they’ve ever done to one CrossFit myth they wish would die.

-A VNR listener wants to know why so many CrossFit gyms seem to program a heavy lift followed by another workout instead of simply doing one workout a day.-Pat & Boz discuss this topic.

-How much fitness do you really need?-How heavy of a back squat is required for real life?-How many pull-ups do most people need to accomplish normal tasks?-How fast of a mile is necessary for everyday living?-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-VNR listener Beck wants to know, “How many machines does a garage gym need?”-He has a C2 rower, but recently has been trying to decide if he should get a ski erg and/or an air runner?-He lives in a very hot environment & says the space in his garage gym is somewhat limited, so he is not taking this decision lightly.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-Someone on Reddit asked the question, “Is Intensity a Lie?”-They said that it seems Intensity is the defining characteristic of what makes CrossFit truly CrossFit.-They also said it seems that CrossFitters care more about intensity than other things like movement quality.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-Jeff wants to know how he can convince his friends & family to work out with him.-He has lots of people in his life that are battling health issues & he would like to get them on a better path.-The problem is that everyone thinks CrossFit is too hard & crazy.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-A VNR listener wants recommendations for ensuring their garage gym equipment lasts as long as possible.-At the end of the show a funny social media meme about CrossFit is shared.-Pat & Adrian discuss these topics.

-Matteo is a CrossFit Level 3 Trainer. He is a full time coach. In addition to coaching he is an instrumental part of CrossFit Linchpin & has helped create several Varied Not Random cycles. -In this episode Matteo discusses how he would manage a typical one hour class when the workout of the day is classic heavy day.-Pat discussed this topic with Matteo.

-Two topics are tackled today.-What can Gym owners learn from Garage Gym athletes?-How can modern day CrossFit gyms recapture the “fun & less structured” feeling of the earlier years of CrossFit?-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-Zone 2 training is a form of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise performed at roughly 60-70% of your maximum heart rate.-It is usually performed by running, biking or rowing for at least 45 minutes.-This training emphasizes aerobic metabolism, where your body primarily burns fat for fuel while building mitochondrial efficiency, capillary density, and overall endurance.-It has become a popular topic of discussion in the CrossFit community, but is it necessary to include in your training?-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-Strict Pull-ups are a foundational, yet highly challenging movement.-In this episode Pat & Adrian discuss why building a base of strict pull-ups is important, as well as how many pull-ups is considered a “base”.-They also offer various methods to get your first strict pull-up or get more.

-Mark is a CrossFit trainer & his CFL1 is about to expire.-He coaches at a local gym a couple of times each month.-He loves coaching & wants to improve, but feels he cannot justify the cost of a CFL1 or CFL2.-Mark wants to know how someone should approach certifications vs continuing to learn & improve on one’s own time.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-Pat is doing some self-experimentation this year. His goal is to do a 72-hour water-only fast once every 4 months.-He did his first one in January 2026.-He just completed his second one in May, his final one for the year will take place in September.-This time Pat says it was a relatively easy experience to not eat for 3 days.-He approached a couple of elements differently this time, perhaps this made the difference.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

-A VNR listener wants to know if doing the CrossFit Hero workout “Murph” still counts if he has never used a weight vest.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic as well as “Murph prep”.

-Pat recently attended a CrossFit Level 2 Seminar.-This involves two days of instruction as well as lots of real time coaching of athletes.-Participants are evaluated by CrossFit staff & given feedback necessary to improve.-Pat discusses this experience with Adrian.

-Matteo is a CrossFit Level 3 Trainer. He is a full time coach. In addition to coaching he is an instrumental part of CrossFit Linchpin & has helped create several Varied Not Random cycles. -In this episode Matteo discusses how he would manage a typical one hour class when the workout of the day is very short, like “Grace”.-Pat & Adrian discuss this topic with Matteo.

-Pat & Adrian discuss a Reddit thread entitled, “What's something you want your box to know that you can't imagine sharing to their face?”-Five of the most upvoted topics are covered in today’s show.