As the CrossFit Games Open season gets closer, I've decided to take my training back to the way it was when I felt like I was the fittest and strongest I've ever been just before and after the 2015 regionals.
I am training two times a day, but for only around 35-50 minutes each session. Each session, I do one strength or weightlifting movement and one conditioning workout of 5-20 minutes.
Training like this mirrors the demands of the regionals - two events, several hours apart, over three days - which need to be executed at 100 per cent intensity.
By splitting my day into two sessions and limiting the amount of unnecessary volume, I can ensure I am tackling everything in the gym with absolute most intensity.
This has several direct benefits for competing in CrossFit, as it mirrors the demands of the regionals competition (Two to three events a day separated by several hours, which require 100 per cent effort).
This has a lot of benefits to training in general, starting with the reduced rate of injury and better recovery. By not overloading the joints for great periods of time subjecting your body to extreme fatigue - which may result in a lack of form - you can keep your body moving better for longer.
Another benefit is you don't run the risk of dipping in to your hard earn gains to fuel your workouts, as is often the case when performing hours of training at a time. Once you burn through your available energy sources [glycogen from the food you eat], you'll start to wear away your muscles and run the risk of doing more damage than good.
Finally, the more intense your session is, the longer you'll take to recover from it. Space out sessions and keep them short to assist with recovery. It will do wonders for your body, revving up your metabolism and stimulating a bunch of great fat burning, muscle-building hormones for hours, or even days after.