Thursday, August 22, 2013

Windy City CrossFit

Windy City CrossFit

I spent most of last week in Chicago for work.  Since I pretty much just do weightlifting now, I had to find a weightlifting or CrossFit gym that would let me do my own workout.  Lucky for me, I found I weightlifting/CrossFit gym that has nice barbells and kilo plates (so I don't have to do math) at a reasonable distance from my hotel!   Hello, CrossFit Windy City / WCCF Weightlifting!! 

Last Wednesday's workout:
  • Warm-up: 3 rounds:  5 Push Press (build each set), 5 broad jumps, 5 V Ups, 100m Row
  • Workout
    • Shoulder Press: 3x4
    • 2min Rest
    • 2min AMRAP:
      • 5 Burpees
      • 10 Toes to Bar
    • 2min Rest
    • 2min: max distance Row
    • 2min Rest 
    • 2min AMRAP: Wall Ball Shots 20#/14# to 10'
    • 2min Rest
    • For time: 400m run (high effort)
 
Some things I really liked here:
  • LARGE, massive gym.  The space has to be at least 10,000 sqft.  Garage doors, high ceilings, and even a kitchen.  Lots of usable space.  Feels like a garage gym.
  • WCCF Weightlifting.  USAW CrossFit gym that actually has the proper weightlifting equipment, and many of them: nice Elieko barbells, kilo plates, jerk boxes, lots of racks, benches, many platforms.
  • Variety of equipments: airdynes, sleds, ropes, prowlers, atlas stones, parallettes (PVC's and the real one), giant mats, reverse hypers, dip stations, chains, multiple tires of different sizes, etc.  They have SO much equipment and so much space for it.
  • Open gym.  The location is so huge that you're likely not to interfere with the class.
  • Many class times.  5:30am - 9:30am, noon, 3:30pm - 6:30pm on weekdays, plus multiple classes on the weekends.
  • 3 on, 1 off programming.  On the rest day, you can make up a previous day's workout, do skill work, or do a gymnastics skills class with one of the coaches.
  • Cool people, all around, coaches and members.  I felt very welcomed from lifting with some of their lifters to jumping in to some members' workout, to talking story while rolling out.  Love it! 
  • $25 drop in and it comes with a free shirt.

Some things that could use improvement:
  • More cleaning.
  • Even out some of the platforms.
  • Install a water fountain or a filter in the kitchen sink.

Some pictures:
2. Outside

3. going inside.

4. inside

5. rig


6. another rig.


7. rings and rowers.

8. side.

9. weightlifting area


10. weightlifting room

10. another angle.


11. weightlifting PRs


12. more equipment


13. kitchen.


14. mobility.


15. WOD board.

I really enjoyed my time at Windy City CrossFit.  It was great to meet some of the coaches, and a good amount of the morning peeps.  Definitely check them out if you're in Chicago!!

Nearby Gyms: River North CrossFit