By Hannah Hudson
“I just signed up for the SWAG.” I jokingly mention to one of my fellow box-mates; just thinking about trail running in Park City’s renowned elevation has me queasy, but after signing up for CrossFit Park City’s Mountain Meltdown, I soon realize just how fun this competition will prove to be. All joking aside, Utah is home to one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the West so it’s no surprise that professional CrossFitters love utilizing the high altitude and rough terrain this state has to offer. Progenex has teamed up with Chris Spealler and CrossFit Park City to host a competition that takes advantage of Utah’s natural training grounds on a local level.
Admittedly, a large draw for me is Spealler, who along with coaching at CrossFit Park City, instructs Level 1 Certification seminars, and hosts the online group Teamspeal; which connects and encourages CrossFitters around the world. It’s Spealler’s type of ingenuity and passion for our global community that makes me proud to be a CrossFitter. That same passion which inspires me to push myself also inspires me to try new things, like the first annual Park City Mountain Meltdown competition, April 27th, 2014. I participated in this (my first CrossFit competition), along with a little over two hundred other individuals looking for a challenge – which is exactly what the creators of this race (Spealler included) had in mind.
A 5K course will be held at Park City’s iconic Utah Olympic Park; a perfect location for athletes looking to test their mettle against Utah’s breathtaking (literally), altitude-rich mountain slopes best known for their skiing during the winter months and challenging trail runs during the spring and summer.
In addition to the 5K, athletes must complete five WODs throughout the race with movements ranging from rope climbs to one-armed weighted snatches. The course will have a time-cap of 90 minutes to keep participants moving quickly throughout the various stations. Despite this being a timed event, an emphasis has been made on the scalability of each movement. Chris Spealler shows us what he does best by opening his arms to the community he loves and making this competition appealing to both the veteran athlete and the newbie alike. To keep it challenging, there will be two categories: Gnarly and Elements. Gnarly will complete the race with a 20-pound weight burden while Elements participants need only be familiar with the movements and be capable of completing the distance and WODs. For complete details, visit CrossFit Park City’s site http://crossfitpc.com/mountain-meltdown/.
Oh, and I mentioned the SWAG. CrossFit Park City has really outdone themselves in attempts to make their event shine both on and off the course, which is helped by their goody bag filled with the standard race t-shirt, but also some other items such as a 5.11 Tactical Rush backpack, (which will carry the 20-pound burden used for the Gnarly division), Progenex items, and Skullcandy headphones, making it abundantly clear that this is not your average race.
If you’re not quite ready for a competitive event, there are volunteer and judging positions open for a fun excuse to spend some time among Utah’s spectacular scenery while being energized by some of the most dedicated CrossFitters in the Southwest region. CrossFit Park City has said that this event will be the first annual, so if you’re not planning to compete this weekend, mark your calendars for next year’s race because it’s proving to be worth every ounce of sweat and hard work local athletes can offer. CrossFit Park City’s passion to bring Utah affiliates a first-class competition could very well change how CrossFitters approach functional fitness in the great outdoors.
Author’s Note: None of us could have foreseen the blizzard-like conditions that greeted us at the start line, but thanks to friendly volunteers and encouraging words from passing competitors, this race went beyond any expectations I could have had. Truly one of the best organized races I’ve ever had the privilege to participate in, with even the sun making an appearance, ensuring everyone finished with a smile on their face. If you only compete once, make sure that you train for this challenging, fun event.
About Hannah: The first time you meet Hannah Hudson (@HMSHudson), a Utah-based fiction novelist and CrossFitter, she’ll tell you she loves three things: her husband of a year, writing girl-empowerment novels, and lifting heavy things. After beginning CrossFit at UTE CrossFit more than two years ago, she’s caught a vision for being a short, curvy CrossFitter and recently deadlifted 300 lbs to win her first competition. Her blog, The Curvy CrossFitter, provides humorous inspiration and attitude for those struggling with fitness and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. In addition to learning to throw a caber for the Highland Games, Hannah also promotes SLCPCOS, a Salt Lake City-based support group that encourages and educates people with various insulin resistant conditions to become more active and live healthier lives. Find her relentless CrossFit pins on Pinterest.