By Kiara Catanzaro
News Assignment Editor
Sabine Wakim, a sophomore international studies and philosophy major, participated in the Fall Strength and Endurance Challenge Sunday, Sept. 22, and placed first in her division. The challenge, hosted at Eades Fitness in downtown Olean, incorporated elements of CrossFit training.
CrossFit has become popular over the last few months as an exercise program that consists of varied, high-intensity workouts that conditions and strengthens participants’ bodies.
The competition was divided by gender and age. In Wakim’s age division, she competed against five other females in a five-part challenge that consisted of: 300 meter row, 10 tire flips, 100 jump ropes, clean and press with 65-pound barbell and a 100 meter weight push, according to Wakim.
Although Wakim found out about the competition recently, she has been training through a CrossFit program for about three months.
“I started attending CrossFit sessions in May at my gym in Texas,” Wakim said. “When I first started the program, I could only lift about five pounds. By the time I came back to Bonaventure, I could bench press 110 pounds.”
After returning to St. Bonaventure, Wakim continued her new fitness routine that she developed over the summer to prepare for the challenge.
“When I got back to school, we had updated gym equipment in the Richter Center, which helped me to keep up with my training even though I wasn’t in my normal atmosphere at home,” Wakim said. “I found out about the challenge two weeks beforehand, so I started to workout more consistently to prepare for the competition.”
Wakim said she hopes to bring CrossFit training as an element to the Richter Center as a fitness regime that students can learn from.
“I definitely want students to get involved with CrossFit because not only is it good for your physical health, but also for your mental health,” Wakim said. “I treat training equally as a fitness program and mental therapy. I despised working out for 18 years, but I finally found a routine that worked for me and now I can’t live without it.”
Eades Fitness will host more competitions starting in January when St. Bonaventure students return from winter break. So, if students are interested in training through CrossFit, they will be prepared for upcoming challenges, according to Sabine.
Wakim also offered advice to students who feel overwhelmed to try CrossFit.
“Don’t be afraid or intimidated to throw yourself into the training,” Wakim said. “The first time I did CrossFit, I was sick throughout the workout, but I stuck with the program and I don’t regret it because I finally feel that I am doing something healthy for my body.”
Wakim said that students should work their way slowly to adapt their body to the high-intensity training.
“It’s important that students who are interested in CrossFit training find someone familiar with the equipment because you can injure your body if you aren’t properly trained with the workouts,” Wakim said. “And students should take the time to assimilate themselves in the fitness program instead of rushing into it.”
