What does it take to create a fitness competition that challenges athletes while building genuine community? In this revealing conversation with Preston Shepard, director of the Purple Mountain Throwdown, we explore the journey from concept to execution of Colorado's premier CrossFit competition.

Preston shares how his military background and passion for testing personal limits led him to fill a void in the Colorado Springs fitness community. "The impact that going to competitions, pushing myself, and proving that I can do something has really formed me as a human," Preston explains, highlighting why creating meaningful competitive experiences matters beyond just the leaderboard.

The episode dives deep into workout strategies for the 2024 event, with detailed breakdowns of the programming. From the seven-round triplet featuring echo bike, rope climbs and dumbbell snatches to the grip-intensive test of burpee bar muscle-ups and heavy dumbbell box step-overs, athletes will face classic CrossFit elements with strategic twists. Hunter and Drew offer invaluable coaching insights on pacing, movement efficiency, and mental preparation that apply to any competition scenario.

What truly distinguishes this conversation is the behind-the-scenes look at competition organization. Preston candidly discusses the challenges of bootstrapping a first-year event, the burnout risks of trying to control every detail, and the lessons learned about delegation and flexibility when things don't go as planned. These insights provide a masterclass in event planning for anyone considering creating their own fitness competition.

The Purple Mountain Throwdown (June 21-22 in Colorado Springs) represents more than just another competition—it's a gathering point for the Misfit community and a testament to the power of putting yourself to the test in a supportive environment. Whether you're a potential competitor or simply curious about fitness event organization, this episode delivers practical wisdom and inspiration in equal measure.

Register by April 15th to secure your competition t-shirt, and use code PMTMisfit25 for a discount available exclusively to Misfit Podcast listeners!

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

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As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
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For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
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Understanding the gap between how you think you move and how you actually move might be the most valuable revelation in your fitness journey. In this episode, the Misfit Athletics team breaks down why filming your training and recording your splits are fundamental yet overlooked elements that can transform your off-season development.

The coaches share personal anecdotes about the shocking reality check that comes from seeing yourself perform on video for the first time. From Hunter's awkward football recruiting tape to Doug's college sports realizations, these moments of truth force athletes to confront the difference between perception and physical reality. This disconnect applies directly to CrossFit, where athletes often "athletic" their way through movements rather than mastering proper mechanics.

We explore why filming your lifts and gymnastics skills provides crucial feedback on bar path, body positioning, and movement efficiency that simply can't be perceived without visual evidence. Similarly, recording workout splits gives you concrete data about pacing and breaking points that build intuitive understanding over time. These practices require no special equipment beyond a smartphone, yet deliver incredible value for performance improvement.

The conversation expands to include fascinating insights about athletic development, including why training alongside better athletes naturally elevates your ceiling, how proper nutrition timing impacts recovery between sessions, and why moving poorly inevitably leads to injury regardless of your current fitness level. We also touch on the frustration of spring snow in Maine, wisdom tooth woes, and the mind-boggling strength demonstrations of Larry Wheels.

Whether you're a competitive CrossFitter or someone simply looking to maximize your training effectiveness, this episode offers practical strategies that can immediately enhance your off-season progress. Check out our programming at MisfitAthletics.com and put these insights into practice starting today!

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

The secret to athletic improvement isn't finding the perfect program at the perfect time – it's showing up consistently and putting in the work day after day. This powerful truth forms the foundation of Misfit Athletics' Off-Season Block One, launching March 24th with a two-week free trial that arrives strategically on the heels of the CrossFit Open.

In this special edition podcast, we're joined by CrossFit athlete Paige Semenza who brings her unique perspective as both competitor and first-time programmer for this groundbreaking training block. Together we unpack the philosophy behind offering two distinct tracks – Strength Bias and Conditioning Bias – allowing athletes to personalize their approach while still following structured progressions that build foundations for long-term success.

We dive deep into the programming methodology, exploring how volume progressions in lifts like back squats and strict press can yield remarkable strength gains without the psychological barriers of one-rep max attempts. You'll discover why we're emphasizing running and C2 biking during this block, with Paige sharing how Zone 2 training transformed her competitive performance despite initially seeming counterintuitive to many CrossFitters.

The beauty of this off-season approach lies in its simplicity and focus. Rather than attempting to improve everything simultaneously, we've created a framework that allows you to prioritize either strength development or conditioning while still addressing gymnastics skill work through weekly progressions. This isn't about flashy, ego-driven training – it's about building the foundations that will support dramatic improvements when competition season returns.

Whether you're recovering from the Open or preparing for the next stage of competition, this programming block offers the perfect balance of structure and flexibility. Sign up for your two-week free trial on March 24th and discover how consistent, purposeful training can transform your fitness journey one training session at a time.

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

The Misfit Athletics team unveils "Ulysses," their thoughtfully designed post-Open GPP phase named after Ron Swanson's middle name from Parks and Recreation. This jack-of-all-trades approach to programming serves as the perfect reset button after the intensity and specificity of the CrossFit Open season.

Stepping away from specialized training cycles, Ulysses embraces true CrossFit methodology by delivering constantly varied, functional movements across all time domains and modalities. Athletes will experience everything from heavy lifting days to monostructural conditioning, couplets, triplets, AMRAPs and more - all without bias toward any particular skill or strength domain. The goal is simple yet powerful: be stronger, fitter, more powerful, and more mobile than yesterday.

For coaches, this phase presents both challenges and opportunities. Unlike specialty phases focusing on a single lift pattern, Ulysses requires coaches to be ready with their complete toolkit, prepared to teach and correct varied movements each day. This mental engagement keeps coaching fresh and develops a deeper understanding of how different elements contribute to comprehensive fitness.

A significant addition to this phase is the introduction of "competitor extras" - supplemental programming for those wanting additional training volume. While this serves as an important affiliate retention tool, Matt and Hunter emphasize the need for coaches to have meaningful conversations about who should actually be doing extra work. Often, the barrier to fitness improvement isn't found in more volume but in refining nutrition, recovery, and movement mechanics.

Whether you're a longtime Misfit affiliate or considering trying their programming for the first time, the Ulysses phase offers the perfect entry point with its balanced, methodology-driven approach to fitness. Sign up for the two-week free trial starting March 24th and experience programming that's been field-tested and refined in their Portland "laboratory" gym.

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

The CrossFit Open 25.3 delivered what many coaches are calling one of the best-programmed workouts in recent memory - a beautifully balanced challenge that created meaningful separation between athletes while remaining accessible to the broader community.

This final Open recap dives deep into what made 25.3 exceptional: the perfect blend of loading, metabolic demand, and skill requirements that put the fittest athletes in that brutal 10-12 minute time domain while offering a 20-minute cap for others to chase. The unexpected hero (or villain) of the workout? Wall walks, which proved to be the true separator among competitors.

Beyond just analyzing the workout, we explore a fundamental fitness truth: sticking feathers up your butt doesn't make you a chicken. Many athletes know which weaknesses they should address but avoid doing the necessary work. Whether it's improving shoulder mobility before attempting wall walks or developing proper positioning for deadlifts, addressing these fundamental limitations is crucial before attempting to build strength on a faulty foundation.

Looking at the Open programming as a whole, we break down how CrossFit successfully tested athletes across different time domains and energy systems. While some critics noted the absence of a traditional one-rep max strength test, we explain why the Open's approach to testing strength through sustained output makes perfect sense in identifying well-rounded fitness.

As we celebrate our leaderboard winners receiving exclusive new Misfit Athletics gear, we're also announcing the launch of our Off-Season Block 1 programming and Misfit Affiliate Ulysses Phase on Monday, March 24th. Ready to address the weaknesses the Open exposed? There's no better time to start the consistent, year-long journey that truly moves the needle on your fitness.

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

When your entire competitive season hinges on making semifinals cutlines, what's stopping you from giving everything you've got? In this no-holds-barred analysis of CrossFit Open 25.2, the Misfit Athletics coaches dive deep into the psychology behind workout redos and the disconnect many athletes experience between their stated goals and their actions.

Through real examples from the Misfit community, we explore how seemingly small decisions—like whether to redo a workout when you're hovering near qualification cutoffs—reveal profound truths about competitive mindset. As one coach bluntly puts it: "If your goal is to qualify for semi-finals and you are potentially on the fringe with a workout to go, why would you ever leave that to chance?" This episode isn't just about workout strategy; it's about honest self-assessment and ensuring your behaviors align with your ambitions.

The episode features detailed performance analysis comparing the 2022 version of this workout with this year's results, showing modest improvements at all levels of the leaderboard. We celebrate standout performances from Brandon True, Paige Semenza, and Jack Strum while providing actionable insights for athletes of all levels. Perhaps most valuable is the discussion of what makes 25.2 such an excellent benchmark—accessible enough for everyone to participate while clearly demonstrating the enormous gap between everyday athletes and elite performers.

Looking ahead to 25.3, we discuss the leaked workout format potentially featuring rowing, wall walks, and deadlifts, examining the strategic implications and addressing concerns about competitive integrity when workouts leak early. Whether you're gunning for semifinals or simply trying to surpass your personal goals, this episode delivers the perfect blend of technical analysis, psychological insight, and competitive wisdom to help you finish the Open strong.

Ready to take your training to the next level? Visit misfitathleticS.com to start your free trial or check out our semifinals prep program for those with competitive aspirations.

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

Discover the highs and lows of the recent 25.1 workout in the latest episode of the Misfit Podcast! We delve into individual performances, celebrate the remarkable athletes in our community, and share practical strategies to help you crush your personal best. This episode is packed with engaging discussions, memorable shoutouts, and insights on preparing for semifinals. Join us as we dissect the workout details, share best practices, and explore how athletes can leverage the energy of the community to fuel their training.

We touch upon the leaderboard and highlight exceptional performances that showcase dedication and hard work. Our hosts share their experiences and insights, creating a relatable conversation that encourages listeners to connect not just with the content but also with each other.

As we look ahead, we ready ourselves for the upcoming challenges. Find out how you can strategize and prepare for what's next in your CrossFit journey. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just getting started, you’ll gain valuable insights from this episode. Don’t miss out—tune in, get motivated, and become a part of our Misfit community!

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com

Dive into the pulse-pounding excitement of the CrossFit Open in this episode designed to get you fired up! Our hosts reflect on their favorite and least favorite workouts, sharing personal stories that underscore the camaraderie and challenges that each Open brings. You’ll hear about their health journeys, nutritional strategies, and the vital importance of community support in achieving your fitness goals.

We explore the evolution of workouts, predictions for the 2025 Open, and the thrilling unpredictability of the programming. The hosts’ banter and insights promise to ignite your competitive spirit and provide valuable guidance on how to approach Open season.

Join the conversation as we peel back layers on the workouts that have shaped our community, calling upon everything from personal anecdotes to in-depth strategies. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a novice, there's something here for everyone. Subscribe now to join us on this thrilling journey towards the next CrossFit Open! Don’t forget to share your own stories and strategies with us!

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Misfits! We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did and you're feeling generous throw us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it.

If you'd like to join the Misfit family and get fit head to misfitathletics.com and start your free trial today.

Free Trial on PushPress:
https://www.pushpress.com/partners/misfit

Free Trial on SugarWOD:
https://app.sugarwod.com/marketplace/misfitathletics/misfit-affiliate-class-programming

As always, shout out to our sponsors who make this podcast possible
Sharpen The Axe - sharpentheaxeco.com
Proper Fuel - properfuel.co

For your Individual programming needs - misfitathletics.com
For your Gym programming needs - teammisfit.com
For your Apparel needs - sharpentheaxeco.com