Why we test fitness

Sure, every day in CrossFit feels like a test of fitness. But in reality, it's training. Training for test day in life or in sport.

Most effective fitness programs include progress tests. If your program doesn’t, it might be a sign that it’s not a comprehensive fitness plan. However, testing often falls into extremes.

Testing every 6 months

Some programs and organizations test every six months or every year, but this isn’t enough. Testing helps us track progress and ensure we're doing the right things inside and outside of the gym. If we only test yearly, we could easily head in the wrong direction for months.

On the flip side it might just be a bad day. Everyone has them. Maybe you were in great shape but felt off, were sick, or didn't sleep well the night before. One bad test day could make it seem like you wasted a year and needed to change direction when you were just under the weather.

The Danger of Over-Testing

On the other extreme, some believe in testing every single day. Treating every day as a competition is more common than you think. By creating true testing days, we avoid burnout. No athlete competes every day; doing so will eventually lead to breakdowns. Performance fluctuates, and expecting 100% every day is unrealistic. Athletes who treat every day as a competition often feel like failures when they don’t meet expectations.

Our Balanced Approach

Our approach strikes a balance between these extremes. We conduct tests about 20 times a year, focusing on both strength and conditioning. Here are the benefits of our method:

1. Track Progress Over Time: Fitness improvements, especially beyond the initial months, don’t follow a straight line. By testing regularly, we gather enough data points to see a general upward trend and eliminate the noise. If one test day doesn't go well, our system will recognize it as an outlier, keeping us on track.

2. Diverse Testing: Unlike fixed tests like Hyrox or the Army Combat Test, having multiple tests a year allows us to vary the elements we test. This helps us identify and fix weak points.

By implementing structured, varied testing throughout the year, we help our members achieve consistent progress, stay motivated, and avoid burnout

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