WRITTEN BY KRISTEN CHANDLER TOTH
The expression “to run the gauntlet” means to put yourself through a series of tests or tasks. These sequential tests don’t usually cause serious injuries, just a little bearable pain, a feeling most CrossFitters are familiar with. Often the rituals associated with running a gauntlet are sought after by the runner as a sign of acceptance into a more prestigious group.
What more prestigious group to gain acceptance into than the star-studded group of athletes competing at the TYR Wodapalooza Miami? In order to run through the CrossFit-style Gauntlet at WZA Miami, you have one hour to complete three consecutive workouts, with fellow competitors by your side.
On Thursday, January 12th, 2023, WZA will host a condensed competition open to everyone: spectators, volunteers, locals, and fans from far away. There are three different divisions, so you’ll be able to find a competitive level perfect for where you are on your fitness journey.
IT’S FAST AND FURIOUS
Get the thrill of competing at Wodapalooza without having to compete for 3 days. A long weekend of competition can be intense, intimidating, and a serious time commitment. The Gauntlet is an hour of intensity that gives you the opportunity to test yourself in 3 different types of workouts. If the 3-day WZA Miami competition is a marathon, the Gauntlet is a 5K. Challenging, accessible, and fun for everyone. Accessible, but still an incredible challenge and a great amount of fun without the commitment to a months-long train-up program.
Athletes will sign up for a time of day and get assigned a specific time to compete. No waiting around all day wondering when your heat is up. Get in, work hard, and finish fast.
COMPETE WHERE THE CHAMPS COMPETE
Climb the same ropes, pull up on the same rig, and train on the same stage where the best athletes in the sport have competed. You might even be featured on our social media channels.
The Gauntlet is your opportunity to glimpse the glory of throwing down at one of the biggest fitness competitions in the world. It’s intimate enough for your friends to be able to cheer you on and take videos for the Gram, but it will be decked out in true Wodapalooza style. What better backdrop to take on your first competition or your fiftieth?
EXPERIENCE THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT OF ONE OF THE BEST-RUN COMPS IN THE WORLD
The experienced organization of WZA Miami is top-notch. For first-time competitors, there’s no better way to encounter a fitness competition than to jump into one of the best. For veteran competitors: how great to benefit from the smooth operations of a well-oiled machine. It’s like being able to run the Boston Marathon without having to. The team of professionals that organizes and coordinates over two-thousand athletes competing in 41 different divisions will be the same team that sets up the Gauntlet and makes sure each athlete has the best experience possible.
EARN YOUR CHILL
You are probably going to fitness at some point in the weekend. Instead of dropping into a box on Thursday, why not get 3 WODs in during the time of one class? Think of how much more relaxed and triumphant you will feel sitting back to watch the big dogs throwdown knowing you’ve already put forth a serious effort?
The thrill of watching stellar athletes compete motivates people to get moving. Watching the elites perform movements we know and love to hate always inspires us. Seeing a woman lift an unimaginable weight with ease and confidence encourages us to get back to the gym and try a little harder, and focus a little more. You’ll get to compete, then feel the camaraderie with those elites, being able to understand the stress of competition and the strain of doing multiple high-intensity workouts in a row.
An extra benefit is if you throw down at the Gauntlet, you’ll get to workout before watching the competition. You can kick back and enjoy your post-workout carbs or cheat day while watching some of the Fittest on Earth battle for the podium.
FOR THE COMPETITIVE CROSSFITTER: GRAB THIS SECOND CHANCE, AND FEEL THE RUSH OF ADRENALINE PUSH YOU TO A NEW PR
Maybe you missed out on getting a spot to compete in the full Wodapalooza Miami competition this year. The Gauntlet is your second chance to battle for the respect of being one of the best at WZA Miami. The quick turnover between workouts will challenge even the fittest and let you demonstrate your ability to recover and continue grinding. We all know the thrill of an adrenaline rush when something is on the line in the middle of a workout. Whether it’s the Open, Friday Night Lights, or a local road race, something changes when we put ourselves out there. Let the flutter of competition propel you to a new strength personal record, or cycle your movements a little faster. It is hard to push yourself to new limits every day, so let the crowd at the Gauntlet inspire you to chase down new challenges and get a little taste of the WZA Miami magic in order to motivate you for next year.
FOR THE NON-COMPETITIVE CROSSFITTER: GET OUT OF YOUR BUBBLE AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF
We aren’t all naturally competitive. Surely there is something about CrossFitters that drives us to conquer goals and reach for new ones. But we aren’t all natural-born athletes, and some of us are not outgoing enough to voluntarily get on a stage. But what if there was a chance for you to compete with a little less pressure, while still feeling the rush of adrenaline that comes when you put your fitness to the test? What if you could stand on the same stage as the elites, perform the same movements, do your very best, and find your own victory? This year at Wodapalooza you have that chance!
DO IT, RUN THE GAUNTLET!
Whether you are looking for a chance to prove yourself to your gym buddies, to test your limits, to try out the big stage, or you just want an excuse to down some guiltless treats, come throw down with us at the Wodapalooza Gauntlet. Then sit back and watch the pros, not just as a spectator, but, as a fellow competitor.
