Fitness and Performance

Can CrossFit whip you into shape in just 15 minutes a session—safely?

The question of defining fitness has been a challenge for the fitness industry since its inception. All the established certifying agencies have so far failed to produce a clear working definition.

Not many men can see they’ve reached the top of the world, but Carnegie Mellon University graduate and Pittsburgh watchmaker Mike Kobold did just that -- on the first try.

The skies were dull frozen charcoal, cloaking West Point’s neo gothic granite castles in late winter gray as two dozen members of the United States Military Academy triathlon team took off on a little Sunday run.

As I lay in bed after a day of training on the TRX [workout training equipment], I cried from being so sore. This soreness hit me by surprise.

Perfect Pushup Continues Company Evolution With Launch Of Enhanced 'Perfect Pullup' Now

Rich Boucher of Watertown and Becky Trzaski of Waterbury try to catch Mary Boucher of Watertown during a warm-up to their workout at CrossFit of Watertown. The football being used in the game is filled with sand and weighs about 9 pounds. Jim Shannon / Republican-American

The superfit walk among us. They saunter or strut, depending on whether they’re showcasing their magnificent agility or their oxlike strength. They ignore the chatter in the health media over treadmill technique and pedometer steps.

By Stew Smith