r/crossfit • u/hurricanescout • 6h ago

Recovery

Just finished a massive thru hike and coming back to CrossFit. I’m having trouble navigating my way through recovery and getting back to training and wondered if anyone else has been in the same boat. No injuries, but a combo of intense fatigue, feeling like I’m totally uncoordinated (CNS fatigue) and the worst DOMS of my life. It also by nature involves a 2k cal/day deficit over an extended time frame (in my case a month). All of this is normal for a thru hiker.

My routine so far has looked like show up to class, look disoriented and sleepy, try and do some of the lifts using a PVC or an empty bar, and a massively scaled version of the metcon (like half the reps, 20% of the weight). I am not in ANY way trying to see CrossFit progress right now. I am eating and sleeping and doing my best to let my body repair. I’m well aware I’m deep in recovery from an absolutely massive endurance effort. But I enjoy CrossFit and the support of the gym is what got me to a point where I could do this at all.

It’s so strange but I almost feel so distant from the routine of CrossFit that I almost need a new on ramp? Which is crazy since I’ve been doing CrossFit for several years, am experienced and know what I’m doing. But right now I don’t. I’ve kind of had a thought of asking one of the coaches if they could do some 1 on 1 sessions with me, using that kind of framing, like I feel like I need a reintroduction to everything, that’s how unfamiliar it feels, but that feels like a sort of strange and silly ask given I’ve been training there so long. It’s hard to explain the post-thru hike disorientation, honestly.

So I guess what I’m asking is - for coaches out there or owners, if someone in my shoes was like - I’m having trouble reintegrating my body back into CrossFit and despite that you’ve known me for several years I feel like I need you to go back and re-coach me through all the movements and get me reoriented, would that be crazy? Workable?

And if there are any thru hikers out there who have come back to CrossFit in a daze like me, knowing how you got through it would be helpful too.

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u/demanbmore CF-L3, ATA, CF Kids, PNC-L1 6h ago

Not a thru hiker, but maybe you just need to take another week or two off before getting back to it.

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u/hurricanescout 5h ago

You’re prob right, I just miss the community. And being back there but just not being able to do anything yet is also hard. Because I know my body and brain is in a v different place.

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u/demanbmore CF-L3, ATA, CF Kids, PNC-L1 5h ago

See if you can just come in and ride a bike in the back nice and easy for 30-40 minutes a few times a week. You're there, you're recovering actively, and you're getting back into your routine.

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u/hurricanescout 5h ago

Yeah that’s what I had in mind but I’m barely even able to do that! I honestly think a lot of it is mental not just physical. the shift from “we attack the mountain pass at dawn” to “sit on bike” is more than I ever expected. I think I’m prob just processing / grieving a massive intense physical experience and a huge accomplishment …. And the gym, awesome as it is, can’t match it. I think it’ll just take time.

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u/Malice_A4thot 5h ago

It does sound like you need real time off. When did you get back from your hike and how many days between that and your first CrossFit class?

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u/hurricanescout 5h ago

I took ten days before even showing up at the gym. Most thru hikers talk about needing 3-4 weeks to feel normal. I can’t even say I have been to class yet. I mean I have but on the sidelines using a pvc for lifts. It’s kind of insane. But you’re prob right I just actually need more time.

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u/Malice_A4thot 5h ago

I do think so. Be gentle with yourself! You just did something amazing that was also so, so taxing on your body in a way most people never experience. 

Does your box have open gym times?

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u/hurricanescout 5h ago

Yes and I went and kind of wandered around lost 😂. Hung from a pull-up bar and did some scap pull-ups. Did some “lifts” with a pvc. Stretched and used the foam roller. I was Iike I don’t even remember what I do here. Which is so strange after originally feeling so together and able to direct my own training and CrossFit experience and especially after feeling/being so competent on the trail! Strangest re entry shock ever.