Get More Fit with CrossFit

Haven’t heard of CrossFit Barrington?

Co-owner Brian Niven isn’t really surprised.

“We don’t really advertise,” the Barrington native said.  “We are community driven and people usually hear of us by word of mouth.”

Niven, a graduate, and his business partner Chris Bluse (Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach at Barrington High School) started CrossFit Barrington a little after Niven returned from active duty.  The two decided to take a chance by starting this intense style of exercise in Niven’s garage. But the trend proved too popular for a small space.

“We quickly outgrew my garage,” Niven said of the more than 50 members he and his three trainers assist in their Barrington location at 28066 W. Commercial Ave., Suites 8 & 9 Lake Barrington.  “And we are looking to expand again.”

CrossFit basically boils down to a synergistic exercise that encompasses a vast array of varying movements designed for the whole body, while racing against the clock.  Working with trainers, members of the class navigate quickly through a series of specially designed exercises that provide an extreme workout with optimum results, which often leaves its partaker quickly out of breathe and every muscle sore.  

“The exercises will sometimes have elements of dead lifts, squats, running, and rowing all rolled into one workout,” said Niven of the activities that rarely see two days the same.

On the day I visited, the 15 or so class members worked their way through the demanding W.O.D. (workout of the day) that had them running 400 meters while carrying 50 pounds, jumping onto a 24-inch box, squatting and dead lifting.

Niven believes that one of the most integral parts of the program is the community support that develops as each cross fitter pushes one another.

“We have representatives from every age group here,” Niven said pointing to the numerous goals written by the various members.  “Everyone here is looking for something different.”

Scaled to fit the need of every participant, Niven and his trainers have produced results for everyone, both young and old.

“I don’t ask my mother-in-law to do what I do,” said Niven.  “But she works just as hard.”

And this sense of community felt at a CrossFit doesn’t stop when the workout does, according to Niven.

“We helped raise over $5,000,” he said of the one-day workout that all CrossFits participated in for charity.  “We also did, ‘Barbells for Boobs’ and are growing our mustaches too.”

Niven and the trainers were all sporting facial hair in support of prostate cancer awareness for November or "Manvemeber" as it is affectionately referred to. The "Barbells for Boobs" fundraiser supports mammograms and screening for breast cancer. 

CrossFit, which participates in many different charitable events, has seen a boom in athletes over the recent years.  They have grown so large that not only do they host a grueling competition (called the CrossFit Games that was recently aired on an affiliate of ESPN), but partnered with Reebok for a 10-year endorsement deal.

For more information about CrossFit Barrington, visit their website.