Podcast link: https://anchor.fm/crossfit-metroeast/episodes/Benefits-of-Improving-Cardiovascular-and-Respiratory-Endurance-e1uc57o

Show Notes:

Intro to the 10 general physical skills:

• In CrossFit’s “What Is Fitness?” article published in 2002 they designated 10 general physical skills that define fitness
  • They are: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy

In the coming episodes we’re going to break down each one of these and explain the why and the how we train these at CFME. 

CrossFit’s position on the 10 general physical skills: 

• Appropriate programming will expand someone’s capacity in each of these areas without biasing any one area 
• You are as fit as you are competent in each of these 10 skills, and a regimen develops fitness to the extent that it improves each of these 10 skills.
• Importantly, improvements in endurance, stamina, strength, and flexibility come about through training. Training refers to activity that improves performance through a measurable organic change in the body. By contrast, improvements in coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy come about through practice. Practice refers to activity that improves performance through changes in the nervous system. Power and speed are adaptations of both training and practice.
• If your goal is optimum physical competence, then all 10 general physical skills must be considered and developed.

Todays topic: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance

What is that?

• The ability of the body’s systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen

What does that look like in a workout setting?

• typically a single modality (because you can maintain intensity and pace without changing modalities
  • Running, rowing, biking, swimming, skiing 
• Aerobic capacity days 

Why is this general physical skill important to our clients?

Weight loss:

• fat oxidation during submaximal efforts 
• Improved systems to then work at higher intensities in other forms of exercise therefore increasing Caloric expenditure

Performance:

• better transportation and use of oxygen increases body’s ability to perform repeated efforts of higher intensity power outputs
• Speeds Recovery between sessions 

General fitness and function:

• Prevents  chronic diseases such as: Coronary artery disease, hypertension (high BP), diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dementia
• Increases functional capacity and ability to stay active longer – when the heart and lungs work more efficiently it makes physical activity easier on us so, but when our heart and lungs struggle to keep up with our activity it promotes to be more sedentary as we age

Wrap Up: 

So, if you want benefits like the ones listed above or if you’re one of those OG CrossFitters who values the traditional principles of CrossFit methodology then don’t skip training this general physical skill when it pops up in the programming.

If you want to learn more about how to improve your health and fitness to live a better life for you and the people around you, hit us up on our website at CrossFit-MetroEast.com and click HERE to book a free consult with someone from our team, we’d love to help