From Adventure Races to CrossFit

January 31, 2012

Eugene Andrews

 

 

Goal setter, motivational speaker, 24-hour adventure racer, box co-owner, and CrossFitter. At 47, Bruce Young is turning back the clock. He is using his will, philosophy on life and ultra-competitive peers to become the quiet, dark horse of the 45-50 year-old Masters Division.
 
​Finding CrossFit
Young started CrossFit after his watching his wife, Cecile, come home and brag about the weight she lifted or beamed when she showed off her ripped hands. It wasn’t the workouts that got his attention – it was the enthusiasm that she displayed and her eagerness to go back and do it again.
 
The typical Canadian, Young grew up playing hockey. His business took him through the United States and he missed the competitive edge. The open-arm atmosphere he encountered in various CrossFit gyms along his travels gave him an idea. He began collecting what he thought was the best of each gym and after careful selection he, and a small group of others, opened CrossFit Select in Mississauga, Ontario.
 
​Adventure Racing
Using CrossFit as his training for 24-30 hour adventure races, Young says he has noticed improvements. “My races don’t help me with (CrossFit) fitness. CrossFit helps me with my adventure races.” 
 
Highlighting the CrossFit dogma that specialists are penalised, Young says, “my goal is not to be the best at one thing, but be well-rounded. I do all right against the younger guys (at my box). Being around them makes you better, they want you (to be) better.” 
 
Who are they? Raul Cano, Chris Baillie, Tommy Snarr, Ryan Marangoni, Angie Gautheir, Mel P., and Monica Frischkorn, all of whom were on CrossFit Select’s competition team, which placed third at the Canada East Regional in 2011.
 
​Motivation
Through his work in sales, Young has become an articulate motivational speaker. Using the analogy of what or whom would you place on your “boat” to get you to your ultimate goal has earned Bruce the respect of his peers and friends. He has cast off many of his anchors, which includes his addictions. He has enjoyed several years of sobriety.
 
“You can’t hope to get to your goals,” Young says. He has changed the way he approaches his life and the upcoming open competition, adopting an “I will” attitude and focusing on his weaknesses, Young has been steadily improving.
 
Not knowing who his competition will be does not frighten him. On January 28, Young joined 80 other athletes (17 from CrossFit Select), for the Overdose Open hosted by Element CrossFit. This competition will set the tone for the remainder of Young’s training for the CrossFit Games Open. “I have no idea who I will compete against, but I have work to do. I want to see how I stack up against the world.”