For a group of six local CrossFit athletes, there are several simple parts of life they may never take for granted again.
Things like the chance to sit down and have a quiet, relaxed meal; the satisfaction of sleeping in or taking a mid-afternoon nap; a nice shower after a long workout — in this case, these six athletes received the soothing sensation of showering after seemingly the longest imaginable workout.
Nearly a month ago, this group of CrossFit athletes out of Double Diamond CrossFit, 965 59th Ave., in Greeley, competed for 24 hours — yes, 24 straight hours — in a worldwide competition.
The team was composed of athletes ranging in age from their late-teens to their early 40s: Colton Magnuson, Austin Magnuson, Kelsey Branom, Blake Powell, Jacob Zanetell and Xenia Staves.
From 4 a.m. Dec. 12 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13, the group competed in the grinding competition, the annual 24-hour AMRAP Challenge, hosted by a CrossFit gym in the Netherlands.
This year’s competition featured 34 teams, and this group out of Greeley — which adopts the team name “Pennies for the Boatman” — placed first.
Colton Magnuson is a 17-year-old, who is also a standout cross country runner at Northridge High School. He’s used to competing at a high level. And, he’s also well-accustomed to top finishes.
But, never had he experienced anything quite like the sensation of competing for 24 hours straight, against teams from throughout the world, and emerging in first place.
“It was life-changing,” Colton said.
He added, with a chuckle, “I was really proud, but (the sensation of winning) was short-lasted, knowing I got to go home and shower.”
“AMRAP” is an acronym for “as many reps as possible,” and boy, does the competition live up to its name.
Every hour, the event host releases a set of movements that each team must perform while being scored via an intricate point system. Each team records uninterrupted video of its performance, and a winner isn’t officially declared until days later after the competition host reviews and verifies the unedited video.
Still, thanks to live score-tracking, Pennies for the Boatman’s members knew they were closing in on a world championship as the final moments of the competition approached.
“I don’t think it really hit me that we won it until they actually got back to us with their official announcement,” Zanetell, 29, said.
This world championship certainly didn’t come easy for this six-person team.
The teams performed their workouts “carousel style”, with each team member taking a turn performing their reps.
At no point during the 24 hours did any of the members have more than a 10-minute break. They were grateful for the rare opportunity for even two or three minutes of rest.
Branom, 22, recalls eating a breakfast burrito while doing sit-ups.
“You might have a couple-minute break, or couple-second break, and you just kind of shove your face with food,” she said. “Afterwards, I think we were all relieved to be done (with the competition) but shocked at what we had just endured.”
For the most part, Branom maintained unflappable composure and perseverance during the competition. Though she did admit, she broke down and cried with about seven minutes left in the competition when it became clear her team was closing in on a world championship.
All six members of Pennies for the Boatman were first-time competitors in this event. They are the third team from Double Diamond CrossFit to win this annual competition.
The gym’s owner, Kyle Krupansky, 33, said having a team from his gym compete — and place at or near the top — in this high-level competition year after year raises the gym’s profile. But, it also puts on full display the results that are possible for his dozens of athletes who devote countless hours toward their physical fitness.
“As a coach, I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” said Krupansky, who praised this group as the hardest working team he has coached in this competition. “From a gym standpoint, it gives us a little bit of exposure. But, it also helps to motivate the athletes for the entire year. We tried to livestream most of (the competition).
“The athletes that aren’t competing, they get to watch the whole thing. They get to see how well our training style can make you perform and what it can make your body do.”
This incarnation of Double Diamond CrossFit’s Pennies for the Boatman team came together somewhat suddenly over the past year.
Austin Magnuson, 19, admitted he joined the team, as one of the later additions, because of the urging of his younger brother, Colton.
He figured it would be a fun experience to share with his brother and fellow gym members he enjoys being around.
“And then, half way through (the competition), I was like, ‘This is a lot harder than I expected it to be,’ ” Austin said with a laugh. “But, I was really proud. We did win. And, there was a lot of relief that there was not a 25th hour.”
Even though this was a grind like nothing these six competitors had previously experienced in their CrossFit careers, it also served as a confidence boost for each of them — from 17-year-old Colton Magnuson to 41-year-old Xenia Staves.
“I came in a little nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with these kids,” Staves said. “Mentally, it was more than I thought it was going to be. Physically, I felt like I could do it. … I wasn’t really sure how we were all going to work together. But, we worked together really well, and believed.”
Bobby Fernandez covers sports for the Greeley Tribune. Reach him at (970) 392-4478, by email at bfernandez@greeleytribune.com or on Twitter @BobbyDFernandez.
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