On Saturday, Devon Marsland will channel his inner Ironman to lift some iron.
The Special Olympian will be among dozens of athletes lifting, squatting, rowing, crunching and climbing at CrossFit CBC in Coquitlam in a marathon of workouts to raise money for Special Olympics.
This is the first time CrossFit CBC is participating in the effort by fitness centres across Canada, which is in its seventh year. Co-owner Melodie Kinsey said it’s a good fit with her gym’s commitment to give back to the community it’s been a part of for more than three years.
It’s also a constructive way to scratch the competitive itch of CrossFit athletes who like to measure their performances against their own personal achievements as well as others, Kinsey said. Of the more than 30 gyms across the country registered for the fitness marathon CrossFit CBC ranked fourth in fundraising as of Wednesday.
Kinsey said the marathon workout will last six hours, during which participants will take on various challenges that last 10 minutes like swinging heavy kettle balls, doing push-ups and burpees, rowing, squatting and powerlifting weights.
And then there’s the “bear complex,” a gruelling test of strength and endurance during which the athlete can’t put the barbell they’re hoisting for a series of lifts onto the ground for the duration of their 10-minute workout.
Kinsey said getting through that is as much a test of mental fortitude.
“You have to fight through it,” she said.
Marsland, who recently started adding CrossFit training to his workout regime that prepares him to compete in Special Olympics sports like basketball, soccer, bowling, cardio as well as track and field, said he doesn’t expect to be challenging any of the “bear complex” athletes. But he’ll be working up a sweat on Saturday on the rowing machine, hoisting kettle balls and weights, and maybe even doing a little rope climbing. He said the rugged exercise makes him feel invincible, like his favourite superheroes from The Avengers and the Power Rangers.
“It’s way cool to be able to try the equipment,” Marsland said.
Kinsey said enthusiasm for the marathon has been building over the past month with several fundraising events at the gym, including one in which patrons were able to purchase workouts Kinsey and her partner, Greg Zeitler, then had to do.
And while a certain amount of masochism came into play, Kinsey said it was all in good fun.
“It’s a really positive environment,” she said.
Zeitler said he expects over the course of Saturday’s workout marathon, participants will hoist more than 100,000 pounds of iron.
That’s a lot of weight, even by superhero standards, Marsland said. But the fact the athletes will be doing it so he and other Special Olympians can attend competitions and further their own training makes the marathon extra special.
“I can have strength and help people too,” he said.
• CrossFit CBC is located at 1-2731 Barnet Hwy. in Coquitlam. Saturday’s workout marathon begins at 8 a.m. and spectators as well as drop-in participants are welcome. To pledge a workout or find out more about the event, go to www.cf24.ca
