CFSQ is home to several couples, siblings, and parent & child teams. Lori and Max have been training together with us since the beginning. Max will be headed off to the University of Vermont to study creative writing soon. Their relationship as a family has only grown stronger through CrossFit.

Enjoying a workout with your better half or your friends can be a great opportunity to spend some quality time together, even if you have different fitness levels. Exercising together brings numerous benefits, including exercise motivation, boosting social skills and bolstering commitment.

Training with friends and loved ones also creates social time together. Whether it’s just a sporting get-together or a social activity afterwards as well, you’re more likely to enjoy your training sessions when in the company of friends.

Exercise also creates quality time. Nowadays, everyone is busy and rushing around, and the opportunity to take a little quality time out should not be missed. A group workout that leaves you refreshed and relaxed is fantastically therapeutic.

In addition to being good for you, training with a friend is good fun and the fun element of your exercise sessions should not be neglected. You may have some serious training goals, but it is equally important to enjoy and bring laughter into your exercise routine. Laughter, after all, is the best medicine!

Sometimes family or friends can provide that extra fire to push you a little harder through your training. Competition with your training partner is a sure-fire way to give you that extra edge to push that little bit harder or further. Whether you’re looking to drop a minute or two off your race times or you just want to be your best, the extra incentive that healthy competition brings is certain to help you improve.

And do not discount the power of motivation you and your loved ones provide, either. You know your partner and friends well, particularly their strengths and weaknesses, so you are in a great position to capitalize on this knowledge and motivate them when you can see that the going is getting tough. They will appreciate your help because they know that your support is genuine. Also, the tables can be turned and you can benefit from their support as well.

Finally, on those days when you’re not 100 percent sure if you want to tackle your planned workout, because you’ve made an “exercise date” with your partner or friends, you’re far less likely to blow off the session. You have made a social commitment to be there. Besides, I guarantee, chances are 99 out of 100 that once you start your training session together, you’ll be glad that you made the effort. — Angie Ferguson is an exercise physiologist from Fort Myers. She is a USA Triathlon Advanced Level 2 coach and USA Cycling coach.

Warmup
Dynamic Athletic Movement
Hip Mobility Series

3 Sets
5 Pull-ups
10 Divebombers
15 Kettlebell Swings

Skill
Double Kettlebell practice

Conditioning
Double Kettlebell Complex
5 sets
Alternate with a partner
5 Swings
5 Cleans
5 Squats
5 Push Press
5 High Pulls