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Wednesday
Apr142010

CrossFit NYC v. CrossFit Metropolis: First Impressions

From February to early April, I worked out a lot at CrossFit NYC.  It wasn't always easy, but I got hooked on the short, intense, varied workouts.  (Want to catch up on my CrossFit adventures thus far?  Click here.)  I wanted to keep going, but I had a real problem: logistics.  CrossFit NYC is located on 26th between 6th and Broadway, which is pretty out of the way for me.  It's also not someplace I could shower before work. (They have showers, but...)  That meant that I was going at 8:30 at night, if I could get out of work in time.  That's fine once in a while, but doesn't work for me on a regular basis.  The late dinners, late nights and rough mornings were getting to me.

Enter CrossFit Metropolis, conveniently located on 84th St. between 1st and 2nd.  When I started at CrossFit NYC, I had no idea CrossFit Metropolis even existed.  That's partly because it's new; it opened in November, 2009.  When my membership ended at CrossFit NYC, I knew I had to give Metropolis a shot.

I started on Monday and, so far, it's been awesome.  Monday through Thursday, CrossFit Metropolis offers one morning and four evening sessions.  I've been going to the 6:30 am classes.  The time is perfect for me, and the morning regulars are great and very welcoming. 

I've only been three times so far, but here are the key differences I've observed between CrossFit NYC and CrossFit Metropolis:

CrossFit NYC has several instructors, so sometimes there are a bunch of different things going on (i.e. an Elements class going on simultaneous to a workout of the day ("WOD"), or an Express WOD session that overlaps with a regular WOD).  CrossFit Metropolis is a one man show.  All WODs are run by owner Eric Love, which means there's only one class going at a time.  Naturally, the schedule at CrossFit Metropolis is more limited and, whereas NYC is bustling with activity at times, Metropolis is a little more chill.

CrossFit NYC follows the "main site", www.Crossfit.com.  This means that they do the same workout that CrossFitters around the world are doing on any given day.  It also means that they follow the "three days on, one day off" schedule, and each week the rest day(s) fall on different days.  CrossFit Metropolis doesn't follow the main site; Eric picks the WODs.  It's also closed on Fridays, and offers different kinds of workouts on the weekend including a "Kryptonite Hour" on Saturdays and a "Free Newbie Intro Session" on Sundays.  (I haven't yet been on a weekend, so I'm not really sure what the Kryptonite Hour entails.  I'll let you know.)  I'm pretty psyched about this.  Since I do more than just CrossFit, it's great that the weeks are consistant and, at least on Fridays, I won't have to feel like I'm missing something if I run or spin or hit up Physique 57.

At CrossFit NYC, most of the instructors put you through a prescribed warmup, and sometimes those feel as intense as the WODs themselves.  One of my favorite CrossFit NYC instructors, Sara, once had us do three rounds of 12 pull-ups  (I think) and 20 walking lunges.  It wasn't technically "for time," but there wasn't a lot of time to get it done before the WOD, either.  After the WODs, they would have us cash out, which usually meant working on one or two skills.  At CrossFit Metropolis, Eric has us warm up for the first 15 minutes on our own, so it's up to me to make that time count.  So far, there have been no cash outs at the end.  Overall, the workouts have felt a little less intense because of this.

Lastly, CrossFit NYC has been around for a while, so a lot of people there have been doing it for years.  You see some pretty insane athletes.  My impression is that a greater percentage of people at CrossFit Metropolis are newer to CrossFit. 

It was tough to leave CrossFit NYC.  So far, though, I'm really happy with decision to switch to CrossFit Metropolis.  I like working out in the morning, and Eric is awesome.  Incidentally, he's also quite the shutterbug.  I've made the website a few times already.  Here and here.

These are just my quick and dirty, off the cuff impressions.  I will, of course, keep you posted as time goes on.

-Gym Belle-

 

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Reader Comments (3)

AWESOME. I am so jazzed to start trying this out. I looked at both websites and it seems like the 26th street location might be more cost effective. . .but I DO want to try them both.

Great post, kid!

Alison :)

April 14, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterAlison Foster

Whew!..relieved to see we passed the Gym Belle first impressions test here at CrossFit Metropolis...now if only Gym Belle didn't manage to get hurt watching the Marathon, we'd have heard about second impressions by now too!
Thanks for your kind words.
Cheers, Eric

April 29, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterEric Love

I think your blog is pretty awesome. I have been trying to research Crossfit in NYC and have come down to two affiliates... you guessed in Blackbox or Metropolis. I wanted to get your honest feedback on each and which would be better for my wife and I. My impressions are that the Blackbox is bigger, more classes and more coaches while Metropolis is less crowded and you may get more individual coaching.

I was curious about the equiptment at each gym, how you found the coaching both during the workouts and afterwards? Nutrition is important and I probably need a bit a help on the Paelo thing, so did either place give alot of guidance?

I would really appreciate your help as I am pretty psyched about starting.
Thanks,
T

October 4, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterT

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