A Fresh New Design For Connect

Over the last few months we have been working with CrossFitter and Connect member Chris Harrison of Harrison & Co, Brighton - http://harrison-agency.com/ - for a complete overhaul of our branding and design and we are absolutely delighted with the results that we launched this week.

It all started when we approached Chris about designing a new logo for our Weightlifting Club. Little did we know that two months later we would have a whole family of fresh new designs, a website and a concept that we feel will take us forward in 2014.

Chris suggested that as we grew and offered more and more training options at Connect that we could do with a central design around which all the off-shoots of our CrossFit training could be linked. We whole heartedly agreed. We have been open for three years now and in that time we have grown from a small 700sq ft CrossFit box to a 5200sq ft strength & conditioning facility that not only has some of the best coaches in the South East but also one of the most extensive timetables of any similar facility in the country. It was time for an overhaul and there was no better company than Harrison & Co to fulfil the task.

Although we have been officially known as 'Reebok CrossFit Connect' for the last two years all our members and most of the people that know of us refer to us simply as 'Connect'. So this is where the process started. We are now 'Connect - Fitness & Performance' and this is our main operating name.

Under this title we still are 'Reebok CrossFit Connect' and the main bulk of what we do is still CrossFit. Were we worried about some of the recent negative press that CrossFit has been getting from some sides of the media? Not at all. We know we run a safe, effective CrossFit training programme, have Olympic lifting and strength & conditioning coaches with over 25 years of combined experience behind them and have a great beginner programme and multi level scaling options for all our members at every class. Whilst we know that the quality of coaching can vary wildly between CrossFit boxes due to a somewhat loosely controlled certification programme we are confident in what we do and we do it well. We are not just another CrossFit box. We are one of the best in the country.

With over 57 coached classes on our timetable per week we now also offer 6x Olympic lifting sessions, 5x Barbell Club sessions, 2 x gymnastic classes and a mobility class alongside our CrossFit WOD classes. Harrison & Co have designed a collection of logos for these classes with more to come. All of these things now fall neatly under the 'Connect - Fitness & Performance' banner. 

The 'Double N' of Connect has always been our main design feature and even this has been given an update and now looks pretty special. You will see this on our Facebook Page and our Twitter and Instagram accounts.

We were also very proud this week to be told that Harrison & Co and indeed ourselves had been featured in the online edition of Design Week with news of our new branding. You can read the article here. We are very happy for Chris to be recognised for his hard work on our project.

Alongside our new branding we also launched our new website on Monday. Its fresh, clean layout looks perhaps more like a photographers portfolio site than a CrossFit box but with Nerijus Dusevicius of RXd Photograpy also a member at Connect and with his skill behind the lens we are overflowing with amazing photos capturing just what it means to train with us. We wanted to showcase his talents as much as possible and think we have achieved that goal throughout the site.

We would like to thank Chris and Nerijus for all their help on this project and if you would like to get in touch with either of them use the links above. I cannot recommend both creative teams highly enough.

Of course if you would like to come down and check out what we do at Connect then simply drop us an email or give us a call using the details at the top. We'd love to hear from you.

The Evolution of Connect.....

This fantastic time-lapse video from Sean and Dean at Site-eye Time-Lapse Films shows our first week at the new Connect headquarters.

A massive thanks to our whole community for pulling together and getting us set up over the course of a single weekend. We couldn't have done it without you all!

Get in touch to find our more about how you can become part of Connect and really change the way you think about health, training and fitness. Our dedicated coaches will work with you to reach your goals no matter what they might be.

The first week at Unit 5.

Olympic Lifting Competition and Open Evening - Monday 16th Dec, 7-9pm

Our Olympic Lifting class have been going through a 10 week programme and we are currently on week seven. After five or so weeks of build up we are now at a pretty heavy part of the programme. There have already been some great results and progressions and I am very excited to see how everyone has done by the end of the 10 weeks.

This brings me on to how and when we are going to test our results.

I would like to run the test session at the end of the programme in the format of a mini competition. This will mean that we will have two platforms running; one for female lifters and one for male lifters. Each lifter will have three attempts to lift their heaviest Snatch and three attempts at the Clean & Jerk. One lifter will be on the platform at a time on a rising bar. This means that the bar will be set up at the lightest opening weight and the weight on the bar will then keep going up as lifters choose their weights. The weight on the bar can NOT be decreased. All lifters will have 30 mins to warm up to their start weights and must submit their start weights and bodyweight to me at the beginning of the session.

As the last week of the programme is just before Xmas we are going to be running the competition on Monday 16th December from 7pm - 9pm. Then everyone can enjoy their Christmas knowing they can Snatch and C&J like Milko!

This competition is open to all of our members. However due to the time available we can only have 20 lifters in total. If you would like to get involved please put your name on the board at the box.

We are also running this as an open evening at Connect. This is a good opportunity for people to come along and see the box, meet the coaches and learn what it is that is making Connect so popular. There is no need to book a space, just turn up during the evening where you can speak to us about CrossFit or Olympic lifting and learn how you can get involved.

Olympic Lifting is growing rapidly in popularity and we are now the biggest place in the South East where you can get into this sport. We have well qualified and experienced coaches and are happy to teach anybody the lifts from complete beginners upwards. We have four dedicated lifting platforms and a large range of Olympic barbells and bumper plates.

With the help of British Weightlifting we are developing Connect into a hub of South East talent and will be offering more and more opportunities to get involved over the next few months. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and this blog for future details.

Good luck Guys and Girls!

Take a look at Coach Holly performing an instructional video of the two Olympic Lifts on our YouTube channel here.

The Dream Comes True....

Its been a whirlwind three months since I last updated this blog and what a three months it has been! If you scroll back down the page you will see we last blogged about a new 'extra' unit (Unit 6) we took over as an overspill from our original Unit 9. This was only ever going to be an interim option until we found exactly the right place to relocate Connect too but we didnt realise quite how soon we would be moving again!

After a very well timed sea kayak at the end of summer Connect coaches Barney and George were dragging the kayaks up the beach and noticed that this big unit right on the beach was being cleared out. Upon closer inspection they found out that indeed the previous occupants had moved out and the unit was ready to be put back on the market.

An empty Unit 5 - Space!

Just got the keys

The last of the paint had only just dried in Unit 6 and we were already working our way to securing Connects future home. At first, Unit 5 looked enormous. At 5100sq ft we were slightly worried that we might not be able to fill the thing. Remember, we were graduating up from a measly 700sq ft that had been our home for the previous two and a half years! It was quite some jump. But we hadn't rushed this. One of the best pieces of advice anyone gave us was to stay put until we were absolutely bursting at the seems and couldn't fit another member in. This was definitely the case with us by October 2013 and in fact we had to stop taking on members for two months over this summer because we were at total capacity.

So we went for it. 

In one spectacular weekend at the end of October we completely changed Unit 5 from an empty warehouse into a stunning functional fitness facility. Flip it, lets say fully furnished functional fitness facility! With the help of our incredibly supportive members it took two days to clean, paint, carry, transport, arrange and fix everything in place. By the end of the Sunday night it looked like it had been our home forever.

Chris H dragging those heavy ass mats out of Unit 9

Equipment and people everywhere!

Things are taking shape

And you know what? We filled the space easily. How did we ever fit all this equipment in one and then briefly two 700sq ft units? It seemed crazy.

Classes kicked off on the following Monday and it didn't take long to feel like home. The individual space that everyone had was amazing and after spending too long having to programme WODs (workouts of the day) taking into account the space requirements of the small box, our devilish minds were finally set free to programme as we wished!

A dream come true

Sometime during that first week myself and Holly looked up and saw the box operating at full pace. A multitude of lessons were happening side by side from WOD classes to Olympic Lifting classes to Barbell Clubs and our amazing team of coaches were in the thick of it teaching people how to move better, lift better and become fitter and healthier. We cast our mind back to February 2011 when we stood in lil' old Unit 9 and had our first class with 5 people worried that no-one else might join up. Its been incredibly hard work and stupidly long hours to get where we are today but what a trip.

Day 1 of CrossFit Connect - February 2011 - Unit 9

October 2013. Fully furnished Unit 5. Come and play.....

We are now proud owners of one of the biggest CrossFit boxes in the UK, have one of the most extensive timetables of classes in the country and have funding from British Weightlifting to develop the box into a centre of excellence for Olympic lifters in the South East.

It really is a dream come true. 

We cant thank our members, friends and family enough for their help and support over the last few years as we wouldn't be anywhere without you guys.

If you would like to come down and check us out then don't hesitate to get in touch. We are a friendly bunch and have some of the best qualified coaches around. Whilst we take our coaching and programming seriously we still know how to have fun and create a great atmosphere. We run free taster classes on Saturdays and are now taking bookings for our next Intro Course that will be starting in January. This is obviously going to be a busy one so come on down and book your spot now.

Happy training...

www.crossfitconnect.co.uk

* Big thanks to Nerijus at RXdPhotography for the great professional shots of the box. Follow him on Twitter @RXdPhotography or Facebook - RX'd Photography

Renovations In Full Flow...

An update on the new Unit................

Over the last two weeks we have been locked away in Unit 6 converting it into a CrossFit haven. What started out as a tired old unit with badly fitted offices is now a playground of functional fitness!

With the help of the Connect team behind us (its amazing what your members can do when asked and who they know to help out!) we have stormed through the refit with the aim of starting new classes when the kids go back to school in September. We have been eager to open our memberships up again after being forced to cap them in July and we have had no shortage of enquiries in the meantime. With the help of the CrossFit Games and numerous articles in magazines (including the EasyJet in-flight mag!) peoples interest is really beginning to peak in regards to 'The Sport of Fitness'.

So with the opening only a few short weeks away and our waiting list already able to fill our Intro Courses three times over, now is the time to get in touch and get your name down on the list to join!

To give you a little sneak preview of what we have been up to check out some of the photos below.....

Before the work begun

The coaches getting in on some DIY

The leg workout of the day....kicking walls down.

Barney giving the thumbs up to say he has done a risk assessment!

Errmmm.....are you sure??

The walls demolished

Now the construction can begin

Once the demolition and building was complete we ordered the mats in, cut them to shape, painted the walls, put the pull up rig in and finished our office. Its all starting to look pretty sweet. The new equipment is starting to arrive too. 300kg of Olympic bumper plates and bars came first and loads more toys will be on their way soon.

Painting and laying the floor.

Mmmm...new toys!

The rig is attached to the wall.

What this means for all you guys and girls that want to come down and train with us is that we will soon be opening up our memberships again.

Our first taster sessions will be held on Saturday 31st August at 9am, 10am, 11am and 12pm. We only take 10 people on our taster sessions to ensure a high level of coaching so these places will go fast. If you think you would like to come down and have a free session with us then get in touch. We will of course be giving priority to those people who got in touch with us first but drop us an email and we will tell you when the next sessions will be if our first classes are already filled up.

Our group Intro Courses will be starting from Monday 9th September and we will be having three Intro Groups starting at the same time to accommodate everyone. Again, you may still be able to get on these but priority will go to those on our waiting list first. Hurry up and get your email too us and we'll add you to the list.

Its going to be one hell of a busy time for us at Connect in September but we cant wait to get going and get a whole load of new people training with us at the box. Or should I now say box-es! :)

For those who have been waiting, thanks for your patience whilst we have been getting this sorted! For our existing members we hope you enjoy your new playground.

We look forward to meeting all the new faces soon.

A new Box...A new Era...

Connect has grown at a steady pace since opening its doors just over two years ago and we have built up a strong core of dedicated members and friends. We have a wide range of people that now train with us from triathletes to Sunday runners and from previously sedentary coach potatoes to professional level sports men and women. Its a great mix and its been fantastic to train and coach you all to become fitter, faster and stronger.

The July Box Throwdown pose-off!

However, in July this year we had to take the hard decision to cap our membership due to high number of people that wanted to train with us. Classes were becoming overbooked and wait listed and we didn't want to just keep joining people up if it meant members not being able to come to class when they wanted.

At just a shade over 700sq ft we have to be one of the smallest boxes in the UK but with sensible programming and 11.5 hours of classes every weekday also one of the hardest working and successful. We love what we do and this rubs off onto our members who quite often become close friends too.

The team behind Connect have been searching for new premises now for 10 months or so with no luck for one reason or another, be it location, size, cost or a landlord that wasn't agreeable to what we wanted to do. It has been a very frustrating time.

But, at last, we have some good news!!!

We are happy to announce we have just got the keys for an expansion of Connect. Although not what initially we had in mind when we thought about moving, a 4000sq ft empty, shining unit would have been nice, it is going to provide a great stop gap for now until we do find a 4000sq ft empty, shining unit!

We have taken on another unit three doors down from where we are now at Hove Enterprise Centre. Having pondered the situation for some time we came to the conclusion that our waterside location on Hove seafront is so nice and our complete lack of other options as autumn quickly approaches is so complete that we would have been silly to turn it down.

So with a slight bit of renovation Connect will shortly be twice the size it is now. Plus we get an office which is actually one of the things I'm most excited about strangely enough!

Although I dance like this already...so no change there then.

Our new unit will allow us to run our speciality classes such as Olympic Lifting, Barbell Club and Mobility class along with new Intro courses and Beginners classes. This will free up much needed space on our timetable and allow the old unit a free run of 4 hours of WOD classes every night. The peak time WOD classes will also now be able to hold more people as we can spread the class across both units.

And another thing we are planning on doing is having a rig constructed that will hold more ropes for climbing. Anyone see the CrossFit Games last week? We need to practice those!

So, whilst we will still be continuing the search for a proper big new home next year, for now this will allow us to carry on having fun and games at the location that we all love.

Outside the box and in the sunshine at a recent competition at Connect. We are glad to be staying here.

If you are interested in joining up at Connect and becoming involved in CrossFit then give us a call or drop us a line and we will add you to our waiting list. We will then be in touch shortly as to how you can get booked onto one of our upcoming Intro courses as soon as the new box is refurbed.

A big thanks to all our existing members who have stuck with us whilst we have been trying to find more space. You guys rock!

Success Stories

With all the training that goes on down at the box and the high frequency we see our members every week its sometimes easy to forget the journey that some of them have been on.

We see them training hard and following our dietary advice, we programme our sessions to hit their fitness from all sides and we are always around to offer support via email, Facebook and in person at the box whenever they need it.

We have been doing this CrossFit thing for over 3 years now but you know what? It still amazes me when one of our members shows us old photos of themselves before they joined up. It shouldn't amaze me because I know what we do and the advice we give is the best advice they can listen too and follow and I know the CrossFit methodology irrefutably works. I've seen it with so many people over the years. But I still get that buzz of excitement when I see that absolute change in one of our guys or girls. I guess its why we do this job and why I wouldn't want to do anything else. 

Neil Farley joined us in August of last year (2012) after continual harassment from most of his friends and family who were already training with us! You know how it is if you do CrossFit. WODs, training and AMRAPs become your sole topic of conversation that you get to bore all your acquaintances with!

So he finally gave in and came down to check us out himself......

Neil at 98kg.

This 'before' photo was taken a few years earlier when Neil had decided enough was enough and had signed up for a 10km run. At this point he weighed 98kg. We cant take all of the credit for his weight loss as at this point he had started running and cycling to work. He says he joined a gym but like most big-chain gym memberships it hardly got used as he got bored and had no direction or guidance in the right way to train.

By the time he joined us he had already done a fantastic job of getting his weight down to 89kg but felt as though he needed more of a push as he wasn't seeing any more progress.

As well as training consistently with us at least 3 times a week, Neil also joined up to our regular Paleo challenges run by Plan P. These 30-day events are an introduction to the Paleo way of eating for our members. Provided is a full two-week recipe meal plan created by coach and chef extrodinaire Barney Gehlcken (who runs the kitchen at the fantastic Noble House Pub in Hove, East Sussex) and full shopping lists of things to buy and things not to buy. We also weigh and measure everybody in at the beginning so that we know exactly what progress they make during the 30 days.

It most definitely isn't easy, with the hardest part being 7-10 days in when the body is craving sugar and headaches and mood swings are common. However, after about 14 days the body starts to switch energy sources and you start to feel amazing. For more info on Plan P or the Paleo diet click on the links.

Neil had a fantastic success with his paleo and has kept it up ever since. It really does change the way you think about food and what you put into your mouth. Yes, of course there are still times for treats but on the whole most of our members who try it out end up sticking with it for the majority of their meals.

Neil at a sprightly 72.5kg this week.

Neil lost an impressive 5.5kg in weight and 3 inches from his waistline whilst on the challenge, taking him down to where he is at today......a fantastic 72.5kg.

The change from last August has been amazing to witness and be a part of and now Neil is fully in tune with the CrossFit way of life. He trains hard, takes our advice on board and is feeling a whole load better for it. Oh and yes, he does now talk about CrossFit all the time too.

If you would like more information on CrossFit, Paleo or Plan P and how we could help you out just give us a call or drop us a line. We're ready to help.

Lets see those photos again. Great work Neil, fantastic job!