CrossFit 101: Your Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
So you’re thinking about trying CrossFit—but you’re not sure where to start?
You’ve seen the videos. People lifting heavy weights, climbing ropes, flipping tires, and moving fast. Maybe it looks exciting… but also a little intimidating. You might be thinking:
“Do I need to be in shape before I start?”
“Will I get hurt?”
“Can I keep up with the class?”
Here’s the good news: CrossFit is for everyone. And if you’re ready to make a real change, this guide is for you.
When I first walked into a CrossFit gym, I had no idea what to expect. My mind was somewhere between, ‘How hard can this be?’ and ‘What in the world am I doing here?’ The hardest part, was actually convincing myself to just walk in and try it. When I did, I found out that the people there were just like me. Everyone had their own personal struggles, but everyone showed up and became a part of the community. Everyone put forth effort and the energy spread like wildfire.
What You Need to Know (and Do) Before Your First Class
1. You Don’t Need to ‘Get Fit’ Before Starting CrossFit
This is a myth we hear all the time. The truth is, CrossFit meets you where you are. At Mad Mare CrossFit, every workout can be scaled to your current fitness level—whether you’re coming off the couch or you’ve been active for years. I’ve always said to ‘newbies’, …’You don’t go to a hospital when you’re not sick, so why would you walk into a gym if you’re in perfectly good shape?’ Get it?
Our coaches are trained to modify workouts for any ability. You don’t need six-pack abs or an Olympic lifting background—you just need a willingness to show up and try.
2. The Most Important Thing You Can Do: Get Proper Onboarding
Jumping into CrossFit without a plan is like trying to drive a race car without driving lessons.
That’s why every new athlete at Mad Mare CrossFit goes through a personalized onboarding experience. We teach you the movements, assess your strengths and limitations, and make sure you feel confident before joining group classes. Every athlete – both experienced and new-to-CrossFit will go through our onboarding assessment and coaching. We want to set you up for success.
We don’t throw you into the fire—we build your fire 🔥.
3. Show Up Consistently (Even If You Feel Nervous)
The hardest part is often just walking through the door. We get it. But if you can show up, even just a few times a week, we promise you’ll start to feel more capable, more energized, and more at home.
And don’t worry—you’ll never be alone. Every class is led by a coach who guides you through the warmup, the workout, and the cool-down. You’ll be surrounded by a community that wants to see you win.
Here’s Your First Step
It’s simple. You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to have it all figured out. What you need is to start.
At Mad Mare CrossFit, we begin with a No-Sweat Intro —a free 1-on-1 conversation where we get to know you, your goals, and help you build the right path forward.
You’ve Got This. The hardest part is showing up. We’ll help with the rest.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, get stronger, move better, or just feel like yourself again—Mad Mare CrossFit can help. And we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Book a No Sweat Intro
