Review: CrossFit ALC. Alicante, Spain.

During the month I trained at CrossFit ALC in Alicante, Spain, I was constantly asked “Por que??!”.   Why Alicante?  This is a city known for attracting hoards of German tourists during summer who flock to the beach, even though the city itself isn’t particularly pretty.  Why would a travelling CrossFitter choose to base herself here?  Bright lights and shining stars – Carl Paoli, Mr GWOD himself is part-owner of this impressive box, located on Spain’s stunning Costa Blanca.

Glad I shaved my legs.  The CrossFit ALC coaches – Javi, Miguel, Martin and Monica

Seeking training experience in a European box, I was sure that a box owned by someone like Paoli would guarantee good coaching, programming and experience.  Oh, and Annie Thorisdottir was due for a visit with Paoli sometime in the summer.  My short time at CrossFit ALC certainly taught me a lot, including the fact that, although this is a solid box, a name is only part of a puzzle.

Review: Urban Box CrossFit. Madrid.

It was my birthday eve.  30 years old tomorrow and I figured that smashing yourself in a long WOD was a pretty good way to tie off a decade.  And smashed I was…quickly discovering that Madrid’s Urban Box CrossFit is no place for the faint hearted.

My crew at Urban Box CrossFit

I walked for an hour through Madrid’s vibrant streets just to get to Urban Box CrossFit, thinking that this would be a good way to discover more of Spain’s capital (correct), and that the WOD wouldn’t be so hard that I needed to conserve my energy (incorrect).  I walked through the bright, white entranceway and saw the WOD on the board.