Rest Day/Theory

In Haiti, life is hard. Most Haitians are just looking to survive from one day to the next.

“It feels as though their everyday life is what we do at CrossFit for a workout,” says Jessica Coulter, one of three Canadian athletes who accompanied Julie Roberts to the Caribbean country where she has made multiple humanitarian trips.

Simply watching Haitians pour concrete is an eye-opening experience.

“When you’re watching people do the… Continue Reading

The final part of this three-part series looks at the day-to-day lives of Haitian people and how they find happiness in a country filled with constant physical struggle and hardship.

About two hours away by car from McDonald, where Julie Roberts does most of her work in Haiti, is the tiny village of Jarvais. Because the village isn’t close to any cities, its people don’t have access to imported goods. They depend… Continue Reading

Road warrior leaves home with seven pairs of socks and discovers one of life’s great secrets.

Today is my 42nd day away from home and living on a motorcycle. Every now and then I compare a rough list of what I have with me to all the stuff—the tons of stuff—I have filling my house and garage at home in Santa Cruz, Calif., and I think about how I have not needed… Continue Reading

Haiti is the poorest place Emily Beers has ever been. Life expectancy is 61 years, and in the tiny village of McDonald going to school is optional for children—half the population never learns to read.

It’s here that Beers’ friend Julie Roberts has spent so much time, starting microcredit loans and funding latrine projects.

“Basically, we’re making a small investment to people that can’t afford a business,”… Continue Reading

One year ago, Julie Roberts funded five microcredit loans to five struggling families in McDonald, Haiti. In Part 2 of this three-part series, Emily Beers takes a look at how Roberts’ seeds are growing.

In a concrete-walled church in the rural Haitian village of McDonald, 250 or so people gather to listen to Gabriel Nixon, the unofficial village leader.

He has gathered his community this evening to introduce the North American guests visiting… Continue Reading

Although Haiti is one of the most impoverished countries in the Western world, Emily Beers is eager to make the trip to gain some perspective on her life, which was previously filled only with thoughts of competing in the CrossFit Games Open.

For Beers’ friend Julie Roberts, it’s her 13th time traveling to Haiti.

“I have a lot,” Roberts explains. “I have so much in my life, and I have had a lot of really cool… Continue Reading

CrossFit Inc. has revolutionized the business of fitness, and now hosts of others are riding the wave. Chris Cooper reports.

Greg Glassman introduced a new way to measure fitness objectively. When your Fran time drops or your front squat goes up, you’re getting fitter.

Harder to measure is the effect that Glassman’s ideas have had on the broader fitness community since he launched CrossFit.com in 2001. CrossFit has changed the landscape: powerlifters who… Continue Reading

In the inaugural episode of Offline, an unscripted presentation of guests debating controversial subjects in the CrossFit world, the topic is CrossFit.com and other CrossFit Inc. media platforms publishing anything unrelated to fitness.

Host Russell Berger welcomes guests Chris Arace, a professional photographer; Kevin Lavelle, co-founder of Mizzen and Main; Baker Leavitt, co-founder of Kill Cliff; and Ivan Ruiz, marketing manager at AOD… Continue Reading