J.C. Herz - Learning to Breathe Fire: the Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness

Absolutely excellent. This is the best encapsulation of CrossFit, the Games, and the CrossFit community that Ive seen.

Josh Newman, owner of CrossFit NYC (The Black Box)

A beautifully written mix of evocative vignettes and lucid explanations that shows us what were capable of when we train hard and connect with our instinctive nature. This is a book about digging deep, about kindling a spirit that allows us to push past our wildest expectations.

Marshall Ulrich, Badwater 146 record holder and author of Running on Empty

CrossFit is a phenomenon, both as a radical way to confer fitness and as a virally successful business. Herz tells both stories with exceptional insightplus the inside lore of a dedicated CrossFitter.

Stewart Brand, creator of the Whole Earth Catalog (and CrossFitter at age seventy-five)

I couldnt put this book down. J.C. spares no detail in helping us see into the heart and soul of a CrossFitter. This is about the gut-busting journey to the last rep, but its also about life. Whether youve tried CrossFit or just thought about trying it, Learning to Breathe Fire is a must-read.

Chrisanna Northrup, New York Times bestselling author, CrossFit Level 1 coach, and former CrossFit Box owner

Learning to Breathe Fire is a brilliant book describing CrossFits grassroots beginnings and its early adoption by the military and first responder communities. You dont need much to do CrossFit: a small space, some ammo cans, a tactical vest, and 100,000 cubic feet of heart and lungs to achieve the desired thrashing. Herz captures the magic of CrossFits simplicity, and, with the skill of a trained sniper, she delivers a truth about what the human spirit can accomplish. This is a must-read.

Tim Kennedy, Pro UFC fighter, US Army Special Forces veteran, and Trauma CrossFit co-owner

Essential reading for the avid CrossFitter as well as the novice gym goer who has lurked outside CrossFit box windows staring at the madness occurring inside. J. C. Herzs story of the rise of a fitness program that has built a passionate community around it is an engaging reminder of the reasons that keep people flocking to the box!

Jason Sturm, US Army Sergeant (retired), CrossFit Walter Reed coach, adaptive athlete, and Working Wounded Games competitor

J. C. Herzs new book is a riveting account of the hottest and most effective fitness movement in America. Told with nerve and verve, its the inside story of CrossFit, its history, the athletes who swear by it, and the science behind why it works. Herz will inspire CrossFit fans to push twice as hard in their next WOD and will motivate those who havent yet tried it to get in the best shape of their life.

David Lefer, author of The Founding Conservatives: How a Group of Unsung Heroes Saved the American Revolution

With each page of Learning to Breathe Fire the reader receives a prescribed dose of inspiration and comes to appreciate the struggle to push through discomfort. Like a motivated coach, J. C. Herz magnificently stirs our emotionsher words are a stimulus to take us to the next level. Fair warning: while reading about the characters in this real-life story you may find yourself alternately astonished and fighting back tears. For me, this book was a walk down memory lane, reconnecting me to how my special operations career thrust me into CrossFit and turned on the fitness lightbulb, increasing my appetite to read and learn more. I highly recommend Learning to Breathe Fire. It will awaken your dormant fitness DNA, stoke the coals, and lift you to a new level of commitment.

Duncan Smith, US Army Special Operations officer, casual CrossFitter, and rugby enthusiast

Do you think brains are what made humans the most fearsome creatures on earth? Profiling a dozen fire breathers, J. C. Herz shows how stunning we can be physically. That is, those who are willing to go all the way.

David Brin, New York Times bestselling science fiction novelist and award-winning nonfiction author

Learning to Breathe Fire brought me back to my first WOD as a brand-new member of a Special Forces team. Exactly ten years ago, I simultaneously started my career in SOF and CrossFit; in my mind, the two are symbioticI cant imagine one without the other. J.C. perfectly captures the physical and emotional epiphanies that occur as someone experiences the CrossFit metamorphosis. She also poignantly demonstrates the strength of the CrossFit communitys bonds, particularly the link between the military and civilians; this is what makes this movement truly powerful. Learning to Breathe Fire shows how empowering it is to transform ones mind and body. But it also expresses the raw emotion involved in breaking through limits that previously seemed impossible. This important book will reshape the CrossFit movement by bringing it back to its early roots.

Nate R., US Army Special Forces officer

Learning to Breathe Fire chronicles the rise of CrossFit, showingin a way that is always interesting and insightfulhow ordinary people have achieved extraordinary results following this program. A must-read for anyone looking to maximize his or her potential.

Dean Karnazes, ultra-endurance star and New York Times bestselling author

Copyright 2014 by J. C. Herz
All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Crown Archetype, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.

www.crownpublishing.com

Crown Archetype with colophon is a trademark of Random House LLC.

CrossFit is a registered trademark of CrossFit, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. Images used with permission from CrossFit, Inc., are 20082013 CrossFit, Inc. All rights reserved.

The views of the author are exclusively her own and do not reflect the official views of CrossFit, Inc. Although the reader may find the practices in this book to be useful or appealing, content is made available with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in presenting specific medical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual advice. Nothing in this book is intended to be a diagnosis, prescription, recommendation, or cure for emotional, medical, or psychological problems. Each person should engage in a program of treatment or prevention only in consultation with a licensed, qualified physician, therapist, or other competent professional.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-385-34887-4
eBook 978-0-385-34888-1

Jacket design by Michael Nagin
Jacket photography MetCon Photos LLC
Lettering on front cover by Thomas Corrigan

v3.1

For Mike Hart