A lot has changed in CrossFit® since Eric Roza has taken over as the new CEO. In fact, i 2020 Games have been almost totally online, only the 5 strongest men and women on the planet went to the Aromas Ranch to compete in the highly anticipated final.
For that occasion Dave Castro created a new one Definitely difficult WOD: Atalanta. It almost looks like a Murph, but much more intense and heavier.
Needless to deny, every time a WOD is created and performed by elite athletes, the desire to test ourselves is triggered in order to understand "As we mere mortals close it".
However, some things need to be underlined before facing a training session like Atalanta. For those who do not remember we are talking about one 1 mile run, 100 HSPU, 200 pistols, 300 pull-ups and finally, another mile of running in the weight vest.
Index
Murph vs Atalanta: the differences
The Murph is undoubtedly one of the Hero Wods heavier than CrossFit® and just being able to finish it is already a great achievement. In addition, it is an easily adaptable training for beginners, unlike Atalanta.
But there are other reasons why Atalanta are not the ideal choice, now let's see in detail why.
Complexity of movements and excessive repetition
Unlike the Murph, which only has pull ups as a complex movement, the Wod Atalanta has from the start exercises that require a higher skill level: instead of push-ups it has the HSPU and instead of theair squats, the pistols.
As you can see, these are complex skills, which not all CrossFitters have full mastery of. It must be remembered that exercises like these, if not performed with the right technique, can be harmful to your health.
Even being proficient in these skills is not a guarantee of safety, as an extremely large number of reps are required. As we all know, with the effort, the technique ends up being put aside, even if this is very wrong.
In short, you need to have consistency and a lot of self-control to complete Atalanta!
So who can do Atalanta?
The answer may seem a little obvious to some, but the reality is that this workout, like many others at the Games, is not meant to be performed by practitioners of the sport, but by competitive CrossFit® athletes. For them too, in fact, Atalanta is an extremely complicated training session!
A proof of this is what happened to the American Haley Adams after finishing the race last year. She finished the event with her hand bleeding and totally open for pull ups. Think! An elite athlete who has technique and ability has struggled to complete it.
So, the best thing is to leave this type of training to the pros and prefer the Hero Wod Murph to the pits.
But, if you are an athlete and you are sure you can do this type of workout, it is definitely worth testing yourself!
Wod Atalanta
For Time
1 mile run
100 Handstand Push-Ups
200 alternating pistols
300 pull-ups
1 mile run
Vest (20/14 lbs)
