Im still the Director of the Games. Im still Director of Training, also. I still have that responsibility to conduct it. I still have a lot of freedom to conduct it the way that I see the direction that I want that event to go. I was still in a very good place. Dave Castro

As Director of the CrossFit Games and Co-Director of Training for CrossFit Inc, Dave Castro has witnessed the growth and evolution of CrossFit from a grassroots fitness movement to a worldwide professional sport.

Dave served as a Navy SEAL from 1998-2010 and first caught wind of CrossFit in 2005 when he started following CrossFit.com to support his training. By 2006 he had begun training at the original CrossFit HQ affiliate in Santa Cruz, CA and was soon helping out at Level 1 seminars.

The following year, he hosted the first ever CrossFit Games competition at his familys Ranch in Aromas, CA. Since that time, the CrossFit Games has grown exponentially into a professional sport under Daves direction. He has been there every step of the way, devising tests that select for the fittest man and woman on earth and programming events at all 13 editions of the Games.

In his second visit to the podcast, Dave and I sat down at CrossFit HQ following an MDL1 Seminar. Our last show was in May of 2016, so we had a lot to catch up on! We talked about the positive changes hes witnessed as CrossFit transitions its focus to CrossFit Health, his reflections on the 2019 CrossFit Games, and why hes okay with not being everyones friend.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Daves life has changed since we last spoke in 2016


• His intentional choice to keep his family out of the limelight


• Daves role in the transition and changes that CrossFit underwent in 2019


• How the CrossFit Games team has changed


• Some of the positives that have come from the changes to the CrossFit Games season


• Why he says Greg Glassman saved his life


• Why Dave doesnt pay attention to Sanctional events


• His goal for the CrossFit Games


• His thoughts on preserving the integrity of the sport through drug testing and more intense scrutiny of videos


• Daves reflections on the 2019 CrossFit Games


• What Daves process for programming for the Games looks like, and how that process has changed with the shift in the Games season


• His reading habit


• Daves thoughts on the move to Madison


• His thoughts on being a polarizing figure in CrossFit


• The importance of upholding high standards in himself and in others


• What Daves fitness routine and daily routine is like these days


• His perspective on the CrossFit Health movement


• Three things Dave does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health


• One thing he struggles to implement that could have a big impact on his health


• What a healthy life looks like to him

You can follow Dave on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Links:

• Constructing the CrossFit Games


• All the Pretty Horses


• The Old Man and The Sea


• The Great Gatsby


• The Catcher in the Rye


• Pride and Prejudice


• Lord of the Flies


• The Scarlet Letter


• Walden


• The Crucible

Related Episodes:

• Ep 29 Dave Castro on applying lessons learned as a SEAL, his daily routine, and directing the CrossFit Games


• Ep 58 Nicole Carroll on the early days and preserving the culture of CrossFit


• Ep 90 CrossFit Games GM Justin Bergh: The Man Behind the Magic


• Ep 110 – Josh Bridges on Recovering from Knee Surgery and Paying the Man


• Ep 118 The State of CrossFit with Coach Greg Glassman

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating. Id love to hear your feedback in the comments below and on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every other Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is meant to share the experiences of various individuals. It does not provide medical advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from your physician or health care professional

The post Ep 131 – Dave Castro on Changes in Life and the CrossFit Games appeared first on Julie Foucher | Reebok CrossFit Games Athlete.