Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 6: Craig Howard

Two-Brain Radio With Sean Woodland, Episode 6: Craig Howard

On today’s episode, Sean Woodland sits down with two-time CrossFit Games competitor and owner of Diablo CrossFit Craig Howard. Howard won the 50-54-year-old division at the CrossFit Games in 2013, and his affiliate in Pleasant Hill, California, is in its 13th year of operation.

Sean talks with Craig about the keys to competing and training as a masters athlete, how he grew Diablo CrossFit from garage gym to the world-renowned affiliate it is today, and how his gym has managed to send nearly 60 people to the CrossFit Games while still nurturing a robust community of everyday CrossFitters.

Links:

https://diablocrossfit.com/

Contact:

@cshdiablo (Instagram)

Timeline:

1:07 – Craig’s first CrossFit workout: Murph.

3:52 – The 2008 CrossFit Games at the Ranch. 

5:10 – Winning the “crispy division” at the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games.

7:37 – How to train effectively as a masters athlete. 

10:16 – The early days of CrossFit. 

11:32 – Opening CrossFit Diablo and finding clients before CrossFit was famous. 

15:23 – Transitioning from hobby to business. 

16:44 – Lessons learned: You can’t be everything to everyone. 

19:09 – How to train your coaches to be effective trainers.

21:59 – Dealing with assholes. 

23:53 – The key to Diablo CrossFit’s longstanding success: Creating an environment where people thrive.

26:48 – Thoughts on open gym.

29:01 – On producing more than 60 Games athletes but not alienating the rest of the community.

32:53 – Thoughts on CrossFit Inc.’s shift toward health, the elderly, and eliminating its social media.

39:01 – Leaving a lucrative career in pursuit of the Perfect Day. 

40:56 – Don’t sacrifice your bread and butter for the sake of add-ons.