A City Transformed by Fitness

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I ride a bike pretty regularly on the miles of paths that circle the local lakes here in Madison, Wis. My normal route was heavily trafficked by visiting athletes of all stripes, as our little city played host to the 2018 CrossFit Games (Aug. 1-5). An international event that packs our streets, businesses and parks with hardcore fitness junkies, the Games are a master course in putting on an event that transforms not just a venue but a community at large.

Setting aside some of the strong opinions on CrossFit, the sport/workout itself seems to get results. Walking around the Alliant Energy Center, the second-year CrossFit Games site that will serve as annual host at least through 2021, I was surrounded by legions of men and women who more closely resemble Greek gods than mere mortals. Nevertheless, the real beauty of the CrossFit Games lies in the organizers' aim to generate participation from spectators and community members who might fall a tad short of "elite athlete" status.

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