Prescription part seven “We believe that preparation for random physical challenges - i.e. unknown and unknowable events – is at odds with fixed, predictable, and routine regimens.”

Fitness routines can be useful to an extent. When you are in a routine, the routine will be challenged when you need to go outside of the routine. Fitness is a snapshot of your work capacity over time, and your change in fitness over time describes your health. With specific goals and objectives, routines can be incredibly useful. They are great for building habits, practicing skills, or making a linear progression. Though once a routine has reached its full potential, the routine is no longer useful.
 
In most training there are three phases. Beginner, where movements and patterns are very cognitive. Intermediate, where movements and patterns become more comfortable. And advanced, where athletes can do movements and patterns autonomously, without thinking about them. No matter what stage an athlete is in, science suggests that increasing the stress in movements and patterns elicits more adaptation. When an athlete adapts to a movement or pattern, it can no longer be useful unless that movement or pattern is put under more stress, for example, if deadlifting 135# with great form is no problem for you, you might add 10# to the bar. If an athlete who is comfortable deadlifting 135#, the comfort will not help when a situation arises when you must lift 145#.  CrossFit’s constantly varied model is more effective than routines because CrossFit requires constant adaptation. The gains you make will sweep across all aspects of fitness, which is more important to fitness because life is filled with unknown and unknowable challenges including illness and accidents. When we are more physically well rounded, by extension we are more mentally well rounded, and therefore prepared for challenging situations life brings. Routines can be useful to take you from a very specific point A to a very specific point B, but fitness is a lifelong journey that transcends points A and B. 

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