i was a distance runner for years training for ultadistance races. i'd log about 70 miles a week and i loved it. i could out run anyone but i got around some guys who where big into lifting and i realized i wasnt' as fit as i thought. i used to make fun of the guys in the gym benching 300lbs+ because i thought it was all about the look and it wasn't functional at all....i realized that running 70 miles a week isn't really funtional either, i was 190 and i struggled putting up 135 10 times on bench. i could run but funtionally i wasn't fit, and frankly who cares if you can run 50 miles in one day if you're weak. i was getting out benched by the guys who couldn't even pass their PT tests there was something wrong. i've changed my focus to hybrid fitness, cross-fit is great, lifting is great, calistenics are great, running, swimming, biking, all great, but each is limited so i've set out to see what i can achieve by combing all of these great disciplines into my training. to goal is not size or speed but funtional fitness that translates to real world situations.