09/23/2026
Speed is defined as the ability to minimize the cycle time of a repeated movement or move your body quickly through space.
Speed is the ability to produce force quickly. Train it with intent, not exhaustion.
1. Why Speed Matters
Speed is one of the 10 General Physical Skills, but it’s one we often overlook. Being able to produce force quickly matters for athletic performance, but it also matters in everyday life. The ability to react, accelerate, jump, change direction, or move quickly can be incredibly valuable as we age. Speed also contributes to power, coordination, and overall athleticism.
2. What Speed Really Is
Speed isn’t simply running fast. It’s the ability to move your body or an object from one point to another in a short amount of time.
And there’s a difference between moving quickly while fatigued and actually training speed. True speed work requires short, high-quality efforts with enough recovery that you can produce a high level of force again.
3. Where Speed Shows Up
Speed shows up all over CrossFit:
Sprinting
Olympic lifts
Box jumps
Double-unders
Kettlebell swings
Burpees
Changing direction
Getting under a barbell quickly
Any time we’re trying to produce a lot of force in a short amount of time, speed is involved.
4. Why CrossFit Builds It So Well
CrossFit combines strength, power, coordination, and movement skills, which all contribute to speed. We also expose you to a variety of movements rather than training speed in only one way.
But there’s an important distinction: you don’t automatically develop maximal speed just because you do CrossFit. Sometimes we need to intentionally train it.
5. What It Looks Like at the Gym
When we train speed, quality matters more than fatigue. You might see short sprints, explosive lifts, jumps, or other high-power movements with more rest than you’re used to.
That rest is intentional. We’re giving your body time to recover so you can attack the next effort with the same speed and power.
The goal isn’t to see how tired we can get. The goal is to teach your body to move fast, produce force quickly, and do it well.