"Early to bed early to rise makes a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy and wise." -Benjamin Franklin

This is an homage to hard, diligent work, and speaks volumes about the ACF athletes who kick off the day's WOD before many of us even roll out of bed.  

There are two classes on the schedule at 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., conveniently slotted before the morning rush and the 9-5 grind. While the rest of the world is hitting their snooze buttons, this group is efficiently moving large loads quickly in the broadest variety of domains.

Ask me to go shoulder to overhead with a pillow at that time and 9 times out of 10 I fail.

Their ability to move is amazing, their energy levels inspiring. If you were to walk in on a typical AM session, you would have to check your iPhone (shameless plug) because the intensity is through the roof.

They are always the first to hit the WOD, the first to set the pace, and lay the roadmap to a successfully-run cluster of jam-packed evening sessions. Once they finish they move on with the rest of their day with a certain sense of pride and accomplishment.

It takes a special type of person to consistently make this type of commitment. For most, it means a very strict regimen that I can almost guarantee means no late-night TV.

They are fire-breathers who have made a commitment to (be)tter themselves and in the process have contributed to the betterment of the community we have all come to love. Thank you, athletes, for all you have done and for giving me a reason to wake up at 4 a.m. ;). AM Mayhem I salute you!