JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man is going to compete in the CrossFit Games later this summer.
Mark Hutchinson qualified for the finals in the competition after already beating out hundreds of thousands of other athletes around the world.
“Knowing 10 years of hard work, the 3,600 days and counting, that it all came to be, and that it was all worth it,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson punched his ticket to compete in the finals for The CrossFit Games this year, among the top 40.
He became the first man from Jacksonville to make it this far in the nearly 18 years of the competition.
“Just because things get tough doesn’t mean that you should give up. Believe in yourself, and eventually it will happen,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said he feels this way because he’s spent the last 10 years trying to qualify.
Finally, he achieved his goal. Hutchinson said he’s glad he kept his eyes on the prize.
“If you work hard and you stay consistent in what you do. You may fail a couple of times,” Hutchinson said. “But if you keep working, eventually, you will achieve your goal. I hope that it sets a precedence for people that are my friends and all.”
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CrossFit is defined as a high-intensity training program that includes building stamina, strength and speed.
There’s weightlifting, rowing, and distance running just to name a few -- performance and time-based for points.
Hutchinson is competing in the division called Masters CrossFit Games, which is for athletes 35 years and older. He is 36.
Hutchinson said he works out up to four hours a day in his training. In the finals, it will be anywhere between seven to 10 tests.
His competition is between Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Hutchinson said he’s remained motivated thanks to his sister he co-owns a gym with in St. Augustine — and because of the friends he’s made along the way.
“I can do hard things. Just because I don’t get the immediate gratification and I didn’t win my first year, that doesn’t mean that I don’t keep betting on myself that eventually good things will come,” Hutchinson said.
The main CrossFit Games finals are being held in Fort Worth, Texas.
There are also separate divisions for teenagers and adaptive athletes.