If there are two virtues that CrossFitters MUST have, they are discipline and consistency. And Belgian coach Alex Crick takes that VERY seriously and push both to the extreme. Not satisfied with just crushing challenging WODs, he also embarked on a personal journey of 1,000 consecutive days of ice baths. I connected with him in Brussels to understand his personal motivation and the benefits of this practice (4 minutes read)
I first met coach Alex and his plus-one, Jazz, a two-year-old mixed-breed dog who follow all workouts from the whiteboard VIP area, keeping a close eye on every rep at CrossFit Dansaert in Brussels. Drop- in 7 AM! Early birds, rise and shine. The sun had barely risen and it was 6°C outside.
The warm-up: 800m run. Tough cookie! Little did I know, though, that by 5 AM, Alex had already checked off his 466th consecutive day of cold plunging.
After the workout—a spicy EMOM complex (post about the box coming soon!)—we grabbed a coffee, and Alex told me everything about his 1,000-day ice bath challenge. Yes, you read that right. Three consecutive years. Extreme enough?
Alex started back in 2018, just with cold showers for 30 seconds max. At first, he couldn’t stand more than that, but apparently, he enjoyed those pleasant little minutes of torture and decided to invest in a professional ice tub. Even then, he wasn’t consistent—he would do a week straight, then stop for two months.
That was not enough for him. He wanted discipline. Seeking to change his habits, he committed to 365 consecutive days of cold plunging.
At first, diving socks and gloves were a must because he could not handle the cold. He started with 10°C immersion, anything below 8°C felt unbearable. Nowadays, he is down to 5°C. The sessions last between 3 to 5 minutes, but in winter, never more than 3 minutes—it starts getting dangerous for the body.
He also explained to me that the original name for this method is actually cold plunge, while ice bath is the modern version. Although similar, the water temperature differs slightly between the two. Both practices are often associated with muscular recovery and mental resilience, and that was exactly what I was curious about—what real benefits had he experienced from this routine?
âś… Muscle soreness reduction and fast recovery? True. The low temperature creates a pumping effect in the blood vessels, enhances circulation, and reduces soreness.
❌ Fat loss? Myth. He tracked his body fat for three months and saw zero changes.
âś… Mental shift? Absolutely. In fact, the biggest benefits he has experienced so far are mental resilience, reduced stress, and improved breath control.
He explained that after just a few seconds, the only way to stay in the water without panicking is to focus on breathing, with the goal of lowering the heart rate which spikes instantly from the temperature shock. For that, he uses breathwork exercises, focusing on controlling his exhalations to regulate his body’s response.
Once Alex realized how much this practice empowered his mind, he started recording his morning plunges along with motivational messages, book quotes, and movie lines, sharing them on his Instagram account @alexander0crick. Over time, his content even took a philosophical turn toward Stoicism.
365 days? Done! A full year of ice baths was not enough. On day 366, Alex set a new goal—he’s going all the way to 1,000 days.
I asked him: Is it still a challenge, even after all these days?
His answer: Of course! But every day, I remind myself that I made a decision. That no matter what comes my way, I won’t make excuses. I will step into that freezing water to remind myself that excuses are just stories we tell ourselves. It is my own way to prove to myself that I am unstoppable.
Discipline is one of my top three personal values, and Alex’s journey is truly inspiring. Watching his videos, hearing his mindset, and understanding his journey made me feel unstoppable too. His challenge—just like CrossFit—is about pushing past discomfort, strengthening both the mind and body, and proving that we are capable of much more than we think.
#wodworld #icebath #coldplunge #athletemindset #crossfitdansaert
Stronger, Healthier, Anywhere. 
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