Google Trends

I recently came across an interesting feature called GoogleTrends.  While far from a perfect tool, it is certainly kind of neat to play around with.  My original inspiration came from an article on Channel Signal in regards to the growth of CrossFit.  The article was comparing the relative frequency of CrossFit to Gold’s Gym, Lift Time Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness and Planet Fitness.  While the globo gyms have stayed relatively flat, CrossFit is on the rise.

I was interested in CrossFit relative to other hobbies I enjoy including Triathlon, Marathon, Yoga and Tennis.  I was somewhat surprised the Tennis and Marathon handily outpaced the other three even with seasonal fluctuations, both trending up significantly in the summer.

Somewhere during 2012, CrossFit reached past Triathlon.  Currently the comparison indicates that CrossFit is touching the seasonal lows in the winter for Marathon.  CrossFit is still well behind the summer peak.

I am certainly not immune to fad and fancy.  I focused on strength training in the eighties and did some aerobics stuff in the nineties.  In the 2000’s, I played more team sports.  Now I am interested in niche personal endeavors such as CrossFit and Yoga.

Data Pulled August 12, 2015