Royce Dunne’s Journey: A Day In His Life
One year ago, Australia’s CrossFit standout, Royce Dunne, made his way to Cookeville, Tennessee, to prep for the CrossFit Games. It was a major leap—not just in terms of travel distance but in adjusting to a new routine, time zone, and climate. He and his team arrived well in advance to settle in, knowing that proper acclimatization would make all the difference on game day.
Settling into a New Environment
Landing in the hot, humid Tennessee summer was a shock after Australia’s cooler winter. Royce knew it would take nearly two weeks to feel fully adjusted. Those first days were all about gradually finding his footing. “It takes time to feel like you’re really in sync,” Royce recalled. “By the third day, I start feeling better for training, but the whole adaptation process is like a 15-day thing.”
Life with the Team
Royce shared an apartment with his teammates, including fellow CrossFit athletes Sweeney, Christy, and Manny. Mornings were relaxed but purposeful—they’d start the day together, catching up over breakfast, checking messages from family back home, and getting mentally prepared for the first training session. Their daily routine always included a coffee stop at Buffalo Brew, a local favorite that became their go-to spot to kick off the day.
Intense Training and Adaptability
The training sessions were demanding, structured in two parts. Mornings focused on specific drills or skill-building exercises, while afternoons featured more collaborative workouts, designed to bring the team together. Flexibility was key; when rain disrupted an outdoor workout one day, the team didn’t skip a beat. They pivoted to an intense indoor session featuring worm and sled pushes—Royce called it a “big Bob” workout. These adjustments were part of the game, allowing the team to stay sharp despite changing conditions.
Balancing Hard Work and Recovery
Recovery was just as crucial as training. Between sessions, Royce would unwind with video games, a hobby that helped him clear his mind and stay connected with teammates. In quieter moments, he’d FaceTime family back home, a way to combat the isolation that often comes with intense athletic training. “You go to bed essentially alone, missing the usual household noise and the comfort of family,” he shared, reflecting on the emotional toll of long stretches away from home.
Finding Comfort in Familiar Favorites
Dinner was usually a simple, early affair. When they had the chance, Royce and the team would indulge in Chick-fil-A, a treat he grew to love in America. “It’s definitely in my top three things I like about the U.S.,” he joked. This ritual brought a sense of comfort and routine to his otherwise intense, fast-paced schedule.
Reflecting on the Experience
Looking back on his time in Cookeville, Royce described it as both familiar and foreign—a place that felt like “a stranger in a strange place and yet so familiar.” The camaraderie with his teammates and the support of the Mayhem community became his anchors, helping him push through the challenges of rigorous training and the emotional strain of being far from home.
With the CrossFit Games now a memory, Royce can reflect on that intense period with gratitude. Every challenge, from the jet lag to the grueling workouts, became part of a journey that shaped him as an athlete and brought him closer to his team. Today, he carries those memories as motivation, ready to bring the same energy to every new challenge in the CrossFit arena.
