For many who use CrossFit facilities — called boxes — to improve their physical fitness, they compete against themselves and the goals they have set for themselves.

Now, for a few weeks, CrossFit groups around the country — including CrossFit Bayou Bluffs in Vicksburg — are competing against those they work out with and others throughout the country.

Friday Night Lights is a program that challenges those who register with unique challenges each week, scoring their performances against teams within their own gym and against those within a state, region and the nation.

The challenges, which are part of overall qualifying for the CrossFit games, come down from the director of the CrossFit Games, Dave Castro, each Thursday, giving each box the same challenge each week.

“Friday Night Lights not only creates a fun competitive atmosphere, but it continues to cultivate and nurture the community that is so important to CrossFit,” Bayou Bluffs co-owner Samantha Blount. “When you walk through the doors and you see the athletes of varying ages and abilities cheering for each other, pushing each other for one more rep, it gives you a glimpse into what separates CrossFit from your regular gym setting.

“Anyone can go in and workout at a high intensity anywhere they choose, but it takes time and deliberate effort to create the community that is so evident in CrossFit Boxes around the world.”

At Bayou Bluffs, 36 athletes of all abilities registered for the challenge, while others not registered come each Friday to take part as well.

“I would say we have more than 50 who come in each Friday night,” Blount said.

Each week, after the results are posted, athletes are ranked by state and region.

Top athletes in each region will advance to the regional competition, while those who top regionals will advance to the CrossFit Games during the summer.”

“Sure it is a competition, but at the end of the day your average athletes are only competing with themselves,” Blount said. “They strive to finish even one place above where they did the previous year or in our local gym’s case, establish a starting point.”

Blount said last year she finished the challenge ranked 298 in the state. During this competition so far, she ranks 105.