Be Proud!

I know guys....it's been a while. I have good reasons for not updating sooner!

1. It's summer. I'm at the pool. Duh.

2. We rode tripped from VA to Niagara Falls to London, Ontario, to Minnesota, to Nashville, to home. Epic. Awesome.

3. We bought Crossfit Annandale. Yep. It's ours. Could not be happier!

4. It's summer. I'm at the pool.

So, back on track. Four letter words. I use them. All of them. I have the mouth of a sailor. My kids know them. They know not to use them. EVER. Mason actually thinks the "b-word" is "bench"....makes me laugh.

OK. Focus.

There is one four letter word I'm actually trying not to use and I think you should get rid of it too.

It's killing me!

HOW?

Well, how many times have you said or heard this?

"I only lost 1 pound"

"I only did 1 pull up"

Bad. Ass.

"I only did 4 rounds"

You are doing it!

What you are doing is great. It's awesome. It's making you smile, jump up and down, sweat, and laugh. So why do we talk about out accomplishments and then make them seem un-important by using the word "only"? I never really thought about it until a good friend at the gym texted me about her workout. She was STOKED that she did this particular workout with pull ups for the first time. She was SO excited.....and I was excited for her, then she finished the excitement with "but I only did 8 rounds". Only 8 rounds? Who cares? The point and the excitement was that you did pull ups. Be proud!!!!!

I am guilty of this too. I get really excited about something and share it and then add in the word "only" so I don't seem....what? Braggy? I'm 35. I did a fucking pull up. You are damn right I'm bragging. Do you know how much blood sweat and tears go into that ONE pull up? Lots. Tons. No way I'm using the word "only". None.

I do use it with weight loss. "I'm only down 1 pound." Sad face. Tears. Swedish Fish (god I love those little guys). Why? A pound is a pound....if I loose enough 1 pounds then I'm even closer to my goal.

who doesn't love this kid?

My goal is to take the word "only" out of my vocabulary. I'm not using it. I am going to be proud of my 1 pull up, my 1 mile run, my 1 pound lost.....Pride in my hard work. No more self-hate. 

My first handstand push up. It was super awesome. SUPER. AWESOME.

Hump Day!! 4/8/25

My Day
Lots of meetings today, which means sitting on my butt. I hate that, but nothing I can do about it at work. I'll get my wiggles out later in the day. It's a chilly day, where are you sun?!?, so I did get a sugar free latte. Delivered. My hubby is the best. I did order some treats from a new site I heard about. Crave Clean Protein Bakery - I got the 6 chocolate craver box. This shop is based out of Miami and they list the nutritional information for all their treats. I'll let you know how delicious they are ASAP. Hopefully those sweet thoughts get me through my running for today.

My Food
Breakfast: Sweet Potatoes, Eggs, Mint Tea
Snack: nuts, sugar free latte, Ostrim stick
Lunch: spaghetti squash and meatballs - thank God for leftovers
Dinner - Chef has not let me know yet :)  Some meat and veggie for sure!


WOD

CrossFit Games Open 11.1 / 14.1 : 4 rounds + 30 Double Unders + 10 Power Snatches | 220 reps | Rx'd

10:00 AMRAP: 30 Double Unders 15 Power Snatches, 55 lbs * my game plan was calm, relaxed, no stress. I am very happy with how this turned out. I think this is my 5th time doing this workout

Sets Bench Press, 8 reps | 45 lbs Bench Press, 5 reps | 65 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 83 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 100 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 100 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 100 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 100 lbs Bench Press, 3 reps | 100 lbs * no shoulder pain, getting stronger! 75# was my 1RM for a long time!

Intervals : rest 2:30 Run Sprint, 400 m | 1:43 Run Sprint, 400 m | 1:45 Run Sprint, 400 m | 1:48 Run Sprint, 400 m | 1:47 *did this in front of my house. alone. they sucked. You know what? I did them. I worked hard. I am proud.

Cloudy, 73*, and summer coming to an end.....

This is my last week of summer. Super bummed about it - tan is going to fade, less time to play, sun, swim, and be breezy. I do look forward to hanging with my friends at work again though - always a good time. I have this week off of my extra programming from Coach Bijan (info@knighteliteperformance) - just doing mobility and WODs at CFA.

Today is cloudy. Not summer-hot. I did not sleep well last night. Perfect day for some mental toughness/confidence building activities. In college we did an exercise where you write your name on the center of a piece of paper, then you pass it around the circle. Each person writes a word or phrase about you (positive - duh). By the time it gets back to you there are 20+ awesome statements about you. Wonderful, glorious you. Don't worry - still have one of mine to share with you....your welcome.

circa 2004

My college lacrosse coach was the bomb.com. No way I'd be the athlete and person I am today without her. She was tough, caring, and the mom we all needed being away at school. Love that woman!

So Sam and I did this activity this morning. For me it's hard to write positive things about myself. I feel silly, or conceded......I am much better at building up others. That's my passion - making others feel great. BUT - I need to be able to do that for myself too. Right? So here's Sam's positives:

Positives that I wrote about Sam

What Sam wrote about himself - Beard???

Sam is very confident and mentally tough. He had no problem writing about his positives - which is what makes him such a great friend, coach, and husband. Here are mine:

What Sam wrote about me

What I wrote about myself

I cannot lie. I cried when I read what Sam wrote about me. Real tears. I am confident in some ways, but don't always see in me what my friends and husband do. Good thing I'm working on it, huh?!? When writing about myself I thought I would die. I hated writing "smart, funny, friendly" - just felt silly. I did feel better seeing that Sam wrote the same things about me. Baby steps.

Now, the gloomy, cloudy, end of summer day is going to go much better! How can you not smile and have a spring in your step when you have just read a list of positive things about yourself?

Think positive. Break a sweat. Smile big. Love the day!

Sum Sum Summatime ramblings........

I know, I know. You have missed me. I've missed you too! Summertime always sounds relaxing (that's right, I have the summer OFF), but I'm here to tell you that I am SUPER busy. Busy? Busy with what? Let me fill you in.....

Fourth of July was in Richmond. Super awesome.

Then we went to NYC with the kiddos - so much fun. We walked and walked and walked and I carried one 48 pound kiddo on my shoulders for most of it. Active rest day, right?

Double Rainbow on our way home from NYC

Dylan's Candy Bar NYC

Dinner with Marilyn in NYC

Then there is the sweaty part of summer. Working out. Sam put together an amazing home gym for the times we can't get into Crossfit Annandale and so I can get my extra programming done (thanks to BLK Strength and Conditioning). No excuses to not workout. It's right there. Calling you. Making you get off the couch.

Hubs working out in our new home gym

Me working out in the home gym

Boys are at Scout Camp this week. Getting bulls eyes, shooting clay pigeons, and taking nature by storm.

I've been using this "down time" to work on mental toughness, letting things go (stopping a workout and doing it a different day/time is NOT quitting....right?), and not taking things too seriously. Easy, right? Nope. I don't like to let people down, I don't like to let myself down - but sometimes things are out of your control. There are days when 45# feels like 10#......and then there are days when your shorts are too tight, 10# feels like 100#, it's too hot, legs feel like lead.......... Those are the days that I need to read this gem:

I love to cheer-lead others. I LOVE it. Cheering and pumping up a friend to complete a workout, push harder, run faster, lift heavier.....I live for it. Weird how I have a hard time doing it for myself. Something I'm working on, but it's baby steps for sure.

I have big dreams. HUGE. I love what I do. Being a mom/wife, speech therapist, and crossfitter. I think I balance it all well most of the time. Every once in a while a slip up and need to readjust. That's life. Readjust. Shake it off. Keep moving forward. Nothing happens over night. No one is perfect. 

love this one

If you run into me this summer there is a HUGE chance I will be in IABM apparel. I got a big ol box of shirts from them today (thanks guys!!!!) and will be sporting their super soft shirts for DAYZ. Their shirts are also a great length - no belly bearing thrusters for this girl!

So excited to add these to my collection!

I have also been working on a #jackedandtanplan. I've pretty much nailed the tan. Next week at the beach will clench that. The jacked? I'm working on it. This week has been fairly clean eating, next week is the beach (rules are OFF), then when we get back Sam and I are hitting the #jacked hard! 

Hope everyone is having a great summer!!!!!

New Week. New Work.

Been a little bit since I posted....so what have I been up to? Getting some sun at the pool, lifting, crossfitting, and getting ready for summer break! Wahoooooo!!!!

I have also taken some baby steps towards one of my goals: RX competition. I want to be an RX athlete, but I'm not 100% ready. How do you get there? Pushing. Stepping out of your comfort zone. So I heard about a competition through Crossfit Rehoboth. The details: two online WODs, top 20 get invited to the event at their box (hehehe), and $15. Sold.

The first workout was released last week. It was a tough one. 7 minute AMRAP: 15 American kettle bell swings at 24kg (52.9 pounds) and 7 burpee pull ups. I did this workout twice as I just wasn't happy with my first attempt. I knew I could do better. I submitted my second attempt and so far I'm in last place. I'm ok with that. Why? I completed a true RX competition WOD. Period. That was the goal. To be able to participate. Did I think I was going to win? Nope. Did I think I was going to be in the mix as a contender? Not really. The second workout gets posted Wednesday. I am so nervous and excited to see what it is. 

One cool thing about this competition is that you can watch the other videos (after they are finalized). So I have watched a few and learned a few tricks and things I can do better. That's what it is all about, right? Getting better? You can't do that by doing the same thing day in and day out. You gotta get scared sometimes, step out of that comfort zone, and test yourself.

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and you are all making some plans to step out of your comfort zone!

Magic and Happy Tears

I truly believe that magical things happen when you put in hard work. So maybe it's not REALLY magic - but sometimes it sure feels that way and that's the world I will be living in.

I spent the weekend watching Regionals - namely Julie Foucher, Camille L-B, Michelle Letendre, Annie......just some of my favs. I was in awe of how fast they moved, how heavy they lifted.....and of course the outfits. I'm always on the hunt to find shorts that stay in place, sports bras that are supportive, and racer back tanks - cause let's be real....I'm wearing a top. No one needs to see all that.









In true CF fashion yesterdays workout was a Regional workout (team): 49 pull ups and 7 over head squats (OHS) @ 115#.  My goal since forever, and especially my last competition, is to string pull ups together. I'm super glad I can do them one at a time, but I NEED to be able to string them together for many reasons. Competitions is one of them. I have a goal of doing competitions RX, but my coach has said that I am a scaled athlete until I can string pull ups together. Yesterday it clicked. We were practicing pull up progressions and the coach demonstrated how to string them together. I jumped onto the bar (no more jumping off a box for me) and *MAGIC* I strung two together. I was PUMPED. Wouldn't you know it? No one saw. Turns out people were doing their own shit. ;)  I got my husbands attention, got back up there, and did it AGAIN! SUCCESS!!!! Ok. So I can sting two together. Awesome Sauce. The workout called for a ridiculous amount of pull up: 49. Ugh. I was on a pretty great high and decided (and was told) that I was going to do my thing, string together what I can, and just chip away at them. A friend sat next to me and kept count and off I went.

Let me tell you what got me through this workout. Pure happiness, adrenaline, and support from my peeps. I jumped onto the bar and strung together 4 pull ups. FOUR!!!!Holy shit!!!!! For the better part of 29 pull ups I did sets of three and two. The last 15-20 I did quick singles - I was getting tired! Now, for that OHS @115. Wasn't sure I would have that in me after 49 pull ups (although I wish I had tried......story of my life). I set the bar up with 95# (I've only done 85# in a WOD before). I did the 7 OHS in two sets, but I did them - AND they felt good!!!!! My husband and I got in the car and I was still beaming. All that hard work. So much magic. So happy. I informed Sam I would be SUPER annoying for the next 30 minutes or so - I was fast talking and SUPER hyped up. Then I stopped talking and cried. Yep. Just sat there and let it flow. I was SO happy, proud, tired, excited......maybe the dreams and goals I have aren't THAT crazy or far off???????

One of my new loves: Camille L-B has a clothing line out that is pretty great: Via Prive. I have one of the tank tops, which I love. It's stretchy, soft, a racer back (my FAV), and it's long! I hate when I lift over head and my belly pops out. No bueno. I'm hoping to stock up on a few more of these, they are great! I wore it in that magical WOD (49 pull ups and 7 OHS) and it stayed in place - no belly show, I could move freely, and it was SUPER comfortable.




What helped me after the workout, and still is helping, Crossfixe Hands tube. My hands only tore a little on each hand, but it hurts - and I want them to heal quickly. This stuff absorbs quickly, soothes, and stimulates rapid skin recovery. I put it on RIGHT after I washed my hands (which I always feel like I"m going to pass out during). Instant relief. I also love that it comes in a tube - like a chapstick. Easy to take anywhere and throw in your bag. If you tend to rip your hands up I would recommend picking some up.



Here's to a MAGICAL week!!!! If you want to join me I'll be camped out at GMU watching the Mid Atlantic Regionals this weekend cheering on my friends!!!!!

10 Things you didn't know about Erin - as she preps for MidAtlantic Regionals!

If you don't know Erin, co-owner of Crossfit Annapolis, you will want to after reading this. I met Erin in 1993 - a forced friendship because our brothers played soccer together. We hung out at a soccer awards banquet at Fudrucker's and never looked back. In a word Erin is fun. I spent my high school years at her house, baking chocolate chip banana bread, listening to music, and laughing a lot. Ah, memory lane:

Erin, Meg, and me - game ready!

Me, Erin, and Meg after a lacrosse game

Meg, Me, and Erin - my first car accident

Erin and me after a lacrosse tournament

Me and Erin at ODU lax camp

Erin is the definition of an athlete. She began with Lacrosse, then track and field, then Field Hockey. That was High School - we spent a lot of time together on those sport fields. Throughout college she stayed active - we separated to Longwood (me) and Va Tech (Erin). We are like yo-yo's though and always seem to come back together....next in an adult Lacrosse league. It was like old times. Running, laughing, and of course - chocolate chip banana bread.

Now Erin and I find each other together again - by spirit, email, text messages, and Facebook. :)  Both mothers of two boys. We both have road race and triathlon experiences under our belts - Erin's list is way more impressive than mine.

I cannot do justice to her impressive athletic achievements - it's a long list. Erin has completed every running distance I've ever heard of, including The Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 mile trail run, The Mid Maryland Ultra 50K and The Umstead 100 mile Endurance Race. She has done some impressive swims including the Chesapeake Bay Swim and of course triathlons.Erin ran the Dublin and Richmond Marathon and the JFK 50-miler while pregnant. She also completed the American Odyssey 200-mile Adventure Relay Run. After she had her baby she registered for Ironman Lake Placid and ran the Annapolis 10 Miler. Intimidated? Don't be. Erin is also the biggest cheerleader you will ever meet.

racing with her hubby

running for two

crossing the finish!

Currently Erin is training for the Mid Atlantic Regionals that are happening at GMU May 23-25. She went into The Open hoping to get to Regionals with Team Syndicate (ranked 6th place). Wouldn't you know - she also qualified to go as an individual (ranked 17th!)!!!!!

Here's my interview with Erin:

1. You have a background in running, lacrosse, and field hockey. How did you find yourself in Crossfit?

I first heard about Crossfit when it was more of an underground thing and the closest one around to me was 15 miles away (hardly the case now!). I had been very big into endurance competitions and was hoping to qualify for a few marathon/ultra-distance events so I swallowed my fear of the unknown and added Crossfit into supplement my endurance training. It definitely helped and I loved it!

2. What is your favorite way to WOD? Music or no music?

I would say music but to be honest it probably doesn't matter if it is silent and crickets are chirping. The last thing I typically hear before a workout is 3-2-1-GO and then I couldn't tell you what happens or what I hear until I am done.

3. Hardest Crossfit move for you at this time?

Oh gosh, right now- strict HSPU's. A lot of the gymnastic movements are a work in progress for me but I'm stubborn and keep at them. :)

4. Favorite Crossfit move?

At the moment butterfly pull-ups. I never thought I would say that but I worked so hard to have that become a smooth and efficient movement. When I first started trying to learn them, I looked like a struggling fish out of water!

5. Your goal for The Open was to qualify on a team, what was your reaction when you saw you finished 17th in the Mid Atlantic Region!?

I was really surprised, honestly. But I was thrilled- it's always motivating to have hard work pay off. Even when you feel like you are squeezing for time to train and compete. The Open can be tough because you have to be "on" during each one of those workouts for five weeks straight. Life still goes on during those five weeks- family, kids, friends, jobs, training, vacation, etc. It was definitely an adventure coordinating!

6. What keeps you motivated?

Two things:
1. My love of being an athlete and having the ability to run, jump, play, and move. I love seeing what I am capable of. If I fail, I have a new goal to reach and a story to grow from. If I succeed, I appreciate the journey it took me to get there. The sun will still rise tomorrow, no matter what kind of day I have. That's motivation. I try to swallow any fear I have of the unknown, take risks and whole-heartedly embrace the adventure of any journey I am on no matter what the outcome.

2. My family. My husband who supports me on all my crazy adventures and the two little boys who call me "mommy". I will strive every single day to be the kind of person I want them to grow to be. That is motivation for me to work hard and dream big....so they do, too.

7. You have a family - including two small boys! - What does a training day look like for you?

Oh gosh. Every day is a bit different but it typically starts in the early morning getting the boys dressed and fed and finishes with getting them fed, bathed, and into bed so I can collapse, myself. I know that isn't the "training" you mean but phew! Really though- I either get a training session in mid-day or in the early morning before the world wakes up. It's sort of a balancing act but getting in time to train or doing something active each day makes me a better....everything (mom, wife, friend). 

8. Do you have mantra, quote, saying that helps you get through the rough stuff?

Inspired from my baby boy, Kilian- "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

9. You inspire so many - who inspires you?

I'm inspired every day by people I notice in the moment- the woman running while pushing two kids in a jogging stroller fighting to keep going no matter how tired and sleep-deprived she is; the student going to school and working full-time in order to follow a dream; the soldiers we see coming home to their families after being away for so many months. I try my best to listen and look around every day and find a moment- it's an easy way to be inspired if you let it be.

10. Favorite post workout food?

Chocolate chip banana bread. Always has been and always will be. :)


Just so you don't think I'm biased I got a little ditty from Megan  (you can read more about her here)- a partner in crime for Erin and I in high school and life (and pictured above).

We should have known Erin would be a a fitness/healthy guru from the beginning.  She chugged more ice water then anyone I had ever known. . she was all about hydration before hydration was cool.   When I say Chug. . . I mean she could put back gallons of water at Don Pablo's before I had finished a single glass. While most kids in school were eating pizza and chips, she would pack raw veggies that earned her the nickname broccoli buddy. Somehow we called each other that, but I am pretty sure I didn't earn it.   She did have a weakness for Baskin Robbins Chocolate and Peanut butter (lesson learned: everything in moderation right?!).

Erin was also a great leader in both our sports- lacrosse and field hockey.  I can remember doing long distance runs  and singing Beatles songs to help the time go by faster because she was such a natural runner. She would run ahead and tackle back making sure we were all finishing! We involved everyone around us to help get through the run (because let's be honest in high school 2 miles was long distance!).   

I remember vividly running around Burke Lake with Ann and Erin the summer before our senior field hockey season.    At the time, I didn't realize, but I had developed bad exercise induced asthma.  I was having such a hard time completing our long run. It was the longest run around the lake I had ever had and I remember being devastated because I had never felt like that before after being an athlete my whole life.  We finally finished and it was because both Erin and Ann were supportive and motivating through every mile!  I see these characteristics have continued on through both of their Crossfit communities!

xoxo - Meg

Thanks so much for inspiring all of us Erin!!!!! Good Luck at Regionals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trust the Process - Capital Throwdown Recap

Saturday was The Capital Throwdown in Sterling, Va. It was beautiful outside, I had a great partner, another team of boys from CFA was competing, and we had lots of cheerleaders. What more can you ask for?

WOD 1: Finished 7th place

Calories: 70
Tire Flips: 14
Thrusters: 31
Bench: 29

rowing for calories. NEVER fun....they tick up soooooo slow

bench time!

Thrusters 

WOD 2: 184 Snatches for 5th place

Snatches for 12 minutes was ROUGH

WOD 3: 13:59 for 15th place

So we did those workouts and found out (as I stuffed a peanut butter cup in my mouth) that we finished 10th overall. What does all that hard work mean? We earned another WOD!!!! Go team CFA!!!! The boys made it too. Awesome-tastic!

The Semi-Final WOD was for time:

20 dumbell snatches
20 situps
shuttle run x 2

My mom came and watched and was SUPER impressed. :) I tell her about Crossfit all the time, but seeing it is a different story. Of course she's super proud of me. My husband was there cheering his head off and my boys saw two workouts!

They might have had TOO much fun

What am I most proud of? Only two bathroom trips. Nervous poo? Not this time! We each did 25 pull ups. BOOM. We completed EVERY movement and EVERY WOD. We were very close to the 1st place team in many events. Our goal was to get top half, 13/14th place. We finished top 10 out of 27 teams. Feels so good! I do have my list of things to work on - but NO REGRETS!

CFA Boys and CFA Girls

You can find Holly and me next at Superfit DC in Oct!!!