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!
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!!!!!
This week of workouts has been hard - the kind of week where you are frustrated and want to cry. Thanks to friends and coaches I got a few reality checks that I needed when feeling a little down that helped me put things in perspective.
Reason 1: Cleans. I'm terrible at them. My form is awful, I'm working on it, but it's a work in progress for sure. Here is my clean from this week: 125# clean and a push jerk. I cringe when I watch, it's OK if you do too.
Reality Check: I do NOT practice cleans enough. In a whiny text to my coach I was informed/reminded that I need to practice some everyday. It's not JUST that I suck - I haven't put in the time and practice to get better. There is no magic, it takes a lot of work. That made me feel better. I'm not banging my head against a wall going nowhere.....I need to put in more work. I can do that. The hubs is picking up a 45# Olympic bar (thanks craigslist!) this morning!!!! Also, the PVC pipe and I are going to get to know each other REAL well. Clean drills, welcome to my programming.
Reason 2: Strength. I want strength. I do not want to be just strong. I want my lifts to look good. I want them to feel good. I want to be efficient so I can keep getting stronger and better. Here is my back squat from this week @185# for 10 reps
Reality Check: Yes, this is a good amount of weight. I got down, I got up. Form? BUT I need to keep my chest up. Need to use my legs, not my back. Not terrible, but this is why I video tape. I will keep video taping so I can fix my form and see progress. Also, I love those socks. They are my favorite.
Reason 3: Wall Balls. I don't like them. I mentally die a little when they are in the WOD. They were in Wednesdays and Thursdays WOD. Barf. Oh, they were also at the Throwdown on Saturday. My shoulders were smoked, wall balls suck, you get the idea. I'm using the men's standards now of 20# and 10 feet - just plain hard.
Reality Check: Day 1 I did them one at a time at the men's standards. I couldn't even catch it on the way back down, I just let the ground do it's job. By the end of that workout I was at least catching the ball (using the wall) so I didn't have to pick it up every time. Progress. Workout 2 was 25 wall balls 4 times. Yep. Four rounds of those bastards. I started on the first set and was able to get sets of 2!!!! No dropping, using the wall, just moving. I had to talk myself through that first set. I wanted to stop, get the lighter ball and move faster. BUT this is not about fast. Not yet. This is about skill and strength. I completed the next two rounds of 25 doing sets of three and four. PROGRESS!
Reason 4: DNF. Did Not Finish. Yesterday was my first time not completing the workout by the time cap. It did not feel good. But why? Who cares? I wanted to curl up and cry.
Reality Check: I did not cry. I sat for a minute and thought about why I was upset. I didn't fail anything. I didn't quit. I did the work I could do in 20 minutes and that was that. Why did it take me a long time? Because of my choices. I did heavier wall balls, I did snatches focusing on form - If I'm going to put in work, weights, and use standards that are going to push me harder then I might not finish a workout here and there. It's making me better. Also? It's my choice. I want to get stronger, faster, better.....guess what that means?
It's all about the magic
So, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. This week kicked my butt, but I'm still standing. Today is a day off. I'm getting my toes done with a friend. I'm going to keep my head up, keep my focus, and smile all the way.
