This post is about my 67th WOD since January 1st.
TJ once told me that if I'm not nervous before a workout, it's probably not intense enough.
Even so, I think it is so funny that my body reacts the same everytime I turn onto the streets leading to Crossfit. I get a stomach ache. I get tense. Even if I wanted to focus on something else, I couldn't, because I'm so overwhelmed by the thoughts of what I'm going to put my body through during the next hour. I also play this game. "In one hour and 4 minutes, I will be laying on the ground..." So crazy.
Yesterday, I did Cindy pretty much RX'd, with the exception of doing ring rows instead of pull-ups. I did the full twenty minutes. It went great. The hand release push-ups get me EVERY single time, but I think that they will have to get easier. Someday.
WOD #67
Cindy- 8 rounds, 9 push-ups
AMRAP 20 min
5 ring rows
10 push ups (hand release)
15 squats
Compare to:
WOD #35 (3/6/11)
Cindy 7 full rounds, 5 ring-rows and 5 push-ups
5 Ring-rows
10 Push-ups
15 Squats
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
In My Father's Footsteps? Over My Dead Body
I don't talk about this a lot, but it's been on my mind.
My dad weighs over five hundred pounds.
Like, probably six hundred pounds.
In today's world, he is big. But, sadly, you see people like him. Not daily, but enough that you don't drop everything and say "OH MY GD".
But growing up in the '80s, like I did, it wasn't normal. I remember walking a few steps ahead of him everywhere we went. I would have a menacing look on my face, DARING people to stare at him. I would run ahead in restaurants, to make sure we could get seats that didn't have arms, and that weren't too out in the open, but at the same time, not too much of a walk back. He couldn't walk that far.
My dad has a sense of humor as big as his stomach. Seriously. He literally would tell people that he was a recovering anorexic, and that he was proud of his recovery. He never seemed to eat TOO much in public, but had no problem talking about his favorite foods, restaurants, or what he ate last night. He was shameless! Have you ever noticed that "fat" people never talk about food? It's like they don't want you to think that they actually eat.
I went through an anorexic phase, and I remember going to visit him. I wsa going to be there for 3 days, which meant roughly 5 workouts. My dad was about to turn 50 and thought it would be fun to join. (He was lighter then, maybe 400 lbs.) He went with me, and for a brief moment in time, we had something in common.
You see, when I was growing up, my dad didn't really do anything with me or my siblings. He worked crazy hours, and when he was home, you could find him on the couch. "Quality time" meant praying, eating, or long drives. (He was a car afficiando). I have no memories of doing physical activities with my dad. I know he coached my brother's soccer team, but that was more for the folly of it, and there were other coaches that actually knew the sport.
At my sister's wedding, he was to do the father/daughter dance with her. There was a glitch in the technical system, however, which left him standing, painfully still, for over 30 seconds. He couldn't handle the agony and sat down, and my brother filled in. My dad never spoke of that moment, but I know it killed him. We aren't close, (for many other reasons), so this wasn't an issue at my wedding. He did, however, roll a wheelchair down the aisle.
Why am I writing about all of this now? Because I am at the age when I will try to have kids in the next year or so. And I worry. I am no where near his size, but I know genes are genes.
I am making a promise, from here until forever. Being on the Zone and Crossfitting can't be novelties to me. And, sometimes, I feel like they are. Not because I don't love Crossfit, or the energy and power the Zone gives me, but because, somewhere deep inside, I think I feel like I have been sentenced to following in his shoe steps. And I WON'T DO IT.
When I do something "big", like get my double unders, or run a 400m, no one is more surprised than me. Because I feel like a 600 lb shadow of a man. I don't think I've ever realized that, until right this minute. But I'm as much of a Crossfitter as anyone else at the box. I am earning my title as an athlete with every WOD.
I am going to be a healthy mom and wife. I will be able to ride bikes with my kids, and do Disneyland, and go all over the world. I have to. Because I don't want to be standing in a room of people, all staring at me, wondering if the lifestyle I chose was worth not being able to be a good parent to my child.
My dad weighs over five hundred pounds.
Like, probably six hundred pounds.
In today's world, he is big. But, sadly, you see people like him. Not daily, but enough that you don't drop everything and say "OH MY GD".
But growing up in the '80s, like I did, it wasn't normal. I remember walking a few steps ahead of him everywhere we went. I would have a menacing look on my face, DARING people to stare at him. I would run ahead in restaurants, to make sure we could get seats that didn't have arms, and that weren't too out in the open, but at the same time, not too much of a walk back. He couldn't walk that far.
My dad has a sense of humor as big as his stomach. Seriously. He literally would tell people that he was a recovering anorexic, and that he was proud of his recovery. He never seemed to eat TOO much in public, but had no problem talking about his favorite foods, restaurants, or what he ate last night. He was shameless! Have you ever noticed that "fat" people never talk about food? It's like they don't want you to think that they actually eat.
I went through an anorexic phase, and I remember going to visit him. I wsa going to be there for 3 days, which meant roughly 5 workouts. My dad was about to turn 50 and thought it would be fun to join. (He was lighter then, maybe 400 lbs.) He went with me, and for a brief moment in time, we had something in common.
You see, when I was growing up, my dad didn't really do anything with me or my siblings. He worked crazy hours, and when he was home, you could find him on the couch. "Quality time" meant praying, eating, or long drives. (He was a car afficiando). I have no memories of doing physical activities with my dad. I know he coached my brother's soccer team, but that was more for the folly of it, and there were other coaches that actually knew the sport.
At my sister's wedding, he was to do the father/daughter dance with her. There was a glitch in the technical system, however, which left him standing, painfully still, for over 30 seconds. He couldn't handle the agony and sat down, and my brother filled in. My dad never spoke of that moment, but I know it killed him. We aren't close, (for many other reasons), so this wasn't an issue at my wedding. He did, however, roll a wheelchair down the aisle.
Why am I writing about all of this now? Because I am at the age when I will try to have kids in the next year or so. And I worry. I am no where near his size, but I know genes are genes.
I am making a promise, from here until forever. Being on the Zone and Crossfitting can't be novelties to me. And, sometimes, I feel like they are. Not because I don't love Crossfit, or the energy and power the Zone gives me, but because, somewhere deep inside, I think I feel like I have been sentenced to following in his shoe steps. And I WON'T DO IT.
When I do something "big", like get my double unders, or run a 400m, no one is more surprised than me. Because I feel like a 600 lb shadow of a man. I don't think I've ever realized that, until right this minute. But I'm as much of a Crossfitter as anyone else at the box. I am earning my title as an athlete with every WOD.
I am going to be a healthy mom and wife. I will be able to ride bikes with my kids, and do Disneyland, and go all over the world. I have to. Because I don't want to be standing in a room of people, all staring at me, wondering if the lifestyle I chose was worth not being able to be a good parent to my child.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Playing Catch Up
I've been a little behind on blogging, so I just want to get these posted and then I will get back to being a more regular blogger come tomorrow. We started the Zone challenge thru the box yesterday! YAY! I'm ready.
April 21, 2011
WOD #63
Max effort 500m row
2:23 (PR by 9 seconds!)
WOD #64
AMRAP: 15 minutes
5 rounds, 4 wall balls
5 Cleans 53lb
15 situps
10 wall balls
April 25, 2011
WOD #65
Nancy
5 Rds for time: 11:27
Run 100m
15 OHS 23 lbs
April 21, 2011
WOD #63
Max effort 500m row
2:23 (PR by 9 seconds!)
WOD #64
AMRAP: 15 minutes
5 rounds, 4 wall balls
5 Cleans 53lb
15 situps
10 wall balls
April 25, 2011
WOD #65
Nancy
5 Rds for time: 11:27
Run 100m
15 OHS 23 lbs
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Skills Day: Or, Where I Just Walk Around The Box!
Yesterday, I had an appointment to train at 6 PM. I left work at 5:20 and got to the box a little early, with enough time to do some mobility work and also practice my double unders. I wanted to be relaxed and in a good mood for whatever Shain and TJ had for me.
Right at 6:00, TJ said, "Rachel, I screwed up. Can you train with the class?" The WOD was Michael: 3 rounds of 800m run, 50 KB swings, and 50 sit-ups. I was like, absolutely not. (That's the Crossfit spirit, right?!) He said he could train me alongside the class, but I said I could just do skills.
I first decided to do a max effort 1K row. Not my favorite thing, but I've heard before that you should target your least favorite skills when you have time, and I did. I put my i-Pod on and blasted a little hip-hop, and lo and behold, pr'd by 5 seconds. I am thinking that music is my secret weapon for rowing and running. I need a good beat to zone out, and Metallica/Creed/Nickleback/blah is just not doing it for me.
WOD #62
Max Row 1000m
5:22
I then kind of wandered around. LOL. If I had been prepared, I would of done a WOD like 5 rounds for time, WB/situps or something to that effect. But I was kind of discombobulated and ended up doing 10 sets of 5 ring rows, some sit ups, some hand release pushups, and some more double unders. It wasn't a waste, but I defintely realized that I need a plan when I go to the gym!
I also went and hung out at Cassie/Kellie's last night, and Cassie told me to try double unders with her cable rope. SUCH A DIFFERENCE. I have to get one. I am scared to death for when I whip myself, but I got a DU on my second try, and that is so much faster than what crap I've done lately. The last two days have definitely made me feel better about where I am, and I am so grateful!
Right at 6:00, TJ said, "Rachel, I screwed up. Can you train with the class?" The WOD was Michael: 3 rounds of 800m run, 50 KB swings, and 50 sit-ups. I was like, absolutely not. (That's the Crossfit spirit, right?!) He said he could train me alongside the class, but I said I could just do skills.
I first decided to do a max effort 1K row. Not my favorite thing, but I've heard before that you should target your least favorite skills when you have time, and I did. I put my i-Pod on and blasted a little hip-hop, and lo and behold, pr'd by 5 seconds. I am thinking that music is my secret weapon for rowing and running. I need a good beat to zone out, and Metallica/Creed/Nickleback/blah is just not doing it for me.
WOD #62
Max Row 1000m
5:22
I then kind of wandered around. LOL. If I had been prepared, I would of done a WOD like 5 rounds for time, WB/situps or something to that effect. But I was kind of discombobulated and ended up doing 10 sets of 5 ring rows, some sit ups, some hand release pushups, and some more double unders. It wasn't a waste, but I defintely realized that I need a plan when I go to the gym!
I also went and hung out at Cassie/Kellie's last night, and Cassie told me to try double unders with her cable rope. SUCH A DIFFERENCE. I have to get one. I am scared to death for when I whip myself, but I got a DU on my second try, and that is so much faster than what crap I've done lately. The last two days have definitely made me feel better about where I am, and I am so grateful!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
And I'm Back Again!
As I mentioned earlier, I've been in a funk. On top of that, my last two WODs have not been my best, so I had the added stress of "when am I ever gonna rock a workout again?!" that I tend to feel after I suck. Seriously not fun. The old Rachel would of put off coming back to the box, but I was not trying to procrastinate if I could help it. I wanted to get back in the game, because I would hate to waste all of the effort I've put in this year. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but I can be proud of my consistency and, as of late, my diet.
My last Xfit total was 386 on 1-14-11. My goal today was 420. And...I beat it! Not only that, but I deadlifted 203 lbs. Shain and I were laughing...my first deadlift was 83 lbs, back in February of 2010. :)
So I feel a lot better today. I'm glad I went. I still didn't improve that much on my shoulder press, which is irritating but its where I'm at. My next goal for the Total is 470.
WOD #61
Crossfit Total
429 lbs (44lb PR!)
173 backsquat
53 lb shoulder press
203 lb deadlift
Also: I just looked at my post from the last Crossfit Total and I wrote that my desired goal for the next time I did the WOD was 410. I'm really glad I wrote that, because I bust through it! It feels good to see when I make a goal and am able to beat it.
My last Xfit total was 386 on 1-14-11. My goal today was 420. And...I beat it! Not only that, but I deadlifted 203 lbs. Shain and I were laughing...my first deadlift was 83 lbs, back in February of 2010. :)
So I feel a lot better today. I'm glad I went. I still didn't improve that much on my shoulder press, which is irritating but its where I'm at. My next goal for the Total is 470.
WOD #61
Crossfit Total
429 lbs (44lb PR!)
173 backsquat
53 lb shoulder press
203 lb deadlift
Also: I just looked at my post from the last Crossfit Total and I wrote that my desired goal for the next time I did the WOD was 410. I'm really glad I wrote that, because I bust through it! It feels good to see when I make a goal and am able to beat it.
I Don't Want To Talk About It
So I've not been having an easy time with life. This is not a bloggy blog, where I discuss my life in general, so I won't be talking about that stuff here. Needless to say, I have not been having an easy time. Thursday, I tried to shake it off. I went in and thought I'd try to run. I even brought my head phones so that I could try to go faster than usual. It worked. I got a PR on my 400m (YAY!) and was really excited. But then for some reason the stress I've been going through got to me and it was not pretty. The WOD I did next wasn't that hard, but it got to me. After 3 rounds I tried to quit but luckily Shain wouldn't let me.
Friday I got to the gym and was excited to redeem myself. No such luck. I ran an 800 and then the shit hit the fan. I DNF'd on the workout, and I am really upset about it. I hate that I can't separate the shit going on in my life and the WOD at hand.
WOD #58 4/14/11
400m
2:45 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOD #59
19:58
5 Rounds:
5 snatch 43 lb
Run 100 m
15 box jump (8 stacked mats)
WOD #60 4/15/11
6:59
Run 800m
Friday I got to the gym and was excited to redeem myself. No such luck. I ran an 800 and then the shit hit the fan. I DNF'd on the workout, and I am really upset about it. I hate that I can't separate the shit going on in my life and the WOD at hand.
WOD #58 4/14/11
400m
2:45 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOD #59
19:58
5 Rounds:
5 snatch 43 lb
Run 100 m
15 box jump (8 stacked mats)
WOD #60 4/15/11
6:59
Run 800m
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Dear Crossfit
Dear CrossFit,
I like that you push me. That you shove me around. That you don’t listen to my whining, my excuses, my belly-aching.
When I say, “This is hard” . . . you say, “Do it again.”
When I say, “But I’m not good at this” . . . you say, “So, practice. Get good.”
When I say “This hurts” . . . you say, “So does life. Get over it.”
You poke me in the chest, you kick me in the ass, you drive me over the edge.
And I love every single flippin’ minute of it. Even as I hate it too.
If I wanted my workout to hug me and make me feel special, I’d be rocking some jazzeryoga40x in my basement. With some chamomile tea. And a blankie.
But I’m not here for the party. I’m here because I don’t need another person in life to tell me that I’m special and I’m good enough and I’m wonderful. (I mean, don’t stop with that, my ego kinda digs it.) But I want the truth. I can handle it. And I can handle the work to make myself better.
I don’t have a muscle-up. And I needed to be reminded of that, and the many other things I need to motor on.
See, CrossFit, we understand each other. Keep pushing me, don’t ever stop.
XOXOXOXO
Me
(from Crossfit Lisbeth...I love her!)
I like that you push me. That you shove me around. That you don’t listen to my whining, my excuses, my belly-aching.
When I say, “This is hard” . . . you say, “Do it again.”
When I say, “But I’m not good at this” . . . you say, “So, practice. Get good.”
When I say “This hurts” . . . you say, “So does life. Get over it.”
You poke me in the chest, you kick me in the ass, you drive me over the edge.
And I love every single flippin’ minute of it. Even as I hate it too.
If I wanted my workout to hug me and make me feel special, I’d be rocking some jazzeryoga40x in my basement. With some chamomile tea. And a blankie.
But I’m not here for the party. I’m here because I don’t need another person in life to tell me that I’m special and I’m good enough and I’m wonderful. (I mean, don’t stop with that, my ego kinda digs it.) But I want the truth. I can handle it. And I can handle the work to make myself better.
I don’t have a muscle-up. And I needed to be reminded of that, and the many other things I need to motor on.
See, CrossFit, we understand each other. Keep pushing me, don’t ever stop.
XOXOXOXO
Me
(from Crossfit Lisbeth...I love her!)
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