ONE MINUTE AND TWENTY EIGHT SECONDS on a 400m, not on a track, on asphalt, WITH a turnaround.
Hauling. My. Ass. AND I was not being chased by hell hounds or badgers on PCP, I was just going as fast as I possibly could.
For the sake of simply going as fast as I possibly could.
Because apparently, I am a runner now.
Isn't that curious?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hello My Name is Erika....
And I have been addicted to Crossfit for two years.
Two years ago today I started the standard CC warm up of high knees, fast feet, jumping jacks, squats, push ups, and rotations. The most commonly spoken phrase during my first warm up was:
"Wait, I need to throw up."
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING related to my present physical capabilities was built from the ground up. I was given millions of opportunities to back out over the next five months of training. Each workout, mostly due to my underlying medical condition, was emotionally battering. I was always last, I was always lifting lighter, I was always physically sick and shaking. In my mind I was "that" person, the one behind everyone else, the weak one, which instead of being completely demotivating as it had been my entire life, something else was happening in my head. Being last was the most motivating thing EV-ER. I wanted to run, I wanted to be strong, I wanted to be a completely different person.
And so I did. When my doctors told me I had to stop exercising I was terrified that my momentum would fail. The past was a death trap in my mind, so each day I did everything that I could to move father and farther away from that place. I convinced myself that no one believed in me. That sounds harsh, but it worked.
The first time I ran 400m without stopping, I sat on the steps of my house and cried. It took me NINE months to get there.
My training became a kind of "I'll show them what I can do...." statement.
And if there is one thing that I love to do, it's showing people how well I CAN do whatever it is they said I couldn't. Square peg WILL go into round hole. Got it?
Friends help. My experience would have been very different had it not been for Catherine plugging away beside me. Someone to run to and complain about how hard it is to sit down, or "can you believe we just did that?" That friend circle has since exploded, and now, if a workout is missed I will get texts from the coaches, emails from friends, and just telling them "I was tired so I slept in" is a ridiculous excuse. Accountability is key. (Thanks for keeping me solid peeps!)
What motivates you to be better to yourself and to others? How can you inject that motivation into every aspect of your life to keep you going when everything around you beckons for you to stop? How will you silence the devil on your shoulder?
2 Year Anniversary WOD:
30 Box Jumps
400m Run
30 Burpees
400m Run
30 Med Ball Cleans 20# ball
400m Run
Time: 13:37
Two years ago today I started the standard CC warm up of high knees, fast feet, jumping jacks, squats, push ups, and rotations. The most commonly spoken phrase during my first warm up was:
"Wait, I need to throw up."
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING related to my present physical capabilities was built from the ground up. I was given millions of opportunities to back out over the next five months of training. Each workout, mostly due to my underlying medical condition, was emotionally battering. I was always last, I was always lifting lighter, I was always physically sick and shaking. In my mind I was "that" person, the one behind everyone else, the weak one, which instead of being completely demotivating as it had been my entire life, something else was happening in my head. Being last was the most motivating thing EV-ER. I wanted to run, I wanted to be strong, I wanted to be a completely different person.
And so I did. When my doctors told me I had to stop exercising I was terrified that my momentum would fail. The past was a death trap in my mind, so each day I did everything that I could to move father and farther away from that place. I convinced myself that no one believed in me. That sounds harsh, but it worked.
The first time I ran 400m without stopping, I sat on the steps of my house and cried. It took me NINE months to get there.
My training became a kind of "I'll show them what I can do...." statement.
And if there is one thing that I love to do, it's showing people how well I CAN do whatever it is they said I couldn't. Square peg WILL go into round hole. Got it?
Friends help. My experience would have been very different had it not been for Catherine plugging away beside me. Someone to run to and complain about how hard it is to sit down, or "can you believe we just did that?" That friend circle has since exploded, and now, if a workout is missed I will get texts from the coaches, emails from friends, and just telling them "I was tired so I slept in" is a ridiculous excuse. Accountability is key. (Thanks for keeping me solid peeps!)
What motivates you to be better to yourself and to others? How can you inject that motivation into every aspect of your life to keep you going when everything around you beckons for you to stop? How will you silence the devil on your shoulder?
2 Year Anniversary WOD:
30 Box Jumps
400m Run
30 Burpees
400m Run
30 Med Ball Cleans 20# ball
400m Run
Time: 13:37
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
8:34
My two year anniversary with Crossfit Central is next Monday, and this morning I finally have a respectable RX'd time for one hell of a workout. The last time I pushed through Fran I was not sub 10 minutes, let's not even TALK about the first time...
This morning was 8:34. Eight minutes and thirty-four seconds. Before we started I waved a little sub 10 minutes juju over that bar with my hands, gave quick thanks to my body for being strong and able, and shooed those butterflies out of the way... My front squat form, while better, is still in need of work. Ass, hips and shoulders need to come up at the same time. I'm shoulder pressing that 65# up instead of using the actual thruster movement to gain momentum. AnyomgI'msogladIcanmovepastthisnow....
The last two years have been very full years, but I'm not going to dive too far into the rabbit hole on this one, we'll save most of it for next week. I will say that the first time I walked into that little gym I was terrified. I looked around at all those strong people, drenched in sweat and was not sure if I had it in me to continue. These people were athletes, probably had been their entire lives. I was not an athlete, never had been, but I really wanted to be. Two years later, I can with full confidence say: I am an athlete.
That is wicked fun to say.
This morning was 8:34. Eight minutes and thirty-four seconds. Before we started I waved a little sub 10 minutes juju over that bar with my hands, gave quick thanks to my body for being strong and able, and shooed those butterflies out of the way... My front squat form, while better, is still in need of work. Ass, hips and shoulders need to come up at the same time. I'm shoulder pressing that 65# up instead of using the actual thruster movement to gain momentum. AnyomgI'msogladIcanmovepastthisnow....
The last two years have been very full years, but I'm not going to dive too far into the rabbit hole on this one, we'll save most of it for next week. I will say that the first time I walked into that little gym I was terrified. I looked around at all those strong people, drenched in sweat and was not sure if I had it in me to continue. These people were athletes, probably had been their entire lives. I was not an athlete, never had been, but I really wanted to be. Two years later, I can with full confidence say: I am an athlete.
That is wicked fun to say.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
"Give Birth To That Workout"
This nugget of genius came from Anna, whom I speak of quite a bit. This does not mean to draw comparisons between the pain (simmer down mommas), more to bring attention to how a person has to forget the amount and kind of pain that existed in a workout (like labor) to do it all over again (to have another kid), because at some point, it will be written on that white board again.
On that note, this morning's workout was one that falls into the category of necessary evil and "pain that must be forgotten...quickly." It will stick with me all day (hopefully not longer), and my sincerest apologies to my legs. I'm not sure walking will be graceful in the morning.
5 Rounds:
10 Back Squats (85#s)
25 Air Squats
400m Run
I made it to the 5th round when time was called. In accordance with my goal of always being in control, and keeping my mind steady, I chose to go to 85#s instead of the RX'd 95# for a few reasons: 1) I want to work on my running 2) Back squats scare the h.e.l.l out of me and I need to build up that confidence 3) Yesterday I did the I AM workout of 100m walking lunges, 50 sit ups, 100m walking lunges, 40 sit ups.... all the way to 10 sit ups. The previous day, Monday, was topped off with endurance training, including some very painful and successful 400m sprints.
Dudes, my calves. Are. Angry.
Anywho, my weekly Free Will Astrology newsletter came yesterday, and this is what Rob Brezsny had to say:
"PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It's graduation time. Not in any officially recognized sense, maybe, but still: You have completed your study of a certain subject in the school of life. At a later date, maybe you will resume studying this subject on a higher level, but for now you've absorbed all you can. I suggest you give yourself a kind of final exam. (Be sure to grade it yourself.) You might also want to carry out a fun ritual to acknowledge the completion of this chapter of your story. It will free up your mind and heart to begin the next chapter."
That's a relief...
My rest day tomorrow is going to taste like ice cream.
On that note, this morning's workout was one that falls into the category of necessary evil and "pain that must be forgotten...quickly." It will stick with me all day (hopefully not longer), and my sincerest apologies to my legs. I'm not sure walking will be graceful in the morning.
5 Rounds:
10 Back Squats (85#s)
25 Air Squats
400m Run
I made it to the 5th round when time was called. In accordance with my goal of always being in control, and keeping my mind steady, I chose to go to 85#s instead of the RX'd 95# for a few reasons: 1) I want to work on my running 2) Back squats scare the h.e.l.l out of me and I need to build up that confidence 3) Yesterday I did the I AM workout of 100m walking lunges, 50 sit ups, 100m walking lunges, 40 sit ups.... all the way to 10 sit ups. The previous day, Monday, was topped off with endurance training, including some very painful and successful 400m sprints.
Dudes, my calves. Are. Angry.
Anywho, my weekly Free Will Astrology newsletter came yesterday, and this is what Rob Brezsny had to say:
"PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It's graduation time. Not in any officially recognized sense, maybe, but still: You have completed your study of a certain subject in the school of life. At a later date, maybe you will resume studying this subject on a higher level, but for now you've absorbed all you can. I suggest you give yourself a kind of final exam. (Be sure to grade it yourself.) You might also want to carry out a fun ritual to acknowledge the completion of this chapter of your story. It will free up your mind and heart to begin the next chapter."
That's a relief...
My rest day tomorrow is going to taste like ice cream.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Beautiful Disaster
Describing what happens during a Crossfit workout is a very difficult task. The technical definition falls abysmally short of what really happens to the relationship between your brain and your body; what happens to your will power; what happens to your courage; what happens to your entire being, 360 degrees, inside and out. It's hard. You go to places that are hard to be in; you train yourself to be very uncomfortable and to SUCCEED in that extremely uncomfortable place. You learn the art of mind/body maintenance; to reject the fight or flight response and use that adrenaline to your advantage. You learn to trust the power of your body.
It's assaulting and traumatic, and you may break down into tears. Really.
This morning was very cold, and the I AM CROSSFIT benchmark workout was sure to be brutal. I did not go up to the 95#s after all; I attempted one yesterday morning at half ass determination, because attempting one at full speed is slightly unrealistic considering you have to complete 21 total AND 45 pull ups AND a 3/4 mile run. In 12 minutes (they extended the time). I couldn't float the bar high enough. I've been through enough of these brutal workouts to know what kind of output is necessary to complete the WOD, so I chose to make my pull ups and my run the focus and dropped my level to 65#s. Yes, 65#s is absolutely doable for me. If I could have gone to 85#s I would have in a heartbeat, and that weight would have been much more appropriate. I decided last night before I went to bed that choosing weights and workouts which bring me to my knees every single time, while definitely appropriate at times, should not be the norm. I will actively choose when I want to be punched in the face by my ambition. I will actively choose to walk into those brutal fires. This morning I sought to be in complete control, which is completely opposite of what I normally do. Magic laser beams of focus, yo. Make it hard, but make it right. Make it perfect, make it complete.
Immediately after check in, I had to strip down to my sports bra and pants for a bona fide before picture. Full exposure. Everyone was appropriately uncomfortable with that. Everyone looked intense, everyone was pensive. It was so cold outside, temps were below 30 degrees for most people. The air was impossible to breathe!
My pull ups felt fantastic, my hang clean reps were airy and completely unbroken. Up and down, up and down. They could not have felt more perfect. My run was clean and crisp on the first round and began sagging exponentially on the second and third. I didn't make it before the cut off time, but that's fine. Technically speaking, in terms of finishing, it was a disaster, but dammit if I didn't make it pretty. My partner in Crossfit crime, Anna, who has only been doing this for 4 months, took on full kipping pull ups and 65# hang cleans. Phenomenal effort on her part and she will make it solid in eight weeks if she continues her current "freak of nature" trend. Watch out for her, she's on her way to lapping most of us. Girl's got heart.
What happens at the end of a workout like this one is intense. Your head spins, everyone is shouting for you to go on hard, you are basically incapable of critical thinking, lost in a haze. At one point the crowd in front of me thought I said no in response to their shouts (which I totally know better than to do), and in hindsight, while I didn't actually say no, it was a long moan and it was my body effectively saying no more. Everything moves so slowly and it takes everything to pull more energy. Confusion is normal and irritating... At the end, instead of walking away from this workout bruised and in need of repair, I walked away 100% motivated and full of life. 100% ready to take the next eight weeks and do something completely different.
I apologize if I decline glasses of wine, or a bite of your incredible cheese laden dish. I apologize if I choose a workout over social events. It's just eight weeks, maybe you should join me? Detox more than your colon at the start of the year.... detox your life.
It's assaulting and traumatic, and you may break down into tears. Really.
This morning was very cold, and the I AM CROSSFIT benchmark workout was sure to be brutal. I did not go up to the 95#s after all; I attempted one yesterday morning at half ass determination, because attempting one at full speed is slightly unrealistic considering you have to complete 21 total AND 45 pull ups AND a 3/4 mile run. In 12 minutes (they extended the time). I couldn't float the bar high enough. I've been through enough of these brutal workouts to know what kind of output is necessary to complete the WOD, so I chose to make my pull ups and my run the focus and dropped my level to 65#s. Yes, 65#s is absolutely doable for me. If I could have gone to 85#s I would have in a heartbeat, and that weight would have been much more appropriate. I decided last night before I went to bed that choosing weights and workouts which bring me to my knees every single time, while definitely appropriate at times, should not be the norm. I will actively choose when I want to be punched in the face by my ambition. I will actively choose to walk into those brutal fires. This morning I sought to be in complete control, which is completely opposite of what I normally do. Magic laser beams of focus, yo. Make it hard, but make it right. Make it perfect, make it complete.
Immediately after check in, I had to strip down to my sports bra and pants for a bona fide before picture. Full exposure. Everyone was appropriately uncomfortable with that. Everyone looked intense, everyone was pensive. It was so cold outside, temps were below 30 degrees for most people. The air was impossible to breathe!
My pull ups felt fantastic, my hang clean reps were airy and completely unbroken. Up and down, up and down. They could not have felt more perfect. My run was clean and crisp on the first round and began sagging exponentially on the second and third. I didn't make it before the cut off time, but that's fine. Technically speaking, in terms of finishing, it was a disaster, but dammit if I didn't make it pretty. My partner in Crossfit crime, Anna, who has only been doing this for 4 months, took on full kipping pull ups and 65# hang cleans. Phenomenal effort on her part and she will make it solid in eight weeks if she continues her current "freak of nature" trend. Watch out for her, she's on her way to lapping most of us. Girl's got heart.
What happens at the end of a workout like this one is intense. Your head spins, everyone is shouting for you to go on hard, you are basically incapable of critical thinking, lost in a haze. At one point the crowd in front of me thought I said no in response to their shouts (which I totally know better than to do), and in hindsight, while I didn't actually say no, it was a long moan and it was my body effectively saying no more. Everything moves so slowly and it takes everything to pull more energy. Confusion is normal and irritating... At the end, instead of walking away from this workout bruised and in need of repair, I walked away 100% motivated and full of life. 100% ready to take the next eight weeks and do something completely different.
I apologize if I decline glasses of wine, or a bite of your incredible cheese laden dish. I apologize if I choose a workout over social events. It's just eight weeks, maybe you should join me? Detox more than your colon at the start of the year.... detox your life.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thanks for the eye roll Carey Kepler
I totally needed that this evening while lamenting the loss of two minutes of time on the I Am Crossfit workout.
If I could bother you for uno momento, please take a look at last year's start and finish posts regarding the IAC workout:
Ass Handed
Ass Handed Back
Cut off last time was 12 minutes. This time around it's 10 minutes. Carey looked at me and said, "whatever, 2 minutes." In response to my "I'm terrified" comment she said "you need to get over that."
She's right. Two minutes. How fast can I run a 400m? How fast can I do 15 pull ups with really swollen arms? Can I squeeze out seven 95# hang cleans three times? Can I squeeze out one?
PS- Team Phoenix plus Dave and Mel have joined forces for this piece of greatness: Warrior Dash! Ah! We get to leap over fire!
I keep thinking about this song, it's mostly a bunch of noise (heavy drums and unintelligible screeching)....but I like that kind of stuff:
If I could bother you for uno momento, please take a look at last year's start and finish posts regarding the IAC workout:
Ass Handed
Ass Handed Back
Cut off last time was 12 minutes. This time around it's 10 minutes. Carey looked at me and said, "whatever, 2 minutes." In response to my "I'm terrified" comment she said "you need to get over that."
She's right. Two minutes. How fast can I run a 400m? How fast can I do 15 pull ups with really swollen arms? Can I squeeze out seven 95# hang cleans three times? Can I squeeze out one?
PS- Team Phoenix plus Dave and Mel have joined forces for this piece of greatness: Warrior Dash! Ah! We get to leap over fire!
I keep thinking about this song, it's mostly a bunch of noise (heavy drums and unintelligible screeching)....but I like that kind of stuff:
Truncated Angie
I more or less avoided my computer the entire holiday vacation, so I apologize for the scarcity in posts. Over the weekend Team Phoenix went a little tequila happy and had a stupid number of Nor Cal Margaritas (2 shots of tequila, soda water, lime juice) which rendered yesterday completely useless. I can't believe I used to feel like that all the time. No wonder I was depressed.
This morning my body was an uncooperative mess and I ended up scaling the workout down to mostly half of the reps, 50 pull ups, 50 push ups, 70 sit ups, 70 squats. I did well over half of the pull ups without a band, but for the sake of my screaming palms, switched over for a little relief. Push ups were chest to the deck, picture freaking perfect and thanks to those I can't be that disappointed in my performance. I mean, just 24 hours prior I was nursing a hangover caused by at least 10 shots of tequila. Not kidding. We were that awesome. We needed a coup de gras before the I Am Crossfit Challenge begins (Saturday! Eeek!) and wow, did we ever make that happen. Saturday starts an eight week commitment of clean eating and hard workouts, no cheating! Woohoo! Last year I lost 11.75 inches. This year it's all about body fat percentages and strength....
Weight loss resolutions at the start of the new year have a shelf life of about six weeks for most Americans. Diet commercials really make me angry and sad, as I used to be one of those people who believed the hype. If every American who pledged to hit their goal weight by the end of the year actually hit their goal weight, the vast majority of these diet companies would be out of business. Their profit margins depend on dieting failure, not success. How awful is that? Some of these products are horrifying too! The last thing I want to do is to ingest a product which suggests I carry around an extra set of pants in case of accidental "anal leakage." What does it say about our society when it's considered more convenient to shit your pants than do some push ups? It says we have our priorities REALLY, REALLY SCREWED UP.
Whew.
This morning my body was an uncooperative mess and I ended up scaling the workout down to mostly half of the reps, 50 pull ups, 50 push ups, 70 sit ups, 70 squats. I did well over half of the pull ups without a band, but for the sake of my screaming palms, switched over for a little relief. Push ups were chest to the deck, picture freaking perfect and thanks to those I can't be that disappointed in my performance. I mean, just 24 hours prior I was nursing a hangover caused by at least 10 shots of tequila. Not kidding. We were that awesome. We needed a coup de gras before the I Am Crossfit Challenge begins (Saturday! Eeek!) and wow, did we ever make that happen. Saturday starts an eight week commitment of clean eating and hard workouts, no cheating! Woohoo! Last year I lost 11.75 inches. This year it's all about body fat percentages and strength....
Weight loss resolutions at the start of the new year have a shelf life of about six weeks for most Americans. Diet commercials really make me angry and sad, as I used to be one of those people who believed the hype. If every American who pledged to hit their goal weight by the end of the year actually hit their goal weight, the vast majority of these diet companies would be out of business. Their profit margins depend on dieting failure, not success. How awful is that? Some of these products are horrifying too! The last thing I want to do is to ingest a product which suggests I carry around an extra set of pants in case of accidental "anal leakage." What does it say about our society when it's considered more convenient to shit your pants than do some push ups? It says we have our priorities REALLY, REALLY SCREWED UP.
Whew.
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