Did you ever really think it wasn't possible?
There is no way to truly express the joy and satisfaction that I saw in many faces last night. The very interesting expressions were the ones where the person did not know the weight that they were lifting, and all of a sudden, the weight was pressed up (Strict Press), picked up (Deadlift), or Back-squatted - and then they found out. The look of awe on some faces showed the pride people had in each other, themselves, and the encouragement this place (CrossFit Relentless) has. What a phenomenal beginning. . .
Beginning???
What do you mean Coach? I worked on this for 3 months!
Nope! It's a beginning, you worked extremely hard, you have accomplished great things, but it is only the beginning of your journey. No PR yesterday/last night? Don't you dare drop your head in discouragement. There is no reason to become down trodden. Did you perform the movement correctly? Cause that is a heck of a PR in my book. You had 50 minutes, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. You had three attempts to set a 1 Rep Max for the Deadlift, the Strict Press, and the Back Squat. The CrossFit Total.
I am definitely not taking away from anyone's shining moment. No one could hold back, or stifle, the childish smiles, the claps, or the cheers. No one can take away the roar of accomplishment. Those will reverberate in our box for some time.
What I am talking about is that when we work hard, it shows. This is a beginning that many have set for themselves. This was a goal that was readily accomplished. Past tense - was. Power word - goal!
We moved out of an old comfort zone. It was interesting to watch no doubt. Each rep was a fight in every workout - each rep was a fight every time we did Wendler. Last night was George Foreman vs Joe Frazier - and down goes Frazier!
Picture it - backs tight, lumbar curve in a nice position, squats below parallel, and heads through the windows. Weights getting moved around as easily as a bag of groceries, a gallon of milk, or a set of plates going into a cabinet higher than your head. So many other descriptions, but those provide some justice.
There was no shrugging off the 50 lb PR, the 70 lb PR! There were a few people that knew they had more . . . there is always next time . . . and now you know that. Take for example the following quote:
“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.”
-Fred Brooks
By the way, I just want to say thank you for that quote Heath.
Everyone learned tonight. They learned a whole lot. About themselves and about each other. Nothing like digging down inside yourself and learning what you are capable of. So what? A little weight? I can move it.
And how do you plan on doing that?
Squat it, deadlift it, or press it - you tell me which.
It wasn't just the Wendler programming that did this. Trust me when I say this. The workouts pushed you to use new weights that you wouldn't normally use - what was once just the bar on a front squat is now 65 lbs. What was once the 8 lb medicine ball is now the 10, the 12, the 14 lb, the 16 or the 20 lb.
The past is great for reflection - look back on it with confidence and set yourself up for a new future.
My favorite reflection of last night, what weight should I use?
Only you can answer that, remember you learn from your mistakes. Some of you underestimated yourselves, some overestimated, but you are now acutely aware of what you are at the very least, capable of.
You've accomplished so much in just a short span of time, I can't wait to see what you have in store for yourself down the road. Remember, each workout is a chance to improve, a chance to work on technique, and definitely a chance to make one rep better than the last. Congratulations to everyone on your new PR's.
-Coach Tony
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