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It all started from a friend, a colleague, a peer . . .
From being bored with the same routine, from plateauing time and time again . . .
I wanted to get healthy, I wanted people around me who cared . . .

They called it constantly varied, functional movements, executed at high intensity . . .

It's about taking the first step -

It's called CrossFit and I friggin' love it!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Overcome Your Fear

Let's be existential for a moment.  You are not you when you go to workout.  You become something else - a beast turned loose, an animal scared to get caught, or a athlete on the junky high of adrenaline. . .

In every situation, you are not you . . .




There is something about a clock running that sends the willies through people.  Anxiety builds, palms become clammy, shouts escape mouths, or silent air passes through lips as people mutter soundless  words at something they cannot see.  Bodies tend to undulate, the tendency is to move the part that will have the most movement, like shaking arms or legs.  

Whatever the case, it is all within your grasp.  A calmness needs to prevail, a goal set, and motion begins.  At times though, certain things infringe on your every being.

Remember the I Won't and I Can't, but this is different.

Fear. . .

No, this isn't the fear of the Librarian ghost (aka The Grey Lady) from GhostBusters . . .



What we are talking about it is a palpable fear.  You know, the one that weighs heavy on the mind and burdens the soul.  One example is the box jump.  That movement always messes with people's minds.  Even the greatest of CrossFitters are humbled by the 56"+ realm of the box jump.  And to top it all off, that fear is on the tip of your tongue, it's maddening because part of you thinks you can, another part thinks you can't, and even still another part stifles your body as you attempt the movement.

But wait, there's more.

When athlete's first start to put weight over their own head, I see the same fear in their eyes.  A confidence which hasn't quite manifested itself.  Certain things need to happen prior to this. 

First and foremost, I believe in recognizing this fear.

Second, and very important, choose a path to rectify this issue.  This is as easy as walking away, but what on earth are you doing if this is the case?  You want to give up?  You think we will let you give up?  Hell no.

If I had all the time the time in the world, I would make you face your fear until you overcame it.  But then again, we don't have all the time and we don't want an injury to occur, therefore, we take certain steps.

1)  Read yesterdays post, it is a line that we draw that you walk on between intensity and technique.  If the technique is lacking, work on the technique and tone down the intensity, if it's intensity that is lacking, you need to get some motivation.  Therefore, no excuses.

2.)  Scale until the movement makes sense, build your motor recruitment patterns - when the time is right, the weight will move, the box won't seem so high and your past will become an afterthought.

3.)  Tell people your fear and start to work with a Coach to figure out how to get over it.

Fear doesn't have a single form - it manifests itself differently for everyone, but your ability to recognize it will do wonders for you.

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

 -Coach Tony

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