My New PR

First off:

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. . .

Persistency

So those goals that I have written about before are now on a paper / your computer right?  You shared them with a friend, a loved one, a Coach, a fellow athlete/peer, so that you can start creating some accountability for yourself right?  What did you do yesterday to get yourself further to that goal?  Oh wait, it was the 28th of November, 3 days after Thanksgiving and you were still eating leftovers, no worries, let's get back on track. . . it's Monday

The Transformation

No, we aren't talking about The Fly from 1986 with Jeff Goldblum.  CrossFit isn't going to stick you in a metal tank and try to transport you to another tank in what was known back in the 80's as "matter transportation".  Today is more like the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle.  Do you remember that?  It's referenced all the time to show huge changes in life. . .

It's What You Make It

The one thing that has always stuck in my mind regarding workouts, any workout, is the 1 workout where someone always says before they start it. . .

"That doesn't look so bad. . ."

A Little Bit About My Gym

Do you remember when you bought your first car? 

That car spoke to you, it enticed you with it's color, the smooth lines reminded you of the most beautiful scene in the world.  The interior decor was exactly to your liking, whether it had wood trim or a carbon fiber dash, it was so comfortable when you got in the driver's seat, it fit just right.  The plush leather (or cloth, or vinyl) wrapped itself around you and you felt comfortable.

Oh, you thought this was a blog about your car?  Think again. . .

Maybe It Was 20 Reps

CrossFit institutes a required range of motion for each of it's movements, for Squats, it happens to be hip crease below knee, and then standing with an open hip in the upright position. So, a Tabata Workout for example, is 8 rounds of 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off. The least amount of reps amongst the 8 rounds is the athlete's score. . .

My Push Out of Comfort

I am an evening CrossFitter, once that clock gets past noon, I am good to go!  I like my routine, it makes my day feel complete, I work, I WOD, I coach or. . .  I work, I coach, and I WOD. . .

Now, some of you, WOD, then work, it makes you start your day off with so much energy.  The anxiousness of the WOD doesn't build up, cause you are going straight to the box, you don't even have facebook comments to lend you an idea of how much the WOD may suck. . ..

The Second Day

Ugh, remember that feeling?

The workout is done, you're exhausted, the last thing you want to do is stretch.  Your body aches in ways in which you've never known.  It's hard to muster the "Thank you" as you walk out the door, you go to get in your car, but have trouble getting the key to the ignition to turn it over (and for those of you with the really nice cars - it's hard to push the button to start it).  It feels like a second workout to turn the key and hold onto the wheel.  Your legs hurt as you try and press down the gas.  Thankfully some of you don't have a clutch to worry about.  The gas and the brake are hard enough.  Getting home was difficult, all you wanna do is lie down and go to bed. . .

A Recipe for Change

What does it take to workout?

1 cup of motivation - Gotta get to the gym
1 cup of determination - Gotta get through whatever is on the whiteboard
1/3 cup of inspiration - Why are you doing it?
1 barbell - 45 lb or 15 lb, they are both cruel
A dash of weights - Face it, your tastes are different than someone else, season to taste

Read on . . .

Stick to the Basics (Part III)

In Stick To The Basics, we talked about technique, consistency, and intensity.  In Stick to the Basics (Part II) we talked about writing it all down.   I would like to expound a little more on the basics today. . .