I Am Crossfit Results

For eight weeks, I worked really hard to follow a 90% paleo diet and workout at least 4x/week.  Admittedly, the week of the LIVESTRONG Assembly in Chicago was a bit of a mess where I worked out once and stress ate.  Tins of cheese and caramel popcorn in front of me are bad news.  

However, I did it.  I accomplished one of my 2013 goals and feel good about the progress I made, the habits I established and the time I took for myself even it was an hour a day to exercise. 

On March 9th, I completed the I Am Crossfit workout again.

Three Rounds for Time
400 m run
15 pullups
7 hang power cleans

During the benchmark workout in early January, I didn't complete the workout within the 12 minute cutoff.  One of my goals was to do better in the finale workout than I did in the benchmark. 

On Saturday, March 9th, I arrived at the Downtown location and while checking in I noticed three sweet faces..Devon, Melissa and Kelsey.  They came to watch the workout to support me.  It meant so much to have my friends support me throughout the 8 weeks and to have them show up and cheer me on was very thoughtful. 

As I prepared for my heat to begin the workout, I found my Crossfit Coach, Jayci.  Earlier that week, she told me to find her so that she could be my scorekeeper and be with me throughout the workout.  Jayci set up my station and I took off on the 400 m run.  I completed the first round without any problems, but the run ALWAYS gets me. I don't like running, but I did love having my friends there cheering for me.  While I did have to walk a bit to catch my breath, I could hear them screaming.  It was so encouraging and motivating. 

During the third and final round, I finished the run and was told I had 90 seconds to complete the 15 pullups and 7 hang power cleans.  I wanted to finish so bad and quickly started.  I stopped at one point to catch my breath and Jayci said, "You've got 2 more pullups".  I knocked those out and ran to the bar.  7 reps left. 

During the final seconds of the workout, I looked up and saw my friends, Jayci and my former Kettlebell Coach Randal, standing there.  I finished and finished with 12 seconds left.  Those final moments are my proudest moments in Crossfit.  I may not be the strongest or the fastest, but I worked hard and accomplished something that I set out to do. 

Last week I was humbled again during the Crossfit Games qualifying workout. 

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
75 pound Shoulder to overhead, 5 reps
75 pound Deadlift, 10 reps
15 Box jumps, 20" box

I couldn't get the 75 shoulder to overhead.  It was incredibly frustrating and I cried. I cried at Crossfit. The one thing I love about Crossfit is how hard it pushes me, both mentally and physically.  But last week I couldn't get pass the mental hurdle.  

Yesterday, Ingrid, the assistant coach during my class, asked if she could blog about me.  She wrote an incredibly sweet and encouraging post about me.  You can read it here.

If you can't tell, I've drank the kool-aid and am an official member of the Crossfit cult.