In my opinion, the beauty of CrossFit training, is the constantly varied aspect of the daily WOD. No thinking, no planning, no calculating...just work. Show up, push your body to limits that you once thought were not possible, take instruction and go. Far beyond the physical benefit of CrossFit is the mental growth that occurs from constantly challenging and pushing your margin of experience. As En Vogue so eloquently wrote, "free your mind, and the rest will follow". Stop thinking, just be.
As a result of the mental escape provided by a heart pounding, grip frying, lung burning WOD, that time of reflection while lying on your back doing your best to recover provides some amazing insights into my inner being. What follows is a list of a few things that I've learned about myself (and I think you will relate) during and after a WOD.
1. I'm a quitter.
I don't care what WOD it is, what day of the week, if it is my first or last WOD of the week, there always comes that uncomfortable moment when my brain says, "Ok, that's enough. I gotta quit." And every time that happens, I get pissed. No way can I quit. Forcing yourself to push through the temporary pain shuts up that stupid little voice, while at same time, building confidence and self esteem. It is truly amazing the carry over from the box to life. While no one said life would be easy, you certainly don't have permission to quit.
2. I speak in tongues.
At about the 17 minute mark of a 20 min AMRAP, something happens in my pre-frontal cortex. I'm not sure, scientifically, what it is that changes. All I know is that the words that I am thinking and saying to myself under what little breath I have, are not born of the English language. One thing is for sure, however, and that is they have deep meaning spiritually. Someday I hope to write this blog in my WOD tongue. I know that only true CrossFitters would be able to decipher it.
3. I sweat way more than the average human.
Seriously, how can my shoes and socks be wet? I'm pretty sure I didn't run through any puddles or wet myself. Or, wait... no. I always take a preWOD peepee.
4. I hate burpees.
It seems that no matter what WOD it is, if there are burpees involved, they suck. I keep thinking when I look at the white board that "this time, the burpees will be my recovery." Idiot. I hate burpees.
5. I'm not as good as I think I am
It never fails. At least once a week I look at the white board and think, "Finally, an easy one. I'm good at all these movements." Hahahahahahaha!
6. I love being part of our community
No matter how I feel coming into the WOD, or how I feel after, I am always thankful for the amazing people in our box. When I look around and see the encouragement, the support, the care for one another, I get choked up. In a world where the majority of people trash one another, find faults, criticize, belittle and even bully, I am so thankful for my CrossFit community. We are changing lives everyday, for the better.
Even mine.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Making It Look Easy
The Winter Olympics are just a few weeks away and my excitement continues to build. To me, there are few stages in life that represent the culmination of hard work, dedication and sacrifice like the Olympic Games. Of course, my favorite competition in the games will be the hockey venue, but there are also other events that hold my attention. Events like figure skating, skiing (moguls and giant slalom particularly) and snowboarding events will also make their way onto my DVR.
My enjoyment of these sports is based on my admiration of the athletes' abilities to execute some of the most dangerous, intricate, challenging and complex movements, perfectly.
As with our daily work in CrossFit, Olympic athletes push their minds and bodies to the edge of "what's possible" for strength, speed, agility, balance, accuracy, power, endurance, etc. in pursuit of personal best performances. While I admire the accomplishment of winning a medal, I am more focused on the execution of the task at hand.
Growing up an athlete, I can remember my father and I watching the Olympics together and hearing him say, "Boy, he sure makes it look easy." For many years now, that concept has stuck with me as the greatest athletes, no matter what their sport of choice, make their performance look easy.
But, how is it that triple sow-cows, reverse 360 flying squirrel air and racing down a mountain at 70 mph on toothpicks can be made to look easy? Well, while there are many facets to the perfect execution of movement, the art of making it look easy is seated deep in the psyche of the athlete. It is the combination of confidence and faith, both of which are derived from countless hours of practice, repetition, training, visualization and preparation. The end result is a performance that is masterful, graceful and inspiring.
In CrossFit, we too, have the opportunity to make it look easy. Yes, we can wrinkle our faces, grunt, groan and yell, but, in the end, which athlete ends up with more eyes on her? The one that is making it look easy. When there is precision and accuracy in the movement, moving large loads long distances can be made to look, well, almost artful and graceful. It is for this grace in which we strive.
At some point in our earthly development, we open our minds to the realization that life is about energy. Energy we spend and energy we conserve. To exude struggle, turmoil and pain is work and requires copious amounts of energy and is the classic sign of the neophyte, or amateur. Not only in sport, but in life as well. We all know when the average person is struggling. They express it physically and verbally in everything they do and with everyone they encounter. The same is true with athletes. The amateur wants everyone to know how hard they are working, how much they are sacrificing and how great their struggle. The amateur has bought into the notion of spending energy so that if I look like I am working hard, struggling and battling, then I must be.
The master, on the hand, has learned the art of conserving energy. There are few signs of struggle or pain in the master's body language, attitude and conversation. The master, in sport and life, has learned the value of making it look easy. Does the master struggle? Yes. Does he have pain? Of course. Is life challenging? Absolutely. However, the master knows that the more energy she can conserve, the better performance she can offer which ultimately leads to reaching more goals.
My challenge for you this week is to work on making it look easy in the gym and life. Pay attention to how you feel at the end of your workout and at the end of your day when you consciously conserve energy, rather than carelessly spend it. Making it look easy is a principle of life that will serve you well all the days of your life.
My enjoyment of these sports is based on my admiration of the athletes' abilities to execute some of the most dangerous, intricate, challenging and complex movements, perfectly.
As with our daily work in CrossFit, Olympic athletes push their minds and bodies to the edge of "what's possible" for strength, speed, agility, balance, accuracy, power, endurance, etc. in pursuit of personal best performances. While I admire the accomplishment of winning a medal, I am more focused on the execution of the task at hand.
Growing up an athlete, I can remember my father and I watching the Olympics together and hearing him say, "Boy, he sure makes it look easy." For many years now, that concept has stuck with me as the greatest athletes, no matter what their sport of choice, make their performance look easy.
But, how is it that triple sow-cows, reverse 360 flying squirrel air and racing down a mountain at 70 mph on toothpicks can be made to look easy? Well, while there are many facets to the perfect execution of movement, the art of making it look easy is seated deep in the psyche of the athlete. It is the combination of confidence and faith, both of which are derived from countless hours of practice, repetition, training, visualization and preparation. The end result is a performance that is masterful, graceful and inspiring.
In CrossFit, we too, have the opportunity to make it look easy. Yes, we can wrinkle our faces, grunt, groan and yell, but, in the end, which athlete ends up with more eyes on her? The one that is making it look easy. When there is precision and accuracy in the movement, moving large loads long distances can be made to look, well, almost artful and graceful. It is for this grace in which we strive.
At some point in our earthly development, we open our minds to the realization that life is about energy. Energy we spend and energy we conserve. To exude struggle, turmoil and pain is work and requires copious amounts of energy and is the classic sign of the neophyte, or amateur. Not only in sport, but in life as well. We all know when the average person is struggling. They express it physically and verbally in everything they do and with everyone they encounter. The same is true with athletes. The amateur wants everyone to know how hard they are working, how much they are sacrificing and how great their struggle. The amateur has bought into the notion of spending energy so that if I look like I am working hard, struggling and battling, then I must be.
The master, on the hand, has learned the art of conserving energy. There are few signs of struggle or pain in the master's body language, attitude and conversation. The master, in sport and life, has learned the value of making it look easy. Does the master struggle? Yes. Does he have pain? Of course. Is life challenging? Absolutely. However, the master knows that the more energy she can conserve, the better performance she can offer which ultimately leads to reaching more goals.
My challenge for you this week is to work on making it look easy in the gym and life. Pay attention to how you feel at the end of your workout and at the end of your day when you consciously conserve energy, rather than carelessly spend it. Making it look easy is a principle of life that will serve you well all the days of your life.
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