One Little Victory
Take a look at this video. This was one of my first ever CrossFit workouts (sometime around November 2007). The WOD was called "Terrible Twos" - 2 mins max reps of each: max cals on rower, pullups, burpees, pushups, and squats. It was not kind. I didn't know enough to be afraid. I had a lot to learn, especially about managing my energy. I blew out everything I had in the first 2 minutes, and you can see me hit the wall around 1 minute in. I DID manage to get 40 cals, quite an accomplishment, but I paid for it in the next 8 minutes. Try not to laugh too hard as you see Karissa, Amy and Bryant taunting me.
This experience schooled me. Not only was my performance somewhere between laughable and heartbreaking, it showed me I had a lot to work on.
Fast forward a year and a half later.
I've learned a lot in this time. I've had to throw away everything I ever thought I knew about fitness and start out again from the beginning. It's a humbling experience.
I've identified my weak areas and pushed myself to improve on them, particularly cardio endurance. Outside of our little world, most people find their strong points and only work on them, which is exactly the opposite goal of CrossFit. Our goal is to become well rounded. To be good at everything, rather than excellent at one thing.
That being said, we're all going to excel at some things, and we'll also suck at a few things too. That's just the way it is. I'm 5'6, 150 lbs, and I've come to terms with the fact that I'll probably never row a 1:30 500m. I do, however, believe that I can hit a 400 lb deadlift by the end of the year. I'm getting close.
Because I have a lot of things I'm working on, I'm OK with finding myself on the low end of the spectrum. If I can possibly go Rx, I will, because I'm stubborn that way, even if my times suck. As long as I'm improving in those areas (and I think I am), I'm cool with finishing close to last.
But I gotta say, it's also nice to kick ass once in a while, too. And Friday night, I had my moment.
The workout was
3 rds
36 kb swings @ 24kg
12 HSPU
4 Deadlifts @ 275#
Now when it comes to beating people, I'm very modest, with ONE exception. I always have my sights on beating Richard (.44), - we have a friendly inter-band competition going on. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I win, and we're sure to rub our victory in each other's face. It keeps us motivated. Often times we win or lose by mere seconds.
But I was dealt a strong hand. It turns out that Strength is my strength, and kettlebell swings and heavy deadlifts are things I'm particularly good at.
I knew I'd smoke Richard, that was pretty much a given... but I never planned on beating Marcus!
And never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever beat any of our other firebreathers, like Steve Hon or Brad Shemluck!!! I stand in awe of these guys!
Maybe it was a fluke. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to get a little better at this. We'll see. My lungs ARE feeling a little hot...
Where do you find your strengths? What about your weaknesses? How important is it to you to work on your weak areas? Would you rather trade some skill from your strong areas to balance out your weak areas, or make your strengths even stronger at the expense of your weaknesses?
Click to viewThis experience schooled me. Not only was my performance somewhere between laughable and heartbreaking, it showed me I had a lot to work on.
Fast forward a year and a half later.
I've learned a lot in this time. I've had to throw away everything I ever thought I knew about fitness and start out again from the beginning. It's a humbling experience.
I've identified my weak areas and pushed myself to improve on them, particularly cardio endurance. Outside of our little world, most people find their strong points and only work on them, which is exactly the opposite goal of CrossFit. Our goal is to become well rounded. To be good at everything, rather than excellent at one thing.
That being said, we're all going to excel at some things, and we'll also suck at a few things too. That's just the way it is. I'm 5'6, 150 lbs, and I've come to terms with the fact that I'll probably never row a 1:30 500m. I do, however, believe that I can hit a 400 lb deadlift by the end of the year. I'm getting close.
Because I have a lot of things I'm working on, I'm OK with finding myself on the low end of the spectrum. If I can possibly go Rx, I will, because I'm stubborn that way, even if my times suck. As long as I'm improving in those areas (and I think I am), I'm cool with finishing close to last.
But I gotta say, it's also nice to kick ass once in a while, too. And Friday night, I had my moment.
The workout was
3 rds
36 kb swings @ 24kg
12 HSPU
4 Deadlifts @ 275#
Now when it comes to beating people, I'm very modest, with ONE exception. I always have my sights on beating Richard (.44), - we have a friendly inter-band competition going on. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I win, and we're sure to rub our victory in each other's face. It keeps us motivated. Often times we win or lose by mere seconds.
But I was dealt a strong hand. It turns out that Strength is my strength, and kettlebell swings and heavy deadlifts are things I'm particularly good at.
I knew I'd smoke Richard, that was pretty much a given... but I never planned on beating Marcus!
And never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever beat any of our other firebreathers, like Steve Hon or Brad Shemluck!!! I stand in awe of these guys!
Maybe it was a fluke. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to get a little better at this. We'll see. My lungs ARE feeling a little hot...
Where do you find your strengths? What about your weaknesses? How important is it to you to work on your weak areas? Would you rather trade some skill from your strong areas to balance out your weak areas, or make your strengths even stronger at the expense of your weaknesses?