Start Today!!

July 25, 2012

This morning at the gym was another fantastic WOD, but one of the things that stuck out to me most was the skill/strength session. This morning it was “death by hand release pushups.” I have explained this before, but in case you forgot a “death by” workout is one rep in the first minute, 2 in the second, 3 in the third… and so on until you can not successfully complete the amount of reps in one minute of time. Typically when you know you can do 10 reps of whatever the exercise is, you do the sets adding 2 to each minute, so 2 the first minute, than 4, 6, 8 and so on. When you first start out it seems really easy, one rep of most exercises in 60 seconds leaves you plenty of “rest” time for the rest of the minute, however when you get to the 8, 9, and 10 sets you are usually working back to back, so it can be very difficult.

All of the CFW athletes (and crossfit athletes in general) work really hard, and its only natural that the people you WOD with daily or even just a few times a week become those you know the best. We all share in each other’s PR’s and do our best to push and encourage each other whenever we can. It feels just as awesome to see someone who you know is kicking ass on a daily basis reach a goal that they have been shooting for, or help to encourage them to PR. What got me about the skill session is what I heard JM say in the middle of it. She started up CFW back before the Opens and has been flying high surpassing goals left and right, accepting challenges and really kicking ass in general ever since. We WOD together a few days a week and really enjoy the challenge we present to each other as well as cheering on, encouraging and pushing where we know we need it.   

Anyway, in the middle of the skill session as she and I were working doubling the HR pushups (2, 4, 6, 8… so on) I heard her say to M, “I remember when I couldn’t even get to 10, and that wasn’t a very long time ago.” It made me smile on the inside. That right there is the whole reason why crossfit is awesome. I hope she dosent mind me sharing this publically, because I honestly feel the exact same way. There are days I sit back and think of my first few WODs and even WODs just months ago. I am doing things I never thought I would be doing and getting better at accepting the “suck” and pushing past the uncomfortable spot and overall getting better at everything at the same time. There we both were this morning doubling the work of our death by sets… working towards getting 18 reps in a minute… not 10… 18!! That’s a huge improvement and it feels amazing to look back and think that the only person that got me where I am is me. My dedication, my work and my sweat! What makes it even more amazing is that she is sharing in her excitement for her own accomplishments as well and that gives me the warm and fuzzies too!!

The long and short of it is that you can not get where you want to be unless you start. Too many people say “I cant” or “I don’t have time.” Than in the next breath they are looking for a way to reduce their tummy fat, or wish they could get down to the next size smaller pant size. Well, if you WANT it, you have to go get it. Why wait and start tomorrow. Start today and put in the time, put in the dedication, you will have results! It dosent have to be crossfit, but understand that if you do nothing, you will see no results. Wanting to be a certain way is not enough, doing it will make it happen. The cool part about the accomplishments you see in CrossFit is that you know every is working hard for their PR’s. Its like once you start, you cant stop. You crave getting better, you crave lifting more and you want to know how you can get that way. Its fantastic to see and witness someone like JM hitting those milestones, gaining confidence with every day and hearing her excitement about it. It makes me want to get better and push harder and feel those feelings everyday!!

I made a choice. I stopped saying "tomorrow." I pass on the chocolate cake and fried food. I believe in myself and my goals. I am so unbelievably proud of myself and it makes every struggle worth it.

WARMUP:

3 Rounds

- 20 Double Unders

- 5 Pullups

- 10 Pushups

- 15 Air Squats

Pigeon Stretch (2 min each leg)

Group: SDHP

WOD: Adhesion

21-15-9

SHDP (75)

Box Jumps (24")

(4:51 Rx)

SKILL/STRENGTH:

Death by HR Pushups

(2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, missed 18 by 2)

.