WODs & Well-Being

May 6, 2013 I thought this would be a great day to start a Monday. Every single Monday I get my butt out of bed and get to the gym, just as I do every other day of the week. Than I get myself to work and log into FB to see what happened after I turned into pumpkin the night before at 9:00, when I disconnect from the "interwebz" for a few hours. More often than not I am greeted with all the cases of the "Mondays" that people post on FB... and yes, I have there too. Sometimes I think we forget that its Monday for everyone... and we all know what thats like. But days like today it kind of got to me. Last night right I broke a tooth while I was eating dinner. Damnit it pissed me off. I just got a crown and I was really mad that the tooth right next to it is the one that cracked. No fault of my wonderful dentist  (no really, I love him and don't blame him, I blame my crappy teeth), but its just plain inconvenient. I wasn't planning on  making a trip to t...

April 25, 2013 What would life be like if everything was “easy” or came natural?   What if anything you wanted to try in life was right there for you to try and there was no work involved in getting there? No worry that you wouldn’t succeed when you tried it for the first time. No question of if you will fail. My personal opinion. Boring. Unrewarding. Lackluster. There is something about doing something I have never done before that just lights a fire inside me. This is especially true when I am asked to do it by someone who has the faith in me that I can do it. I may fail the first time, I may even fail the second time, but I know deep down inside that I will never stop trying until I have accomplished what it is I have set out to do. Risk and challenge are scary things for some people. I was there for a long time myself, living in comfortability. Again, my mind is wondering back and forth from the gym to “life” when it comes to this topic. Will I ever lift that 10lb...

April 16, 2013 WARMUP: 3 Rounds - Bear Crawl - 5 Pullups - 10 Inch Worms - 10 Jumping Squats - 10 Scorpions 1 Minute Shoulder Opener STRENGTH: 5 X 3 Push Press 115, 125, 135 WOD: Chaser 3 Rounds for Time - Run 200m - 10 Front Squats (5:08 Rx) TEAM: 3 Rounds NFT - 20 T2B - 10 GHD - 60 Sec Noes and Toes .

February 22, 2013 Today was an interesting day for me in my training. I was really excited to see that we were going to do 1RM deadlift, as we havent since back sometime last fall. M made it perfectly clear that we were not to "over exert" as we have the open coming up and it takes weeks to come back from a real deadlift 1RM. I have had this arbritrary number of 300# in my head for months, the number that I want to hit for my deadlift. We set my lifts to be 150 for 5, 205 for 3, 255 for 1 than one shot at 300lbs. I failed. You know what... thats ok. I have come to realize that there is so much  more to this whole thing than just numbers. Its so important to be well rounded and have the ability to not only lift a lot but to be able to compete metcons and pull and push my body weight quickly. In the last few months while I have not been focused on the deadlift I added 30+ lbs to my clean and jerk, 20lbs consistently to my snatch and taken minutes off of my times in girl W...

February 18, 2013 The last few days have been all about working together for me. ML and I attacked Love em or Leave em as a pair on Saturday and today at the gym we had a partner rowing WOD. It is so important in a CF box that we all know how to work together, but I really dont think its something that is hard to do. At CF the community is so social and empowering it is hard to not let those around you not influence your workouts. The positive energy and push that comes from even the newest of faces makes for an experience that you cant get anywhere else. No exception today. JM and I paired up and crushed the 4K partner row, alternating every 500m. She has been really kicking butt lately at rowing and was a perfect pairing for my recovering legs from this weekend. One thing is for sure, we know how to push each other. There was no lack of cheering for each other and once we were done we were right over to the remaining athletes to help get them through the WOD. I love the feeling...

February 1, 2013 Cant believe I am going to say this... but I cant wait to be able to run outside again!! WARMUP: 3 Rounds - 1/2 Gym Crab Walk - 5 Inchworms - 10 Abmat Situps - 5 Med Ball Cleans - 10 Back Extensions - 2 Wall Walks Group: Snatch Warmup STRENGTH: 10 Min for Push Press 1 X 8 @ 115 2 X 5 @ 125 1 X 3 @ 135 1 X 3 @ 140 WOD: Row Sprints 6 X 250m with 1:2 Rest (50.1, 49.8, 49.9, 50.1, 50.5, 50.6) .

January 15, 2013 WARMUP: 3 Rounds - 1/2 Gym Bear Crawl - 10 Air Squats - 5 Pullups - 10 Grasshopper - 10 PVC Good Mornings Pigeon Stretch 2 Minutes Ea Leg STRENGTH: Push Press 1 X 8 @ 115 lbs 2 X 5 @ 125 lbs 1 X 3 @ 135 lbs 1 X 3 @ 140 lbs WOD: Row Row 500m X 4 (1:46, 1:49, 1:50, 1:51) .

January 4, 2013 This is such a true statement. Honestly, when you think about it... how could one get where they want to be if they dont try to get there? Sometimes you have to put yourself out there and take a risk in order to achieve the ultimate goal, if you dont take those risks, you may wind up stuck right where you are "comfortable." Taking risks can be scary. You never know what the outcome is going to be. Its so easy to just breeze through life down the middle road. Sure, there are days where you daydream about the "what if's" and the "where I would be" things... but you have to remember why you arent doing those things. What in life happened to make you take the path you wound up taking. Is there any way to get back on the track you lost?  Can you make those "what if" things become reality? It is never to late to be and do what you want...  Keep taking risks, keep pushing towards your goals... who knows where it might take y...

November 26, 2012 WARMUP 3 Rounds - Jump Rope Circuit - 10 Air Squats - 10 Inchworms - 10 Pushups WOD: "Two Pair" 10 Minute AMRAP - 10 Snatches (55) - 10 OH Lunges (25) (8+12 Rx) STRENGTH: 10 Minutes for 5X3 Push Press (85, 95, 105, 125, 145) .

November 19, 2012 22 Days of Thanks 2012 - Day 19 I am thankful for the local food pantry. Tonight I took some time after work to volunteer at the food pantry in Devens MA.My office did this last year and I wrote about my experiences. It was such a eye opening night for me that I really wanted to do it again. This is the same organization that we ran the 5K road race for a few weeks ago. I was thrilled when I found out that I wasnt going to miss the date to volunteer for my trip for Thanksgiving. Again it was one of the most humbling and rewarding things I have been able to take part in. I am really looking forward to heading over there for their Christmas date this year. Already all signed up!   Take a moment to think about your local food pantries at this time of year... and all times of the year.  WARMUP: 3 Rounds - Jump Rope Circuit - 10 Air Squats - 10 Scorpions - 10 Back Extensions - 1 Rope Climb WOD: Open 12.3 18 Minute AMRAP - 15 Box Jumps (20) -...

November 13, 2012 22 Days of Thanks 2012 - Day 13 I am thankful for my boss. I do realize how lucky I am that I can say that. I have an amazing job, an amazing boss and some really great amazing co-workers... WARMUP: Row 500m 3 Rounds - 5 Pushups - 10 Spiderman - 15 Abmat Situps - 10 Shoulder Dislocates - 5 Wall Balls Row 250m WOD: Troth 15-12-9 for time - Chest to Bar Pullups - Clean (105) - Ring Dips (red band) (10:39) SKILL/STRENGTH Push Press 5 X 1 105, 125, 135, 145, 155 (PR), 165 (fail) .

November 5, 2012 22 Days of Thanks 2012 - Day 5 I am thankful for my DVR. I am going to be honest, this one is pretty petty... but I have to throw it in there. I have a few shows that I love to watch and if it wasnt for my DVR, I would never get to see them. I dont even really know what time or day any of the shows are on that I watch in real time! Its nice to be able to curl up on the couch on a Friday night or Sunday morning and catch up on what I missed. Not to mention I get to watch all the shows Hubs cant stand when he isnt home (thats one thing he is thankful for for sure)!! WARMUP: Run 400m 3 Rounds - 10 Air Squats - 10 Pushups - 10 Ring Rows - 10 Abmat Situps WOD: Dirty 30 for time - 30 Walking Lunges - 30 Knees to Elbow - 30 Push Press (35) - 30 Back Extensions - 30 Wall Balls (14) - 30 Burpees - 30 Double Unders - 30 Box Jumps (20) - 30 Jumping Pullups - 30 KB  Swings (1.5 pd) OLY: Clean 1 on the minute for 7 min 110, 125, 140, 145, 150, 1...

October 22, 2012 I am back this morning and ready to go! Its time to sit down and re-evaluate my goals, set new ones and work on the skills that I need to improve upon for the Open! WARMUP: 2X Jumprope Series (5 ea) - Singles - Left Foot - Right Foot - Bell - Ski - Doubles 3 Rounds - 10 Squats - 10 Pushups - 10 Hollow Rocks OLY: 7 X 2 Snatch (7 minutes on the minute) 95 (3), 105 (2), 95 (2) WOD: Escape 1 Round for Time - 400m Run - 100 Push Press (with TABATA clock) 55lbs - 400m Run (8:40 Rx) .

October 4, 2012 Today was another WOW day! I saw this go up and needed to do it. It certainly looked like it was going to be a challenge and thats exactly what I needed. Hubs and I are leaving tonight to Killington to Celebrate our Anniversary so I am going to be away from CrossFit for 4 days. We are going to give it a shot to do something while we are there, but of course you get the best workout when you are at the gym. I think I was actually saying the above quote to myself over and over while I was doing this WOD. It was one of those workouts that chips away slowly and once you get over the hump you just have to keep baring down and pushing to the end. At some point it feels like it will never be over and at another point I would think "all I have left is this this and that, I can do this." At no point did I think I was going to quit or wasnt going to be able to finish, I think I have been past that for a while, but I will say that I didnt think some of the elements...

**Had to post some of the few dates I missed back in June/July for my archive** July 3, 2012 Hubs and I decided to check out CrossFit NEPA in Wilkes Barre PA today! What a great time! We met some really great people and got our asses kicked doing Fight Gone Bad with them! Very cool!  WARMUP: 400m Run 2 Rounds - 10 KB Swings - 10 Pullups - 10 Squat Jumps 400m Run WOD: Fight Gone Bad 3 Rounds - Total Reps 1 Min Wall Balls (14lbs) 1 Min SDHP (50lbs) 1 Min Box Jumps (20") 1 Min Push Press (50lbs) 1 Min Cal Row 1 Min Rest (296 Rx) <--- PR .

October 1, 2012 I have been really happy with all the Oly lifting that I have been doing lately. I typically have my skill sessions on Thursday nights and Saturdays where I work Oly, but M has been adding a lot of group oly every day and there has been quite a bit incorporated into the WODs. I feel like my technique is improving and with M and K able to watch us as we break down the movements slowly it has really been helping a lot. Today we worked 3 stop snatches again. I have been trying to creep up my weight for the skill session slowly than go at the heavier weight during my skill session on other days. I want to be sure to get the technique perfect before going too heavy and not being able to turn back. It always makes me a happy lady to see OH squats in a workout. I realize that probably makes me pretty strange amongst most people. OH squatting isnt really a "favorite" for many. Todays WOD was pretty heavy weight for them, but I was determined to Rx it and I was det...

September 24, 2012 WARMUP: 3 Rounds - Row 250m - 10 Pushups - 10 Good Mornings - 10 Air Squats GROUP OLY: 7X2 Snatch from High Hang 65 (2), 75 (5) WOD: 49er 4 Rounds for Time - 50 Double Unders (first round unbroken) - 10 Push Jerks (95lbs) Rest One Minute - Max Chest to Bars (4, 5, 3, 3) (11:55-13 Rx) SKILL/STRENGTH: - 5X3 Push Press 85, 105, 125, 130, 135 - 50 Hollow Rocks (day 15) .

September 4, 2012 I was having a conversation with a friend on Sunday at a cookout Hubs and I attended about his schedule change for work. This was a difficult adjustment for him and his family, as he went from being the late in the day into overnight worker with his wife (my friend) working early morning into the afternoon to flip flopping roles so he is morning to day and she is evening to late. They have 3 children and working this type of schedule is what works for them so they dont have to put their kids in child care and one of them is always home with them. He said the biggest adjustment is that he was so used to not going to sleep until pretty late and not having to get up as early, to going to bed at 9 so he can get up in time for work with enough sleep. However, he knows... you have to do what you have to do and he might as well embrace it and "learn to deal" because thats the way it is going to be. If he wakes up everyday thinking about how miserable it is to get...

August 25, 2012 Seriously... this was one of the funnest days I have had in a long time! What a great family we have at Crossfit Wachusett! K and M did a fantastic job putting together three great WOD's for us to have an in-house throw down as preparation for the Garage Games in two weeks! What a blast! Great job to all the athletes!! Lots of PR's and lots of new accomplishments and firsts as well!! It was so nice to see some new faces that I havent met yet, so wonderful of you all to come out and play!! Also fantastic to have our friend J come out and throw down with CrossFit Wachusett from his home at Crossfit Center Mass and A from EXP! Love to have so many great people who share the same interests in the same place at the same time! The cookout afterward was also fantastic! Kicking back for some beverages, food and conversation... on the new sidewalk (thank you Fitchburg DPW, haha). Lots of laughs and fun times to go down in the CrossFit Wachusett books! Have I ever...

August 14, 2012   There are plenty of people who voice their opinion on how "obsessed" crossfit athletes are. I have hear it personally and I know I have talked to others that are in the same boat. "We" all know that we are not "obsessed," that we are actually just dedicated to a lifestyle in which we take care of our bodies in not only exercise and food but in the mind as well. I am sure to the naked eye, I have to look like a crazy mess... but I think deep down inside some people just cant understand how some crossfitters can be so dedicated to this life and they wonder why they "cant" seem to find the gusto to do it themselves. I think there is a line. A solid line between being completly OBSESSED with something and being dedicated 100% to achieving a goal. This isnt a "fine line" its a pretty solid thick line that if you understand what CrossFit does and how it works, you can clearly see the difference. Goals in CrossFit are ...