It’s the Climb (SOLSC 22/31)

 

I sent a message to my CrossFit coach from the top of the Verona arena:

“Box step ups coming in clutch yo.”

I climbed each one of them.  It was made my easier by my work with CrossFit for two years.  My efforts were rewarded at the top by a beautiful view of the Verona streets below and a grand view of this ancient structure. It was not graceful like the stairs I had climbed just an hour earlier in the Palazzo della Ragione, but I was certainly much more proud of myself.  

 I snapped a photo and sent it to my coach.  She replied shortly before I began my descent:

Left: beauty stairs, Right: beast stairs

 

It's A Small World (SOLSC 10/31)

I was reminded today that not every person is a Disney fan.

Sometimes at our gym we do a partner workout.  This is where instead of going at the workout by ourselves, we split the work with a partner.  This also means that when we have our times or number of reps on the board we are also usually given a team name.

Today, our coach suggested Disney as a theme for team names.  I added that we should specifically do Disney songs.  She agreed, but then I was shocked to hear many of my fellow CrossFit friends not able to come up with a name.  

"I can't think of any Disney songs!"

What do you mean you can't think of any?  I thought before proceeding to name at least two other teams with songs like "Beauty and the Beast" (the partners were a guy and a girl) and "Be A Man" (a team consisting of two guys and a girl).

What was my team's name?  "Poor Unfortunate Souls."

Falling Short (SOLSC 4/31)

 

The last day of the CrossFit Open was not the triumphant high I had hoped to end on.  I got stuck on the first section (wall walks) and that meant I could not move on to the other sections of the workout that I might have been better suited for.  

I struggled.  I got frustrated.  I cursed and cried.  I walked away.  I couldn't make it past the first round.

I can't decide if I am upset because I tried my best and still fell short or because in walking away a part of me feels like I gave up.

There are two things I am taking away from this experience:

1. I am grateful for my CrossFit friends, community, and coaches.  They were quick to congratulate me on my efforts and work that I have put in up until now.  They cheered me on, even when I wasn't feeling like I deserved those cheers.  I am so glad I have the gym that I do, because I think it would be so easy to give up if I didn't have that support system in place.

2. This is not the end of my journey, but a stepping stone.  I can start here, at two wall walks completed, and push myself to grow stronger and get better in time for next year's open or the open after that.  Heck, I may have an opportunity to try again as early as Monday with a better scaling option or at least more guidance on how to get my attempted reps to count!  

It's only quitting if you stop trying.  I have to keep showing up and do the work.

Today's slice was brought to you by another Teach Write Daily Writing prompt.

Open (SOLSC 3/31)

 On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I roll out of bed at 4:45 AM to attend a 5:00 AM CrossFit class three minutes from my apartment.  When I tell people this they are surprised -- how do you wake up that early?  

It's the only time I can make work for going to the gym.  A 6:00 AM class would not be practical to get me to school/work and attending in the evenings would likely result in me skipping more than attending.  At the end of the day I just want to go home.

Which leaves me with waking up for a 5:00 AM.  I like the 5:00 AM class -- they're energetic and now that I've attended for two years I know most of them pretty well. I also like the boost of energy it gives me most days.  I definitely feel better on the mornings I work out.

I enjoy deadlifts (I can lift 205 lbs) and back squats (195 lbs) the most.  I enjoy the bicycle and wall walks the least.

Today, I will step into the gym in the evening for one last round of our CrossFit Open.  It's a competition of sorts, but for me it's more about seeing my own personal progress in fitness and not necessarily scoring against other competitors.  

We've been having the Open for the past two weeks now and the first day of it the owners of the gym had a professional photographer come and take pictures.  They did this last year as well.  They are often finding little ways to make working out more fun.  The photographer saw me, remembering last year's Open and how he had taken a picture of me "flying" as I did a box step up.

I wonder what he'll say about the picture this year?