My first CrossFit competition

9 months ago I wrote about how scared I was to go to my first real CrossFit class. Today I'm writing about a new milestone--my first CrossFit competition.

There was a lot of anxiety in the weeks leading up to the competition. I've written about how I struggle with cardio and bodyweight exercises like pull-ups, and, while those things have improved, they still aren't good. I was afraid of failing.

When I wanted to bail, I thought back to my first gymnastics competition. I didn't have a bar routine, I didn't have a beam routine, I didn't know how to vault. I had a floor routine, thankfully (making that up on the spot is a little more difficult). I really had no idea what I was doing, and I was afraid. At one point, before the competition started, I walked off the floor and sat with my mom in crowd and told her I wasn't going to compete.

I'm the one in front, not smiling.

I can't remember who convinced me to change my mind, but in the end I decided to go for it. My coach made up routines for me during warm up.

I survived that first competition, and went on to compete in many, many more over the next 10 years. If I could muster up the courage to compete then, I could muster up the courage to compete now. (In the words of Jeremy Clarkson... how hard could it be?)

So I did it. I wasn't the fittest, the strongest, the fastest, the thinnest, or the most experienced. But I finished every single workout and I gave it everything I had. I learned so much and it was actually FUN. (and exhausting. Five WODs in one day can tire you out).

So, results. I was placed in the C division after what my coach kindly called a "slight rookie miscue" in the first event (read: I was nervous and I f*cked up. I went too fast, and ended up failing on a weight that I probably could have done if I'd taken my time). Because of my higher body weight and relatively low score in that event (a 1 rep max thruster), and my low score in the second event (a Tabata workout that involved all bodyweight exercises - pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and air squats), I was placed in the lowest division, where I placed third. It ended up being okay - there was a lot less pressure - but the weights were scaled down a lot, and in most cases I could have done the A division weights. The one exception being a bodyweight front squat, because in order to squat it you have to get it up to the rack position from the floor, and I can't quite clean 177 lbs. (Yet.)

Event 3: 4 rounds for time of 5 snatches (45lbs) and 20 overhead lunges (25lbs)

I didn't get to take advantage of the things I'm better at (strength movements with heavier weights), but it really drove home that I need to work on my weaknesses - bodyweight movements and... ugh... conditioning.

I left feeling excited, energized, and motivated to attack those weaknesses. Watching the other competitors - including my coaches, training partner, and other athletes from CFW - was inspiring. You can see some great pictures on Facebook and you can read about their awesome results on CFW's blog.

On to the next challenge. I've registered for the Open, the first stage of the CrossFit Games. My expectations aren't high - I know I've still got lots to work on - but I'm excited to train hard for the next 3.5 weeks and then see how I stack up against the rest of the world. 

CrossFit Games and chin-ups

The CrossFit Games...totally inspiring. I've never seen anything quite like it.

I've been hearing a lot about how one of the best things about CrossFit is the community. When I went to watch the Canada East Regionals last weekend, I started to see what people meant by that. In the midst of intense competition there was still a great sense of camaraderie, both within teams and between competitors. People cheered just as loudly for the last place team as for the first place team. When someone was struggling to complete a muscle-up, fighting to lock out a snatch, or collapsing on the ground after the grueling event 6, the whole crowd was into it, sympathizing with the struggle and admiring the accomplishment.

Unfortunately, I only managed to take one picture before my BlackBerry died. Here's the arena set up for the men's snatch ladder:

In other news, I suck at chin-ups.

As hoodie mentioned, Tuesday's workout involved chin over bar holds during warm-up and chin-ups (for those of us who can't do rope climbs) during the WOD.

I remember doing many, many chin-ups and pull-ups as a gymnast. Tuesday's workout would have been no big deal. I usually trained for about 16 hours a week (which, for gymnastics, isn't really that much), and strength and conditioning was a part of every workout.

One time, another gymnast REQUESTED more conditioning. I was aghast. I remember my coach saying that when I was older, I'd understand.

And I do! I do understand! The time has come where most of my day is spent sitting at a desk, my metabolism isn't quite as fast, organized, competitive sports have come to an end, and it takes so. much. more. effort to get my butt moving. I never thought I'd be asking for more conditioning, but I am!

Last week, my goal was 4 CrossFit classes, but I only ended up doing 3. Friday morning I had a session with my trainer and by the end of the day my shoulder was extremely sore, so I wimped out and skipped my Saturday morning CrossFit class.

This week, I'm aiming for 4 again: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. I hope I have good things to report next week!

Falling off the wagon

Well, not so much a fall as a stumble.

When you're sitting at a pub and every item on the menu is either deep fried or covered with cheese, it's hard to make a good decision.

Yesterday I gave in to chicken strips and fries. Today I gave in to sesame chicken (which came with two pieces of california roll, two gyoza...well it came with one, but I ate Trudi's too...some salad, and a whole mound of rice. I didn't eat much of the salad), and then at dinner I had a Carolina Dog from Smokin Tony's (that's right. It is a hot dog covered in pulled pork.) with a side of onion rings. That's THREE cheats in two days.

So, time to take a moment to reflect on this.

While it might have tasted good at first, after a few bites it just felt heavy and sickening. My post-pub workout suffered because I was so full. This morning I was upset because the scale reflected exactly what I feared it would reflect -- that I filled my body up with too much garbage.

Time to hit the reset button. As my trainer always tells me, it's not about being perfect. It's about accepting your imperfect decision, learning from it, and not letting it be the norm.

The plan for tomorrow: steak and Brussels sprouts for breakfast, cantaloupe and raw, unsalted macadamia nuts for snacks, salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and kale & ground beef soup for dinner. Lots of water. Maybe a coffee, but only one.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be filled with good, healthy fuel.

Also, I'm SO excited... I'm heading to Mississauga on Sunday to catch the last day of the CrossFit Games - Canada East Regional competition. I've been spending the last few days watching the video explanations of all the workouts and reading articles about the competitors. If that's not motivation to take care of yourself, I don't know what is. These athletes are incredible. Good luck to the CrossFit Waterloo team!!