having fun doing what i do.

I know, I know... its been a while! To my hundreds of followers, I am very sorry ;)

So, considering this blog has become 98% about CrossFit, I see it only fitting that I write about my first competition. As most of you know, I participated in the women's intermediate class at the Next Level Invitational two weekends ago. I have been training to compete for several months now, and this was my opportunity to get out there and experience what its like.

It turns out that when something new (and perhaps a little scary) is a safe distance away, its easy to imagine oneself prepared and calm and in control when the time comes. This is how I was feeling up until the Monday before the NLI. I don't know what happend to me, but the five days before the competition I lost myself and I couldn't seem to pull it together, though I was trying. If I had a regular "that time of the month", this would have been it. I was super emotional and irritable and I wanted to eat lots of ice cream (maybe that last one is not so out of the ordinary). The point is, although I had been training my body and my mind for months and was as ready as I could be, I suddenly didn't feel ready. My fears of failure and letting other people down started creeping back in, and I was having a very hard time remembering why I am doing this.

Not helping my situation, Steve tapered my workouts the week before the event. I had seriously convinced myself that he just wanted to make me miserable. Tapering is hard... much harder than I thought it would be. I guess I believed that my body needed it, but mentally, the decrease in intensity and volume of my workouts made me feel lazy and detached. And the fact that I was having to do something different was causing me to make this competition a bigger deal than it needed to be. By Friday I was about to break into tears at any moment. Thanks to the encouraging words of Carrie, who I've been training alongside since the beginning, and Steve, reminding me that I'm more than capable and that this is just for me to get experience and have fun, I was finally feeling ready for Saturday. My primary goal was to have fun and do what I do.

But enough about the pre-game. I just wanted you all to know that kicking ass does not come so easily for me ;) So Saturday morning, I had all of my stuff ready to go, and I met Carrie at the OC Fairgrounds where we checked in, set up our stuff, and started warming up. The first half of the workout included a 2 rep max snatch, a vertical jump, a 60 meter shuttle sprint, and max pull-ups without leaving the bar. My heat went around 8:30. When I walked out to the bar, my amazing gym family was there in the stands cheering me on, and I felt an overwhelming sense of support and peace. I wasn't nervous at all... just focused on doing the task in front of me the best that I could. I PR'd on my lift, which felt good, and made it through the other tasks without falling on my face. I was placed 35th out of 50 women.

The afternoon events were much more cardio intensive. Find a 1 rep max deadlift, perform 3 rounds of 3 clean and jerks at 95# and 6 broad jumps, then max burpees in 4 minutes, max meters on a ski erg in 4 minutes, max double unders in 4 minutes, and 30 knees to elbows then a 500 meter run for time. I felt much less anxious about the deadlift than the snatches. I lifted 260 pounds... 9 pounds more than my previous max only a couple weeks prior. The clean and jerks felt surprisingly light, and the other parts of the workout were more a matter of pushing through the pain than anything else. I knew that I could do the movements, I just had to move fast. Going through each 4 minute segment was an interesting experience. I was present in the moment, but at the same time, my mind was somewhere else... i was in the zone and just let my body do what it had to do. I almost made it through all of the events without falling on my face, but on my run, someone walked right into me as I was rounding a corner and I hit the ground pretty hard. Adrenaline got me up fast and I probably only lost a few seconds. No real harm done, just a decent sized bruise on my hip.

At the end of the day, I moved up to 15th place. I am happy with that, but honestly could have finished at the bottom and still would have felt amazing. It was an incredible experience (fun even) and a huge hurdle for me to get over. I am proud of myself for not quitting. I know that I have a lot to learn yet and many things to improve on, but every day (good or bad) I am moving forward. As I sit here now, I can't help but be so thankful that I get to do this, that Jeff is so supportive, that my community is so encouraging, that my coach pushes me to be better, and that I am capable of so much more than I ever would have imagined. I think we all are.

to watch a video of the event... my friend Chris put this together: nlp invitational

Overcoming myself.

Ok, only five days until my first CrossFit competition. Up to today, it has felt far off... but I have started to get those dreadful waves of nervousness accompanied by the little negative voices in my head. I was back in the gym this morning after the long weekend at home for Thanksgiving, and it was harder than I anticipated. Much harder. This is not because I slacked off all weekend... because I didn't. I'm not entirely sure why it was so hard. It was cold. My shoulder has been bothering me again. I ate less paleo-ish the past few days. None of which are good excuses for not being willing to give my best this morning. Mostly it is just one of those days where its that much harder for me to focus and get my mind where it needs to be. Its frustrating because I have felt good (physically and mentally) the past few weeks, and I want this last week before the competition to be just as good, better even.

Maybe its not just one of those days. Honestly, it is most likely my fear of failure and looking like an idiot in front of people that is getting to me, now that Saturday is getting closer and closer. Yes, this is definitely it.

Regardless, the way I see it, I have a decision to make today. I can choose to let my insecurities and fear get the best of me and go into Saturday unprepared and already mentally defeated, or I can choose to focus and get my mind right so that I will be ready to give everything.

To get my mind right, I had to go back and read through my document of stuff that inspires me. The quote that speaks the most to me today comes from a blog that I follow of a CrossFitter/Oly lifter, Sage Burgener. Her brother wrote her an incredible letter a while back that she shared on her blog. I have read it many times, but this is what I needed to hear today:

"...you have to be comfortable with the possibility that you may succeed tremendously, or fail miserably (in terms of winning and losing). The important thing is that you committed, and you did everything you could to make it happen. Trust me, if you do that, the thoughts about winning and losing seem to almost disappear. It's about overcoming yourself, and pushing yourself to become greater than you were the day before, that's what really matters."

I have committed and I have been working hard. I may finish last. I may miss a lift or trip and fall on my face. I may even do really well. What is most important to me is that I do the very best that I can do for me... that I don't settle for mediocrity, that I don't stop pushing hard, that I overcome myself. Giving up is the only thing I would regret. With that said, I am choosing to kick fear in the face and do what I need to do this week so that I am ready for Saturday. Starting... now.

Tabata love?

If you do CrossFit, then you know all too well the meaning of "Tabata". I would describe it, but I think coach Dan John does a better job than I would:

"This training method is so simple, yet so incredibly difficult, that athletes tend to try it once, acknowledge its greatness, and then vow to never speak its name again. What is it? It's simple: take one exercise and perform it in the following manner:

1) For twenty seconds, do as many repetitions as possible.

2) Rest for ten seconds

3) Repeat seven more times!

That's it! You're done in four minutes! Oh, and that thing you're trying to brush off your face? That would be the floor."

This month I have been doing a Tabata set four days a week on the rowing machine. I row for 20 seconds, rest for 10 and do this a total of 8 times. I am supposed to hit a certain split time on the rower each 20 seconds and hold it till the end. It's pretty painful. The first 2 rounds feel great, 3-5 are okay, 6 is where I tend to lose a little bit of my mental toughness, and 7 and 8 hurt like hell... like everything is shutting down. Although I don't particularly like doing these little gems, I am told that they will improve my work capacity and probably some other stuff, if I really push myself hard on them, so this is what I am trying to do.

Like most things CrossFit, my Tabata rows are giving me more than a workout. Each time I sit down on that rower, there is this crazy mental battle going on. I'm not crazy, but I have voices. One voice is easy on me and full of excuses. It says, "Just take it easy today. You had a hard workout last night. You aren't feeling very well." Another one is negative, "You aren't going to make it. You're not good enough. Just quit." And the last one, which I try my hardest to listen to, says things like, "You can do it. You are good enough. Forget everything else and focus. Don't give up. Just go!" When I start to pull, if I'm listening to anything besides my Go voice (and Eminem... :), I'm likely not going to hit my split time.

I am learning a lot about myself in this training process. I am painfully aware of my physical as well as mental weaknesses. Though the Tabata rows are hard, I am strangely thankful that I have to do them four days a week. Each time, I have an opportunity to be better, to practice ignoring the negative voices, and to hit my split time all 8 rounds (which hasn't happened yet, but I know it will). Some days are good, some days are not so good, but each one is another chance to push hard and do better and learn something.

3, 2, 1, Go!

being where i need to be.

Last week I was really feeling the impact of the volume and intensity of my CrossFit training. I realized that I was starting to lose some focus. I would show up and do my exercises and whatever was programmed for me to do, but I couldn't seem to get myself mentally present or ready. It must be said that when the body shows up but the mind stays home, the workouts are waaaaay harder.

Last Thursday, I was thinking about all of this quite a bit... just about how difficult it is to be intentional in all aspects of my training... from the physical therapy exercises and drilling to the strength pieces and met-cons, not to mention in what I eat and how much sleep I get. However, I realize that being intentional is necessary if I want to be a better athlete and accomplish my goals. Aside from being intentional with my actions, I am learning how important it is for me to be intentional with my thoughts (even more so probably). I guess I have started getting comfortable with being just pretty good or only giving 80 percent and letting that be enough for me or making excuses if it wasn't. Its hard to be "on" all of the time.

A few months ago, I started a document on my computer of various articles, quotes, poems, and youtube videos that challenge and inspire me in one way or another. I was reading through some of this stuff today and came across this quote from a Gym Jones article by Mark Twight: "You must want (or need) to be where you are, doing what you are doing. If you can't pay attention or if you don't want to work hard, don't bother showing up to go through the motions. Nothing is gained by doing one thing with your body and another with your mind." This really hit me. Don't even bother showing up. That is pretty powerful. If I just decided to not show up for my workout tonight, it would look like quitting... it would be no secret because I would physically not be there. Steve and the others would notice. Its easier to fly under the radar and "fake it" when I show up physically but not mentally. But Twight says, "don't even bother... nothing is gained." I can't deny the truth of this. Even if no one else knows, I know, and my growth will be stagnant.

That said, I am making an extra effort to be where I need to be this week. I am trying to be more intentional in my actions and in my thoughts. It is not easy, and I will likely fail multiple times, but I'm going to take it one day at a time because this is the commitment I have made.

Time to go work out!

i like mustaches (but that has absolutely nothing to do with this post)

I have kept a journal for a long time. Its mostly a prayer journal where I write my thoughts to God. Its an on and off thing. Lately, I have been typing my journal entries because I can write my thoughts faster and because my hand doesn't cramp up.

Every so often I like to look back in my journal to what I was doing and thinking about on this day last year. I did this today. I was in Mumbai, India. It was the second to last day of my trip, on which I got really sick. I was ready to come home. I went to India with another girl from the non-profit organization I spent a lot of time volunteering for (International Princess Project). I have traveled a fair amount to other countries... Mexico, Thailand, Guatemala... but India is a whole other thing. Its crowded, hot, full of funky smells, and cows in the middle of the road and crazy drivers. Its a little overwhelming to say the least. I had always been so certain that if I was single, I would be off living in some third world country doing who knows what... eating with my hands and walking around in the dirt barefoot or something like this. I tend to glamorize things... which can be good sometimes, but more often can lead to disappointment. I learned a lot on my trip to India. I was reminded how easy and comfortable my life is compared to so many. Yet sometimes I think its harder to live here in Orange County, Ca because there are so many distractions. Its so easy to get caught up in little things that don't really matter. I am easily distracted from living a purposeful life. I have good intentions, but quickly find myself sitting on my butt wondering what I should do now.

A couple weeks ago my wise coach asked me what I really want and what am I doing to get there? To be completely honest, I haven't thought about this question all that much until today. What do I really want? There are several things that quickly come to mind. I want to love what I do... career wise I mean. I want to help people be healthy and happy with who they are. I want to be stronger and faster in my CrossFit workouts and want to compete. I want to be a good wife. I want to be a mom... someday. I want to be more patient and generous. I want to have fun and laugh a lot and be grateful. I want to have more faith in God and his plan for me. Maybe these things are a bit broad... specifics can be scary. I think they require more commitment. But this is a start.

Now, what I am I doing to get what I want? Eeek... this is the hard part. As far as loving what I do... this has been a long work in progress. I do love CrossFit, so this is the direction I see myself going, but I lack confidence in my knowledge and coaching abilities, which makes it hard. But I'm doing it and I'm learning... however, I know there is more I can learn to be better and more confident. This goes along with helping people be healthy and happy :) To be stronger and faster... well, I'm working out and am pretty sure I'm getting stronger and faster. Again, the hard part is believing in myself... that I can do it and even beat people. I'm signed up for what I would consider my first real CrossFit competition on December 4th. My goal is give it everything I've got and not quit... and try to have fun despite the nervousness. Be a good wife... I fail daily, but thankfully Jeff is very gracious. This may sound dumb, but something I've been doing lately is ask Jeff if its okay if I go on Facebook before I do... so he knows I'm thinking about him and... okay, I told you it was lame, but I think maybe he appreciates it. Be a mom... I said someday, so not really working on this one yet :) Be more patient and generous... also a constant work in progress. I've been doing pretty good at having more fun lately and this probably has to do more with the people in my life than with me, but I'll take it. As far as laughing, we all know I laugh the hardest at my own jokes, so I guess I'll just keep being funny... thats an easy one! Have more faith in God. For me this means making time for God in my day... to read, pray, be still. Its hard, but I am working on it. I started reading Oswald Chambers again. Its short, thoughtful, pretty spot on. It at least gets me thinking about God in the morning and ideally helps me to be more aware of him in the various things I do throughout my day.

So, thats what I'm doing. Its not much, but its a start. And I didn't go into all of the nitty gritty, because that would make this already long blog even longer. What do you really want? What are you doing to get there? Think about it.

Peace out homies.

deep-ish thoughts

I have a tendency to let things (aka my emotions) build up... I may think that I am doing just fine, but then one day it hits me like a ton of bricks... I start to question my life... relationships, job, future and wonder what I'm doing and where I'm going. I spill out my thoughts to Jeff usually... and feel temporarily better (he may feel temporarily worse :), but don't really change anything, and go through this cycle again and again. Its exhausting, really. Last week, I think this kind of happened. Not in an overly emotional way so much, but I just got tired of how I have been somewhat checked out... going through the motions... or in some cases, not even doing that anymore. I've been selfish. Plain and simple.

I have been thinking more about my relationship with God lately. I don't know what about exactly, just that I know I need more of him. I know that when I am making space for God to be a part of my day that everything else seems to fall into place a little better. I am more peaceful and have more grace with myself and with others. I am more trusting that my life is in his control... that there is some sort of a plan in place.

I don't know why it surprises me, but whenever I surrender myself, even just a little bit and make myself more open to God, he seems to appear... in things that I read, in conversations that I have, even in TV shows. This has already been happening for me. It may sound corny, but Jeff and I finally got caught up on Glee this past weekend, and there was an episode that touched on religion quite a bit. There was a particular line in there from Sue's sister with Down Syndrome that really hit me: "God doesn't make mistakes." I guess I needed to hear this because the tears started welling up. God doesn't make mistakes. I heard this as, "Linds, you're all right"... and that was very comforting at that moment.

For whatever reason, I decided to pick up this book the other day that my mom gave me a long time ago and I have been slowly reading through one little chapter at a time. What I read yesterday was this: "Nothing good comes easily. You have to lose things you thought you loved, give up things you thought you needed. You have to get over yourself, beyond your past, out from under the weight of your future. The good stuff never comes when things are easy. It comes when things are all heavily weighted down like moving trucks. It comes just when you thought it never would..." (Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist). I always want things to be easy... who doesn't? As usual, I can relate this to CrossFit. Getting stronger and faster and more confident as an athlete doesn't come easy... it requires that I give up some of the things that I want (or think I want)... but its necessary for my improvement. In life when things are easy, I know that I am not being challenged and not really learning or having to think a whole lot... so I stay in the same place, get lazy, and stop depending on God. I especially like the line in the quote about having to get over yourself. Easier said than done, but a good reminder none the less. Less me = more God = better life. I know this, but how often I forget it.

If you made it this far, please excuse my ramblings that probably didn't make much sense and had no real conclusion.

Becoming...

Do you ever think of yourself as being one way... almost convince yourself that this is who you are because its how you want to be or think you should be... but you aren't really this way? I do. For example, I always think I am such a great bowler. I must have had a couple of good games back in the day... and by that I mean I bowled over 100. Truth is, I'm not really that good at all. Its as if I've blocked out all of my bad games and only remember the two "good" ones. I don't know why bowling came to mind first... I can't even remember the last time I bowled!

Anyway, I was thinking this week about how I tend to think of myself as an adventurous person... willing to try anything. The truth is... I am pretty fearful when it comes to trying new things. I want to be adventurous and spontaneous, but when the opportunity presents itself, I let fear take over. Sometimes its fear of pain, discomfort, or death (probably irrational, but hey). Sometimes its fear of failing or looking like a complete idiot, or fear of what others might think of me. Sometimes its fear that I might become someone else... not in a bad way necessarily, but just different... different than the Lindsay I am used to. Being more adventurous... spontaneous... daring... is something I want to work on. I know that more often than not, when I do what I am afraid of, I am not disappointed. Its freeing and fun.

In many ways CrossFit has helped me become less fearful. Before a workout, my stomach often turns in anticipation of what is to come, but as I get into the workout its almost as if my body just does what it will and its my mind that I have to keep focused. The very moment that I lose confidence and tell myself "I can't" is the moment my body slows down or stops performing or doesn't lift the weight... even though it is perfectly capable.

This morning, my workout included finding my 1 rep max Jerk. My previous max was 99lbs and I wanted to break 100. When I thought that I had, I realized that I added the weight wrong and was only at 97lbs. So when I got to 102lbs, I struggled to get under the weight. I was afraid... of getting hurt, I guess... which is kind of ridiculous since I know I can just drop the weight. Steve asked me, "what thoughts go through your head when you go to lift the weight?"

me: "I dont know."

Steve: "Is it 'Oh Shit!'?"

me: "Yes, actually."

This little realization was helpful for me. If I start a lift without confidence, then it won't be successful. Although I tried changing my thoughts on my following lifts, I continued to fail many times after this. Its hard to change bad habits, and I have many of them. But I did get it... finally, and when I did, it was good. I started with confidence, not fear, and my body followed.

Equally humbling, I was reminded that not every one of my lifts will be a PR. I will often fail; often embarrass myself; often experience pain. As is with life. I am learning that all of these things are a necessary evil to my growth... and hopefully to becoming a better (slightly more adventurous) version of myself.