Postmortem of today's WOD

We did Collin today, which was 6 rounds of the following (with a 45-minute cap):

- 400m carry (20 lbs)
- 12 push presses (35 lbs)
- 12 box jumps (12")
- 12 sumo deadlift high pulls (35 lbs)

I think it was at the start of the 5th round when I started feeling light-headed but I chugged along and it eventually passed. And once, while doing the carry the coach shouted, "Laya! Stop daydreaming!" I would have laughed if I weren't so winded.

When I started the 6th round around 40 minutes had already passed, and I was thinking that I will DNF (did not finish) again. But no. When I came in the others were still at it even though the 45 minutes had already elapsed, and I felt a sense of dread as I mentally prepped myself to push through. I finished with a time of 48:48.

Oh, and I finally signed up, too! I'm having my first Foundations Class this Sunday. As Mo Twister would say: Good times.

Strength

It's a good thing there aren't any mirrors at the box because I don't think I'd like to see what I look like when I work out.

We did deadlifts today. That's right. We were told to do 5-5-3-3-2-2-2-1-1-1, starting a little light and then going heavier. I was able to do 125 lbs... that's more than what I weigh!

After that the "cash out" was 12 minutes AMRAP of:

5 deadlifts (95 lbs.)
9 box jumps (12")
12 push ups hands off (on my knees)

I was 2 push ups shy of finishing 3 rounds.

Source

So... I guess a lot of angels got their wings today.

Do your workouts make you nervous?

Mine do.

Today was my third time to go to CrossFitMNL and like the other day, I felt butterflies in my stomach when I thought about what we might do today. I wonder if I'll always feel this way about the WODs.

Anyway, today's WOD was Santiago. We had to do 7 rounds of the following (with a 20 minute cap):

- 18 hang squat cleans (I did a modified version using a 15 lb bar)
- 18 pull-ups (I used the green band)
- 10 power cleans (I did a modified version using an 8 kg kettlebell)
- 10 hand stand push ups (I did a modified version kneeling on a box)

There were 4 of us in the group and no one was able to do 7 rounds. How can anyone do 7 rounds of all that in 20 minutes?! I was able to do 3 rounds, and I had it easy compared to the others.

Mini rant

As a single person, one of the most annoying comments I get about my status is, "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" Well, why the heck not? Boyfriends, especially the good kind, don't grow on trees after all. And it's not like I'm not trying to meet new people and do new things.

Whatever God's plans are for me and my son, I know it will be for my good. He knows what He's doing.

Source

Exploring crossfit

Soon after I discovered running, I learned the value of cross-training. I learned that a strong core is essential to becoming a strong runner. One thing led to another and after some research, I came across some tumblr blogs talking about crossfit and how it helps them run strong. At that time I knew we didn't have anything like that in the country but eventually, some months ago, I heard that a box had just opened somewhere in Libis. Then I found out that it's just walking distance from the office... what are the chances, right? It must be a sign.

However, it took a long time before I finally signed up for a trial because I was just too chicken. I used to go to a regular gym years ago, and I knew that crossfit is anything but regular. Anyway, when I finally signed up, I managed to convince my brother-in-law to have a trial as well. So last Saturday afternoon we went and spent the most intense 15 minutes of our lives.

After a quick warmup, the trainer walked us through the workout: 7 reps each of wall balls, pull-ups, box jumps, and burpees for as many rounds as we can in 15 minutes. Sounds simple enough, right? Simple, yes. Easy? No. And man was it tough. I almost gave up after just 2 rounds. But somehow, thanks to one of the guys there who never stopped pushing and motivating me, I managed to do 4 rounds. During those 15 minutes, all I was focused on was getting it done. There was no room in my brain to think of anything else... and THAT's the kind of workout I love. They don't have mirrors there so I didn't waste time checking how I looked and if my hair was ok (I'm a girl like that). And in the end I didn't care anymore what I looked like. Didn't matter that my face was probably red and my tongue was hanging out and I was panting from the exertion. I was just happy to be done.

And so I'll definitely be signing up after I use up those vouchers I bought on dealgrocer. Meanwhile, here's an inspiring video of the recently concluded CrossFit Games 2011.

Confidence

By Patrick Cummings

I am a lifeguard on an ocean of potential

I rescue success from the depths of fatigue,

breathe life back into lungs like arrows from muted tongues

I am both singular and in unison

I can be ignored like cloud cover, sold like medicine

I can be spit out like oil spills and cleaned up like apologies

I am a stray tornado at the bulkhead of your basement breath

and I am wondering if you will let me in

You can tell them later how the radio of your mind came clear

like a car exiting a tunnel,

how standing back up felt like drowning in reverse

When the jackhammer in your chest settles,

tell them how you were pulled back into the boat of possibility,

how you took the oars and you found the shore,

how you listened to the voice inside when I whispered,

"more, more, more"

until I was quiet like satisfaction and still like pride