Step Away From the Cake

Today was week 4 of the games. That means there is only 1 more week left in the Open. That makes me kind of sad. This has been a unique experience in many, many ways. First, there is just the competition. When I initially heard about the open I dismissed it. I was not in any physical shape to try and compete with anyone. But the more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me. I've been Crossfitting for 7 months and I've made huge strides in that time. I was thinking I'd be in better shape next year, but then decided to a) see how I stack up against the rest of the old ladies and b) have something to compare next year to. So I signed up. Second, and probably most important, is the camaraderie. Our box does the WOD in waves, someone works out someone scores, so there is a lot of cheering and pushing people on. It's amazing. Then, after all the members are done, the coaches do theirs and most everyone hangs around to watch and cheer them on. It's so amazin...

Before I got sick in February, I had reached a point in Crossfit where everything was a PR. I was constantly breaking my own records and lifting more, doing more, going further. It was awesome. Since I got sick I haven't been able to really get back to that place. I know it takes time, but that's where I want to be. Last night made me feel like I'm back there again. I'm hoping so. Today is 13.4 and I need to get the toes to bar. I have to. Not doing them is completely unacceptable. Every time I woke up last night I thought about them. I did them in my head a 100 times. It has to happen today. It has to. I want this bad....... So I'm off to have a good breakfast and drink lots of water before 9 am. This has to happen today. It will happen today.

Today for the first time since Feb 18th, I felt like myself. On Feb 18th I did the Great Aloha Run and got a blister on my foot. That began a 5 week journey of injury, sickness, and generally feeling like crap. On Tuesday of this week, I came as close as I have ever come to quitting a WOD. In that same workout, I strained a muscle in my shoulder and was out for a day. I went back yesterday and, again for the first time ever, had to do a really modified workout. It's one thing to modify a movement because you can't do it yet, it's another to modify it because you are injured. Hate that.... All day I felt pretty good and had lots of energy. When I got to the box tonight I was determined to do my best. And I did and I'm proud of myself. Tyler: 5 rounds for time: 14 ring push ups (supposed to be muscle ups but I don't have those yet) 21 Sumo deadlift, high pull - 45# (sumo stance, deadlift, pull bar up under chin) Did the rounds in 15:45!!! Very proud o...

My neck was still a little sore yesterday but I went to Crossfit anyway. For the first time EVER, I modified the entire workout so as not to injure my neck/shoulder further. I felt like such a loser but I got through the workout without too many problems. The neck is feeling much better today so that's good. One of the moves in 13.4 this weekend is the above, toes-to-bar. You hang from a bar and swing your legs up to touch the bar with your toes. I can get pretty close, but haven't been able to actually touch the bar with my toes yet. Saturday will be interesting. When I was looking for images I found this one, on a Crossfit site no less, and found it intersting. One of the rules of the toes-to-bar movement is that your toes touch the bar between your hands. That is not what is happening in that picture. I have never seen anyone do it like that. Weird. I was supposed to run yesterday but I didn't and it's possible I may not run today. I think running everyday is...

See that red area on this picture? That's where my shoulders hurt. It's not a pain like something is injured. It's a pain like I worked it. Hard. I'm actually becoming very good at telling the different kinds of pain from Crossfit. I know when a muscle is sore from being worked or sore because of injury. Though in essence they are similar. Anyway, this pain is making it hard for me to sit at my desk and do schoolwork. All I want to do is put my head back and relax. So I'm not going to fight it. I'm going to go to the mall and do some shopping and take it easy today. Hubby wants me to see if I can find some certain cigar brands for him. Not sure where to go for those, but I'll look around. Also, this shoulder pain is giving me a bit of a headache. Still on the fence about Crossfit tonight. Thinking of taking the night off and going tomorrow. Coach warned us last night that it would be pretty tough the next couple of nights. Hmm....what to do.....

I really kind of suck at this move. I'm not great at any move that starts like this (shrugging the shoulders and pulling up the elbows) but this one is really bad because it ends in a squat. This was in the workout last night and it just about kicked my a*s. The full workout was: 20-16-12-8-4 Squat snatches - 45# burpees box jump overs - 12" This about killed me. At one point I was sure I was going to throw up. At 2 other points I was sure I was not going to finish. Absolutely brutal. But I did finish. It took me 27:41, but I did it.  By the time I got home last night, the left side of my neck/shoulder was starting to tighten up.  I showered, put some Cryoderm on it, and took ibuprofen before I went to bed. Both shoulders are sore this morning.  I'm debating about running this morning. I have run for 3 mornings in a row and my workout last night was brutal. These items may or may not be related. So I'm thinking of taking a day off running. Working ...

The muscles used in pull-ups: The muscles used in push ups: The muscles used in a kettlebell swing: That is what I have, a seriously weak upper body. My legs are strong. I have thick, muscular thighs and my calves pop, but my upper body - bleh.... So that's what I'm really hoping to improve through crossfit. I want a toned, well defined upper body. I realize that it's going to take time, and I am getting there. I have muscles in my arms that I never had before. Awesome. Last night's Crossfit workout: 800 m run 40 pull-ups (I did jumping pull-ups and am getting quite good at them) 80 push-ups (I used a low band that helped support my hips) 120 kettlebell swings - with a 25# kettlebell 800 m run There was a 30 minute time cap and I did it in 30:40 - not too shabby. As you can see we worked the same muscles over and over and over and over.....it was brutal. But that's what I need to work on so I'm really not complaining.  I am a little sore thi...

Day 2 of my running journey. I did Week 1 Day 2 of Couch to 5k and rocked it. The timing is the same as Day 1, the only difference is that on the running segments I ran at 6.0 mph. It wasn't that hard. Of course it was only for 60 seconds at a time, but 60 seconds is better than no seconds :) I am working on the Chi Running form. Right now my low back hurts a bit but that is due to the lack of ab muscles - at the moment. I'm excited and glad to be back running again. It feels awesome. Next week, rain or shine, I run outside.

This is what it looks like outside. And as much as I would prefer to run outside, I'm not into this. So it was the treadmill. I did Couch to 5k, Week 1 Day 1. That is 5 min warm-up, 60 secs running, 90 secs walking - 8 times, then a cool down. So you really only run for 8 minutes. I had issues with the sound on my phone though so I ended up walking for 15 mins before the first run segment. But overall it felt really good. I focused on relaxing the legs and letting gravity carry me. I'm definitely a whole lot stronger because of Crossfit. I ran at 5mph and that wasn't very fast at all. I think I can go faster and tomorrow I will. Later I want to stretch out good, maybe do some yoga. I would really like to get a yoga pillow at yogadirect but for now I'll do without. Off to do some chores today.

Today it begins. I am going to get back into running. I am!!! I really do love running, when I'm doing it regularly and it doesn't hurt. For the next 2 weeks I am going to run a little every day. I will start on the treadmill and hopefully by the end of 2 weeks the weather will be nice enough to move outside. I'm planning on continuing this when school returns. I will get up a 4:30, do a little run then get ready for work. I not only know I can do this, I will enjoy it. The problem is getting over the initial pain and agony. I'm thinking that shouldn't take more than 2 weeks. I am starting with couch to 5k and going to just run through it day by day. I want to run again but I also need to build up my cardio. That kind of sucks right now. So I'm off for my first "run" in a long time.