Today I did the Crossfit 16.1 Open workout. I knew what the movements and weights were last night. I spent the evening thinking about what I would do -- scaled or try RX (I normally do scaled*). This was/is my first Open so I really didn't know what to expect. I knew my partner in crime and Crossfit would be there and we had briefly talked about how we were going to tackle this thing.
*RX = as prescribed by Crossfit movement standards.
Scaled = you've altered the movement either by weight or some other method (example: scaling a pullup would mean using a band, or doing a jumping PU etc).
The workout was a 20 minute AMRAP (as many rounds/reps as possible) of…
When the timer started our 20 minute countdown I grabbed the bar and got to work -- one step at a time -- steady Eddie as one of the coaches put it. Got through lunges, the burpees and back to the lunges. Then came the CTB pullups. I grabbed that bar, kipped and pulled - - no rep. My chest didn't make contact with the bar, tried again, again no rep. I missed the bar. My awesome, fantastic, incredible partner in crime and Crossfit (Dave) was cheering me on and saw one tweak I needed to make. When Dave said use your hips and pull at the same time, it just clicked -- I did it. I got through 4 full rounds (and then some) of this AMRAP that's 32 CTB pullups.
After the WoD was complete and I was sitting at desk it dawned on me, that something about competing and setting your mind to do something (or at least TRYING) has power.
*RX = as prescribed by Crossfit movement standards.
Scaled = you've altered the movement either by weight or some other method (example: scaling a pullup would mean using a band, or doing a jumping PU etc).
The workout was a 20 minute AMRAP (as many rounds/reps as possible) of…
- 25ft 95# overhead Walking Lunge
- 8 bar facing burpees
- 25ft 95# overhead Walking Lunge
- 8 Chest to Bar Pullups (CTB)
When the timer started our 20 minute countdown I grabbed the bar and got to work -- one step at a time -- steady Eddie as one of the coaches put it. Got through lunges, the burpees and back to the lunges. Then came the CTB pullups. I grabbed that bar, kipped and pulled - - no rep. My chest didn't make contact with the bar, tried again, again no rep. I missed the bar. My awesome, fantastic, incredible partner in crime and Crossfit (Dave) was cheering me on and saw one tweak I needed to make. When Dave said use your hips and pull at the same time, it just clicked -- I did it. I got through 4 full rounds (and then some) of this AMRAP that's 32 CTB pullups.
After the WoD was complete and I was sitting at desk it dawned on me, that something about competing and setting your mind to do something (or at least TRYING) has power.
Last August my buddy Dave and I were on a team at a local competition that included Rope Climbs and regular pull ups - neither of which I could perform. I worked on them a bit but in the days leading up to the event but I was no where near ready. We devised a plan that would allow us to compete but not depend on me for these movements. Again during the competition when time came for me to perform these movements, something inside just clicked. I was up that rope a number of times and got a few pull ups (I was way more proud of the rope climb than the pull ups). I don't know what changed or what clicked, but I just did it.
In Oct I competed in my first Solo competition (against 2 of my coaches no less). This time it was pullups, and the tire flip that had me stressed. I had never flipped such a large tire and still didn't have my pullups down. The tire went easily enough -- you bend down, pick that shit up and push it over. The pullups were the bane of my existence. I was up on that bar flailing around like a trapeze artist. One of my coaches told me to slow down and cheered some encouraging advice -- bam -- pullup after pullup -- it clicked.
There is just something about competing, the small crowd cheering, being pushed to do your best (whatever that best is) that just does something (in me anyway); makes "it" click. Perhaps it's the mind turning off thought and the body that knows what the hell to do. Perhaps it just taking over and does what needs to be done. The muscle memory from hours of practice? I don't really know, but I do know that it works for me. It makes me a better athlete (which is something I never thought I would be again -- but that's a whole different story).
Now to see if that works for the dreaded double-under!!
In Oct I competed in my first Solo competition (against 2 of my coaches no less). This time it was pullups, and the tire flip that had me stressed. I had never flipped such a large tire and still didn't have my pullups down. The tire went easily enough -- you bend down, pick that shit up and push it over. The pullups were the bane of my existence. I was up on that bar flailing around like a trapeze artist. One of my coaches told me to slow down and cheered some encouraging advice -- bam -- pullup after pullup -- it clicked.
There is just something about competing, the small crowd cheering, being pushed to do your best (whatever that best is) that just does something (in me anyway); makes "it" click. Perhaps it's the mind turning off thought and the body that knows what the hell to do. Perhaps it just taking over and does what needs to be done. The muscle memory from hours of practice? I don't really know, but I do know that it works for me. It makes me a better athlete (which is something I never thought I would be again -- but that's a whole different story).
Now to see if that works for the dreaded double-under!!