CrossFit: Beauty in Strength

I’ve been involved with Crossfit for almost two years. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. Those weeks, turned into years now— have just flown by. Why get involved? You’re going to get proud of what you can do. What your body can accomplish.

What the hell? Who knew I could flip a freaking tractor tire! I swear, it’s all mental. It wasn’t even that difficult. It was just getting the proper form, and getting over that mental barrier that it’s a tractor. I couldn’t do it during the warm up, but when it was time to compete I flipped it no problem.

I’m enjoying running again. Before our warmups at CrossFit we almost always have to do a 1k run. It makes for easier runs with my co-worker, L. We’ve ran a lot this summer!

Like I said before, why I chose CrossFit over an ordinary gym. CrossFit changes daily. You’re always working different muscle groups, there’s no time to plateau. Plus, I love going there because I feel like the people who go to CrossFit makes for a warm and friendly environment. People are always welcoming and smiling there (pre-workout, haha).

Yes, it takes a lot of hard work. CrossFit is difficult, but it’s fun and absolutely worth.

See my older posts about CrossFit:

I have one more video to share. It’s my fellow #FitFluential Ambassador friend Scott Thompson from Your Inner Skinny. He’s also from the East Coast of Canada, living away from home. He shared this video with us all the other week. Great motivation, I got goosebumps watching it:

 What are you doing to better yourself? This is #MyBetter.

This is a box of goodies that Sport Chek sent over to me, ever so generously. I opened it last Wednesday evening after my 10pm soccer game. That’s way past my bedtime, by the way! lol

It involves a bunch of goodies that I can incorporate into my favorite sports: climbing, CrossFit, soccer, and running. I’m excited to talk more in depth about the new items I received. Mostly about the Zoots. They’re triathlon sneakers that are to be worn without socks. When I opened the box, my Boyfriend (a 4th time Ironman Canada finisher) kind of chuckled at the fact I even asked for Zoots, seeing how I have absolute zero interest in ever finishing a Triathlon.

To be honest, I had two options picked out when I was speaking with the folks at Sport Chek. Another pair of Nike Free Run’s, or try something completely different: Zoots. My boyfriend owns a few pairs already so I know that they’re a great shoe, by the way he speaks about them, and wears them to his races. I can’t wait to elaborate more on them.

Uh oh – gotta go, see you soon where the flowers bloom ;)

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My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 28)

I don’t know why I named my weekly workout schedule “My CrossFit Journal” because sometimes I skip CrossFit for a week. Like this week for instance, I went just once to CrossFit (Thursday night) because I was so bloody sore from the insane Murphy Challenge the prior Saturday morning! My lats and biceps felt like they were going to rip right off, for days.

I came out of soccer “retirement” last Wednesday night. I was invited by my CrossFit coach to join their new co-ed team and start up in the indoor league. Let’s start with that:

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year 1, week 28, day one. Soccer!!!

Our first soccer game started at 10:00pm this night. I showed up to the indoor field at 9:30pm and not a soul was around! I was surprised, as I thought some people would want to warm up a bit before the game. 10 minutes later, people started slowing pouring in. We started the game a bit late because there weren’t any ref’s (nor will there ever be, in this league I don’t think – very laid back).

I forgot how fast paced men are with their foot work. I felt like I had to work extra hard to show my team what I was capable of. We ended up winning 2-0.

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year 1, week 28, day one

GWOD/WOD

3 Rep Max Deficit Strict HSPU
*12 minutes to establish

My CrossFit coach had a few of us practice getting up in the air for the hand stands. Apparently I was getting the hang of it pretty quickly. He then told me to stay up in the handstand for 5 seconds. I stayed up longer, which he saw. Then said for me to move forward once again and start doing the beginning of handstand push ups. SO SCARY but SO FUN!!! I ended up using 3 ab mats and just bending my arms ever so slightly. I did it a few times in a row, so it’s just now getting the depth in.

I asked my Boyfriend on Saturday afternoon if he wanted me to show him what I was capable of. I didn’t try to dip down whatsoever, but kept the handstand pose while he took a photo of me.

AMRAP 12
3 Ring Dip
6 Hollow Rocks
9 Box Jumps (30/24)

This workout was tough. I ended up using a 16″ box with a ton of weights on it to make it 24″, but it ended up being 25″ somehow. My hips were quite sore after this workout, so I decided to listen to my body and make it the last workout of my week. I did 9 complete rounds, I think. Either that or I was just finishing it up. I forget.

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Not-So Wordless Wednesday

These are MY sports. I enjoy what I do, and luckily it doesn’t ever feel like a chore. This is #MyBetter

  • Climbing: Since 1995— check out my very first belaying card (the white one was my first lead belay)!
  • Soccer: Since I can remember
  • Running: I started up “for real” in 2008/2009
  • CrossFit: Just passed my 1½ year mark
  • Hiking: whenever my boyfriend and I travel out West. 

Speaking of soccer. I’m officially coming out of soccer retirement tonight. I was invited by my CrossFit coaches to play on their new co-ed indoor soccer league this winter. Soccer is the only sport that makes me sick to my stomach nervous (besides signing up for running races), until I get on the field.

I think I’m going to hurl. We got our schedule on Monday and it’s pretty jam-packed from September-March. The reason why I get nervous with soccer, is because I know what I’m capable of, and if I don’t play to my full potential I get annoyed with myself. I know, it sounds so ridiculous and you’d think I’d get over it with time, and sometimes I do. But I haven’t played in about a year and I hope I can show my team mates how I can do, tonight.

How do you stay active?

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