This was my first "real competition." The other one was for only for first-timer's. I hear this one was open to those across the nation and not just Oklahoma.
Figures.
I signed up for the scaled division, which basically means you aren't strong enough to lift that crazy heavy jazz over you head. This picture above shows my grimace. Think if I would have added another 20 pounds. No thanks, say my tired, achy bones.
The week before the competition we got our workouts. They like to "surprise" us the week before. The first day I knew would be a survival day for me. Nothing was really in my wheelhouse. Meaning heavier lifting and rowing. Oh, how I hate to row. Just give me some burpees and pull-ups and lets call it a day.
My nerves always get the best of me. And even though I had people praying and sending me awesome quotes on courage, I was pretty much a wreck leading up to it. Why I put this pressure on myself I will never know. I still haven't figured out the, "just do it to have fun," piece. But I am slowly getting there.
We walked into the warehouse the morning of and it was an awesome scene. Totally rugged and raw. You thought there might be some underground fighting going on in the next room. I remember stretching and out of the corner of my eye I see some of my Khoppers walk by the window. WHAT??? We are in Tulsa, and an hour and a half away. Why are they here? Yes, my sweet friends surprised me to support and encourage me. And then my bestie Tiffany and her husband showed up to put the warrior spirit in me! Today was a day of survival, just get through it and move on to the next day without being eliminated.
I wrote Pain is Temporary on my leg and it was GO TIME.
WOD 1: Complete as many rounds as possible in 11 minutes of the following:
7 Deadlifts
7 Front Squats
7 Shoulder to Overheads
Wasn't really excited about this as I knew the overhead presses was gonna be hard. But ended up getting 4th in that WOD out of 30 peeps. So I was happy with that.
But most happy that it said KHOP (Kristi's house of pain) by my name as my affiliate. Everyone else had legitimate crossfit boxes by their name. We laughed that everyone probably had never heard of KHOP before. Yup, welcome to my garage, backyard and two little munchkins as your gym mates.
Video of WOD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnyHyoEnzvU
2 HOURS LATER...
WOD 2: “1500m Blind Row” Monitor is reversed, pre-set for 1500m, and facing away from the athlete and spectators. The athlete may adjust the damper and foot settings to their choice prior to their row. Judges will communicate only by raising flags at 500m, 1000m and 1250m. Score is time to complete 1500m.
8 minute time cap.
This is the WOD I was literally dreading. My two pulls are equal to most tall girls 1 pull. The row is not kind to shorties. I knew this would be one of the worst for me. I like to write things on my legs for each WOD. This time I wrote "For Laura." One of our Khoppers lost her dad that week and was in some emotional pain. I knew this would keep me going as I endured some physical pain. Longest 6:09 of my life!!!! I went to the dark place and back again and again. I was elated to be done. Finished 10th...dang those tall girls.
2 HOURS LATER.....
WOD 3: “The Snatch Ladder” 1-rep Snatch every 30 seconds with progressively heavier barbells
Snatch: The athlete must clearly show control of the barbell overhead with arms, hips and knees fully extended in one line. Pressing out the arms at the top to complete the movement is allowed as long as the barbell does not touch the shoulders or head. This can be a muscle snatch, a power snatch, a squat snatch or a split snatch.
Sooooo....I just learned how to snatch last week. Need I say more? This was beyond humbling. Came in 26th out of 30 on lifting weight....holy cow! My favorite part; that night as I was tucking my little boy in, he said,"mom, why couldn't you get that weight up. I mean you just couldn't lift it!" Out of the mouth of babes.
Was 10th overall made it to the next day. Got hugs and love from all my friends and especially my little ones. One of my favorite parts of the day is kissing my babies before I do a workout. They help calm me and let me know what really matters.
DAY 2:
The next morning I was really excited for this 4th WOD. Not sure excitement was the word, but at least not dreading it like the others that were not completely suited for me. (Here's the deal about Crossfit, that is so challenging. Everything should be suited to you. As in, you should be good at any thing they throw at you. They teach you to be STRONG, but also quick and agile. I haven't merged the two quite yet.) Can't we just have a competition with pull-ups, and push-ups and sprints? Why you got to throw that heavy weight in there?
The 4th WOD: Time limit 12 minutes
Three rounds of.
30 Double-Unders
25 Kettlebell Swings
20 Overhead Lunges (stationary, with bumper plate 25lbs)
15 Toes to Bar
Then, with the remaining time, perform as many dips as possible.
I might have been pleading with the kettlebell to lift itself on its own. "Please magic kettlebell, help a sister out!"
I think I psyched myself out of this one. I just had no juice. Even though I wrote UNBROKEN on my leg. I definitely did not do these reps UNBROKEN. This usually would have been one that I would have breezed through. In my wheelhouse for sure. But fatigue got the best of me. My husband said he has never seen my face the way it looked. He said he thought I might just walk off the floor. I would never do that, but I was mentally jacked. I ended up finishing the 3 rounds and did 8 dips. I missed first by 4 reps.
After this I was happy to be almost done with competition. Wasn't excited for the last WOD which was going to be super heavy for me. But I was just super pumped to be done soon. I think this was the only WOD I wasn't nervous about. I was actually feeling elated to have 12 more minutes until I didn't have to lift another barbell. A kid maybe, but no more weights.
WOD 5: Complete as many reps as possible in 12 minutes:
Max rep Thrusters 83 lbs
Every minute, on the minute, perform 4 Burpees
Score will be number of Thrusters completed
What the what? 83lbs? For me that is heavy for 12 minutes. Usually this is 65lbs, but why not make it super hard after we have already done 4 WODS, and hey why not throw some super fun burpees in there too?
Can't remember what I wrote on my leg for this one. Probably, JUST DON'T DIE!
12 minutes in thruster time is like 4 days in real time. IT. IS. FOREVER!
I had moved up to 8th place and just needed to do well enough to stay there. I was too many points behind to move up places. So I asked some different people their strategy as this was going to be a long time. You can't just crush it fast. There needs to be some sort of rest. We decided to break it up in 10 second increments. I would try for 4-5 thrusters and rest then burpees then rest 10 seconds. I stared at that clock like it was my greatest enemy. I had 2-3 peeps counting me down. They knew I needed some extra strength that last 3-4 rounds.
I am literally begging the clock to go faster in this picture. 3-2-1....and we are done.
Even though I might have been one of the few in my group with kiddos running around and have some years on many of the competitors, this mommy doesn't love to lose.
But here's what I do love. I love the "experience!" I love losing my voice for my fellow competitors, jumping up and down for them because you know the pain they are in and the mental anguish they are going through to get every ounce up. I love experiencing the highs and lows with my husband who feeds me, ices me, takes care of the kids while I throw down, and is emotionally spent when all is said and done. I love that it's a "we" thing. Because we are in this together. I love my friends who come the extra 1.5 hours to see me do what I love, and then because they can't make it on Sunday, make us face-time my workout. I love that my kids are filthy because they have been rolling around on the floor in between competition. I love that they are clapping and cheering for their mommy.
I love seeing others do things they didn't think possible. I love making new friends and cheering them to victory. I love encouraging the first place winner in my competition with her toes to bar. I wanted her to do well, she deserved to win. I love the blessing of being able to glorify God by just exercising and hopefully encouraging and celebrating others along the way. These are the things I love...these are the things I need to remember for the next competition. Because even as sore and tired, and exhausted as I am. You know there will be a next one, Lord willing (Lord willing. Spoken straight from my grandfather's lips.)