Today: CrossFit Games North East Regionals 2013.
Nick and I spent the better part of the weekend (there was no worse part, that’s just an expression… I think) at Reebok HQ for the 2013 CrossFit Games Regionals. I went to last year’s competition, shortly after getting my first taste of CrossFit (coached by Austin Mallelolo, no less), and basically had no idea what was going on.
This year, I was much less confused and much more excited to cheer on the team from our box, CrossFit Southie, and all the incredible athletes competing in three days worth of brutal workouts.
And I mean brutal. Event 4 started with 100 wall balls, followed by 100 chest to bar pull-ups, 100 pistols (one-legged squats) and 100 one-arm dumbbell snatches (70 pounds for men, 50 pounds for women)…. all with a 25 minute time cap. I imagine it would take me 25 minutes to complete the wall balls alone, and only if I didn’t knock myself unconscious in the process. I’ve nearly given myself a nose job with that thing more than once. Also, more than twice. You can find details for all of the Regionals workouts here.
A few highlights from the CrossFit Games North East Regionals 2013*
…*before I round this post out with a motivational speech that I just wrote… for myself.
CrossFit Southie came in fourth overall, just one spot shy of the top 3 and an invitation to the Games. Regardless, it was so awesome watching our coaches lay their hearts out. While my husband and I wore matching shirts.
I think about what these women and men are able to accomplish. How fast they work. How strong they are. How bad ass they look in their braids and bandannas. Could I see myself out there? In reality: Nope. In some very small way: Maybe. Aspirational (and somewhat unrealistic) goals are as important as S.M.A.R.T. ones (and acronyms are so annoying to type).
Not too long ago, I believed I’d never complete and single double-under, and one day… I did. And then I did five. And eventually I did fifty. That’s what I love about CrossFit: there will always be someone to inspire you, and there will always be opportunities to improve. And inspiration without action? Welp, it’s useless. You need to believe in yourself and do the dang work.
P.S. There is no better time to believe in yourself (and no worse time to doubt yourself) than when you have heavy metal hoisted above your head. Or when the clock is winding down. Or when you have 100 more yards to go. Clearly, I left this weekend’s events feeling excited and inspired… and sort of like, I have a lot of work to do.
Also On Tap for Today:
- Attempting to kick this cold (a lovely airplane souvenir)
- On breaking up with sugar via Mind Body Green
- Meetings, meetings and more meetings
What inspired you this weekend?
Comments (3)
Danielle (@itsaharleyylife)
May 21, 2013 at 12:45 pm
what a great experience. I have to go to one of these sometime!
Jenn
May 28, 2013 at 9:56 am
One of the best events I’ve been to!
Carlene Cleveland
June 3, 2013 at 6:34 pm
The vast majority of people who sign up for the Open do not have a shot at the Games (myself included!). So why do we do it? I do it for the challenge. During the Open, I am faced with things that I have to do in a workout that I would normally not subject myself to. For example, the first workout just closed and included a ton of burpees and progressively heavier snatches. I have never snatched 100 pounds in a workout, but that’s what it called for, and guess what? I did it! Knowing that I had to submit a score made me take myself out of my little comfort zone and at least try to do something I had never done before.