REST is important too... training update

If there's one thing I often forget, it is that REST is equally as important as training.  Most people who know me, know that I HATE (H-A-T-E) rest days... I'm convinced that they were created by the devil to test my willpower.  Even on my rest days I always find an excuse to go for a short run, or to just do an easy WOD at CrossFit.  Recently I have forced myself to embrace my "off" days, and I have truly noticed a change in my energy and my progression.  (Ugh, don't you hate it when your coach is right ALL THE TIME)... Thanks Ray!

My training right now is pretty simple.  I'm working on my strength and speed, so CrossFit and FAST runs (tempo, speed, interval, over/unders) are my staples.  My weekend runs are staying around 20-25k for now, no need to push too soon.

I'm already missing my spring/summertime trails, it's simply not the same in the winter.  Don't get me wrong, the snow is beautiful right now, BUT I AM NOT MADE FOR THE COLD.  I can't wait to spend 4, 5, 6... or 10 hours on the trails with my man!!  But till the snow melts we'll do what we can.

Fight Gone... AWESOME!!

Yesterday's WOD at CrossFit Fortis was one called "Fight Gone Bad", in this workout you move from each of five stations after a minute. After the completion of all stations a 1 minute break is taken.  This is repeated 3 times.

The stations are:
Wall-ball: 14 pound ball, 10 ft target. (Reps)
Sumo deadlift high-pull: 55 pounds (Reps)
Box Jump: 20" box (Reps)
Push-press: 55 pounds (Reps)
Row: calories (Calories)

The clock does not reset or stop between exercises. On call of "rotate," the athlete/s must move to next station immediately for good score. One point is given for each rep, except on the rower where each calorie is one point.

I had horrible memories of this workout!!  The last time I did it, I DIED!  I remember only knocking out 5 or so reps of Push Press on the last round.  Mind you that was well over a year ago and I'm much fitter than I was then.

 I went in with a solid game plan and set my goals high!  I wanted to get a score over 350 (last time I got 315), so I believed this was entirely attainable.

3-2-1.. GO!

First the wallballs!  They went up like balloons, awesome.  I was able to get 34 up in the first round!
Then onto SDHP - they were easier than I ever remembered.
Boxjumps SUCKED and were painful, but again, I was able to get 30 without any issues!
Push Press -  These were by far the easiest part of the workout, loved them
Row- I used the row as an active rest, never pushing too hard, as I wanted to be rested before the next round.

Now, I normally push myself extremely hard, but I must say that during this workout I was pushed beyond my normal limits by one thing (or should I say ONE PERSON).  Throughout the workout I had Corey (my amazing boyfriend) in my sights!  Through the workout we were going rep for rep on the push press and the SDHP and I must say that the sight of him giving it all he had pushed me to give that little bit extra.  Maybe it was how hard he was pushing himself, or maybe it was my competitive nature, but I just wanted to keep pace with him.  He always motivates me!!  As the ladies know, Corey is pretty easy on the eyes, and the fact that he had forgotten his shirt at home, may have contributed to my fixation on him ;)  Shirt or no shirt, Corey helped me push harder than ever before!

OLD FGB SCORE: 315

* NEW FGB SCORE: 413!!!!!!!!!  ONLY 11 POINTS OFF ELITE CROSSFIT ATHLETE KRISTIN CLEVER'S SCORE OF 424.

* COREY'S SCORE 442!!

I am my own worst enemy

For those of you who know me well, you you how ridiculously hard I am on myself.  I am a perfectionist, in life and in training/competing.  This can be a good thing and a VERY BAD thing. 

Allow me to explain a little more in-depth.

I have had many races, races where I have been in 1st place, where I simply "lose faith" in myself and start to question why I am where I am.  I often feel that I don't deserve it, or that I haven't given it my all.  I have actually said out loud in the middle of a race "I'm not an ultra runner, I don't have any talent".  These demons have almost destroyed several of my races and have made me want to stop running/CrossFitting several times.  I don't know why I constantly doubt myself and why I question my abilities... I just always feel that I could've done something more.

Corey was the first person to really call me out on this self doubt, and it was truly a wake up call for me.  I have decided to make an effort to believe in myself this year, and to ignore everyone who seeks to put me down! 

Now this plan hit a bit of a snag lately when I let some things that others said about me get to me.  I again started to doubt my abilities, which is INSANE, given how hard I'm working and how much progress I have made.  It's funny, because I know that what they said was out of jealousy and the fact that I achieved something great, but it still affected me.  I don't understand why people can't just be supportive and happy when others do well!! UGH!!  Especially women... we are truly cruel to each other...  (note to self: be kind to all women/girls, we need it)

I know this is a bit of a rant, and not the "norm" for my blog.  But I think we all have inner-demons and we all doubt ourselves from time to time.  I just want people to know that I feel the same way, and I often doubt myself.  I know I need to get stronger mentally for this year, and the first step is writing this. 

GOODBYE SELF DOUBT!!! HELLO 2013 and BELIEVING IN MYSELF!!!

Training milestone! MUSCLE UPS!

This past month has been a month of BIG CrossFit milestones for me!  I got BOTH my bar and ring muscle ups!! YAAAAY!! 

For those who don't know what a muscle up is:



** DISCLAIMER: Mine were much uglier!! LOL!  But I did manage to get 4 of them in yesterday before my WOD.

The muscle up is a VERY frustrating movement, as there are so many elements.  The grip on the rings, the kip, the hip drive, the pull to the sternum, then a violent situp, and finally the BIGGEST tricep dip OF LIFE!

The muscle up was much easier on the pullup bar, because I didn't have to rely on my stabilizer muscles.

A HUGE thank you to my coach Dan Baribeau at CrossFit Fortis and to my amazing boyfriend (Corey) for helping me achieve these milestones.  Both of them spent TONS of time working with me on technique and didn't laugh at me when I struggled. :)