May 25 2012
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idea light bulb, ideas

3, 2, 1…Go!

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.” ― Rumi

Did you ever have an idea in your head. A picture. Of something that you just had to bring to life? It’s been happening to me quite a bit. Especially recently. It’s as if something in me has woken up. The light at the end of the tunnel has turned into a spotlight, shining brighter than ever before, illuminating ideas and pictures and beautiful things in my mind that I intend to bring to life.

I’ve had the idea for this charm in my head for months. Not to exact specifications, but pretty close. I knew it had to be reflective of Crossfit. Just not exactly sure how. I searched on etsy.com for a while. There are some gorgeous handmade charms there. I even exchanged a few emails with one artisan, but when she learned I didn’t want to pay upwards of $100, she simply stopped responding. I left it alone for a while, but the idea was still there, percolating.

And then one afternoon after my niece’s soccer game we ended up at The Pottery Place. Where you can make your own silver charms. And my idea, finally, was brought to life. The joy of it! The nice girl who helped me there walked me through every step of the process, I talked with her about what I wanted it to say, and then found the stamp of the cute adorable monster. Eh, voila.

There was some extra silver clay left over, and she offered to let me do another small charm. Whereby the ninja penguin was born. Serendipidous if you ask me.

3, 2, 1.. Go! is what the coach says at the beginning of each WOD. To me it’s an epitome for life. ‘Cause ready, set, Go is the only way through.

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May 25 2012
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WOD

Burpees.

100 burpees. 12:54 minute. Go team.

May 23 2012
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Ab Mat Situps, Air Squats, Oliver, Pull Ups, Pushups

good.

I sketched this today. Well, traced overlay. Was attempting to illustrate one of my favorite photos of Oliver. It always amazes me how good he is. What do you think dog’s think about while they’re at home all day? I imagine he’s sleeping mostly, in between looking out the window and surveying the minions. Don’t make me come out there, Mr. squirrel.

He’s so patient, and obedient, and good. How we love our furry friends. They put up with us like no one person would.

WOD:

I. “Tabata Something Else”

Complete 32 Intervals of 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest for Max Reps:

Intervals 1 – 8 = Pullups

Intervals 9 – 16 = Pushups

Intervals 17 – 24 = AbMat Situps

Intervals 25 – 32 = Air Squats

*There is no rest between exercises

Completed: avg. between 8 – 10 reps per round. Except for the pushups, where I was at 5. My arms were pooping out all over the place. Read: total fail. It’s an odd feeling when you can feel your muscles about to give out. You feel powerless against it. They just shut off communication to the brain and get a mind of their own. I’m just glad I’m only inches from the ground when this is about to occur.

II. 4 Rounds:

30 Seconds Flutter Kicks

30 Seconds Rest

Tomorrow’s WOD is 100 Burpees. That’s it. 15 minute time cap. Really? Where’s the steel and the bumpers and the chalk and grit and power. I guess it’s just me up against my own body. Thing is, Burpees are definitely a struggle. Most likely are for every one. No PR’s there. Trust me.

Here’s the thing, do I find some excuse not to show tomorrow? Working late. Got to get to the grocery store. These socks sure do need mending.

Or do I show? Where’s the discipline. The obedience. We. Shall. See. Bets anyone?

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May 22 2012
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Deadlifts, Post Script, Pull Ups, Wall Balls, WOD

stopping to chat

“When you are living the best version of yourself, you inspire others to live the best versions of themselves.”
― Steve Maraboli

Funny day today, people. In the triple-wide. The WOD called for 4 minutes of rest between rounds. Picture a room full of people sweating and grunting and doing pull-ups and wall balls and deadlifting hundreds of pounds.

And then stopping to chat.

And then sweating and grunting and doing pull-ups and wall balls and deadlifting hundreds of pounds.

And then stopping to chat.

Honestly. Only in the triple-wide. Felt fail coming on during the last round. Deadlift was getting weak, wasn’t sure about the last reps. But, made it happen.

WOD:

I. 6 Sets:

6 Deadlifts (as heavy as possible, unbroken)

12 Chest-to-Bar Pullups

18 Wall Balls (20/14)

*Rest 4 Minutes Between Sets

Completed: Deadlifts @ 165lbs. Pullups still scaled to ringrows, but getting deeper and closer to the ground every day. Wall Balls at RX at 14lbs. Somethings we can do at RX, somethings we can’t. C’est la vie. Much like in life.

II. Accumulate 3 minutes in FLR

Post script on my last post. This blog is here to focus on living a positive life. To let the happy thoughts flow as they often do when walking out the doors, post-WOD, of my beloved CF. Crossfit helps me process my thoughts by forcing me to stop thinking. It assists me to cease and desist obsessing.

CF forces my mind out of its cyclical worrying and says, Just lift that heavy thing there in front of you and get through the next set of reps. Damnit.

Since the post from yesterday I have begun to piece back together the bridge to my friend. She has done the same. With each step closer, the gap closes exponentially. Her effort increases my effort, increases her effort. Will we meet on that same old patch of ground that we’ve enjoyed together for so long? I doubt it. But maybe we’ll find some new patch of green grass that will surprise us. That we can both enjoy together again. That will enable her, or me, or both of us to live as we want to live.

To be who we are now.

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May 21 2012
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Family, Friends

gaps between us

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” ― Robert Frost

The passage of time. The beginning and ending of all things. Including relationships of all kinds, intimate, work related, friendships. People come and go in our lives. It’s natural. We move, we change employment, people die. There are some relationships though, you think will never end. You never stop to consider when, or if, it could ever happen. You are so much a part of one another’s lives, perhaps you have known one another since you were in kindergarten, or you just met yesterday but it seems as if you’ve known each other since kindergarten. Either way, the relationship is so strong, the bond so deep, the end of it seems unimaginable. Utterly impossible. But, what if one day you don’t recognize that old friend anymore? What if they don’t recognize you?

What if the next time you meet for coffee, the comfortable and familiar veil of history together is lifted, and you start to see someone you no longer recognize. Or, want to know. Then what?

I’ve been grappling with this recently. At what point do chosen paths veer so far from one another that the bridge of friendship can no longer breech the distance between. What if the void is too great? I’m just not sure.

When I was younger I was certain there was nothing that could break the bonds of certain relationships, specifically that of family and dear friends. But, as I’m getting older I’m learning this is simply not the case. People change. There is no blame here. There’s only the differences between us in how we grow. And the value, the time, the energy, and sometimes even the very pieces of our own hearts, that we are willing to lay down along that bridge in an effort to rebuild and bring it back to whole. Is it possible we were just wrong all along? Is it possible the person in front of us was only a reflection of what we wanted them to be? And in truth like most reflections, the opposite.

What if the person we ourselves thought we were, is not actually who we are? What if we are really the ones who have changed.

It is a heavy feeling knowing a gap is widening between you and someone you hold dear. It is even heavier to think you may not be able to fix the fracture. Heavier still in thinking you may not want to.

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May 19 2012
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Blueberry Protein Balls

Nutty Blueberry Protein Balls

- from Primal Blueprint

4 Dates, pits removed

Cup of Walnuts

1/2 cup macadamia nuts

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 cup fresh or defrosted blueberries

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup shredded dark chocolate

Pulverize dates in a food processor until paste forms. Add walnuts and mac nuts, and blend until very finely chopped. While blade is still running drizzle coconut oil, stopping when oil is blended. Scrape the batter into a bowl and stir in blueberries, coconut and chocolate.

Roll into rounded balls and pop into your mouth!

May 18 2012
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Burpees, Power Cleans, Run, Toes to Bar, Wall Balls, WOD

when every step needs persuasion

“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” ― Thomas A. Edison

WOD:

I. 7 Minutes AMRAP:

7 Power Cleans (135/95)

14 Burpees

Rest 3 minutes

II. 7 Minute AMRAP:

14 Wall Balls (20/14)

7 Toes-to-Bar

Rest 3 Minutes

III. Run 1 Mile

IV. Stretch and Foam Roll

Completed: Part I – 6 Rounds. Part II – 5 Rounds. Power Cleans at 75lbs. Wall Balls at 14lbs. Scaled to 7 Burpees per round in the first go. Wasn’t sure I could, fatigued and tired from yesterday. still completed the run in 9:40. Not gonna lie, every step needed persuasion. Amazing what the mind can do.

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May 17 2012
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5K, Run

un-impossible

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” ― Helen Keller

Today I accomplished what a year ago thought was the impossible. Ran a 5K in under a 10 minute mile. There’s not much more to say, I guess. Other than the impossible is possible. Here are the stats:

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May 17 2012
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WOD

We were just discussing this

It is already in your hands.

May 16 2012
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Diet, Discipline, Food

all ninja like

I have this image in my head. If I were to go really strict with my diet, and keep up my training, I would become like a ninja. All stealth and lithe-like. My muscles rippling and shiny. Simply reaching for a cup of coffee would cause those around me to pause in awe as they witnessed the symphonic movement of my flexors.

But ninjas can be mean and draw blood, and this part I do not like. So, if possible, I’d like to be like a cute cuddly ninja, all ripped and stealth, and offering hugs during down time. Like this penguin. Again, except ripped.

Either way, I still have to get there, to Stealth-ness. And that involves a great deal of discipline. Just read a great article on diet: Talk to me Johnnie. He goes even further in how to get super lean: Leaning Out.

It’s all laid out for me, Right There. Pretty simple stuff. You just have to do it. I just have to do it.

Insert hurdle: Here. I have commitment issues. To diet. I have workout portion down. But the gauntlet needs to be handed down with the diet. While food intake for the majority of the time is good and much along the lines of Johnnie’s guidelines, there are moments of cheat. And therein lies my issue. The cheats need to go. Just need to find the wherewithal to bid them adeau. I think discipline, true Discipline, doesn’t get the billing it deserves. Especially from me.

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