Category: Muscle Ups

like, when did that happen…

“There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.” ― Garth Stein

At some point along my CF path, I went RX. Not in weights, no, not yet. But in reps. Long after first starting this journey I was scaling down the number of reps, thinking there was no way I could do the prescribed. One day, not sure when, I stopped doing that. Completely without noticing. Until today. After completing my 150th air squat in Round 3 of the prescribed WOD, the thought appeared, ‘Holy crap, I stopped scaling reps… When did that happen?’ Pretty cool.

Warm-Up:

Russian Gymnastics Warm-Up – Day 2

WOD:

I. “Nasty Girls”

3 Rounds For Time:

50 Air Squats

7 Muscle-Ups

10 Hang Power Cleans (135/95)

Completed: Just under the 12 minute time cap, at 11:55. Muscle-Ups scaled to ring pull ups, doubled to 14 per round. Hang Power Cleans (I think these are a personal favorite) @ 50lbs. There’s something about the movement of the Power Clean, it feels graceful, controlled, and strong. Not sure how it looks. But, very fun and engaging to do.

II. 3 Attempts:

Max Handstand Hold

*Rest 1 minute between attempts

Another accomplishment on the CF journey. I can do a handstand. Scaled, against the wall, with my head still resting on the ground. Yeah, that’s probably a headstand. Completed 3 at 30 seconds each. Eventually, I will be able to kick up into one, elbows locked, with my head firmly off the ground.

Giant Happy Boat. Damnit.

WOD:

I. Press

10 x 2, Rest 30 seconds between sets

II. “Help Myself”

3 Rounds For Time:

7 Muscle Ups

14 Power Cleans (175/120)

21 Burpees

III. Toes-to-Bar

5 x 15; Rest 1 minute between sets

Completed: except can’t remember my time. Part I: @ 55lbs. Part II: Scaled my WOD to 14 (ring pull ups), 14, and 14. Power cleans at 65lbs.

I’ll admit it. I was one of those chumps today, putting my shit away before my other Crossfitting peeps were done. Normally I do not do this, I like to turn and cheer. I like to be cheered when I’m last and about to hurl and feel like the Burpee Fairy has forsaken me. Before a WOD I like to shake hands and introduce myself. The Community at ACF is why I’m here. There’s nothing quite like it.

But today, I walked through the door and had nothing to say. And I finished the WOD before others. Not because I’m the BEST and STRONGEST and, the BEST n stuff, at everything including CF. No, I didn’t finish last because I scaled, and was I tired, and very, very grumpy. I’ve been in a bad mood all week. For oh, so many reasons. All of them completely unimportant. And, totally, irrelevant.

The point is: Moods are contagious. You’re happy, you smile, you say hello to a stranger, open the door for them, they do the same in turn, they smile back most times without even knowing it. We can’t help it. My particular mood on Tuesday was nothing short of sour. It was eating me alive from the inside out. I do not like when I let negative thoughts take hold and get the best of me. Again, it does not matter why. I like to try to focus on the Good, in any situation. Like throwing a line from shore to a very large, very happy, Happy Boat slowly making its way into port. You throw one line, than another, than another, and with each positive line thrown in a positive direction, the giant Happy Boat gets closer and closer, and before you know it, the Giant Happy Boat is docked and tied to your personal shore, and filling your heart with happy positive thoughts, and emotions. Damnit.

Anyway, I’m here to cheer, not clean up my gear, until the WOD is thru.