Who Gets the Box in a Breakup?

Tweet

Girl meets Boy. At CrossFit. Girl likes Boy's hang snatch form. Boy likes that Girl is also into bacon.  Girl and Boy live in bliss, bragging to their friends about how many pull-ups their new special someone can knock out. 

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/73746512621248481/

But what happens when Girl and Boy are no longer held together by their shared hatred of burpees?  What happens when the cathartic, athletic outlet for frustration and anger experienced during a breakup becomes nothing more than a mainline to the source of the frustration?

In the process of dividing shared assets (you take the blender/I'll take the Lord of the Rings boxed set), does someone have to give up the box and find him or herself a new CrossFit family? 

I have my own opinion, but I'm interested to hear what you all have to say about it.  Let us know what you think! 

When Leah Met Leah

Tweet

It's an interesting and unconventional relationship that Leah Renae and I have. We started this project without knowing very much about each other. And now that we've put our names out into the world, we are connected. We have each had to trust that The Other Leah would handle our unique situation with care. 

And while it was never something that we were actively trying to arrange (in fact, it was part of our schtick that we'd never met), we found ourselves with an opportunity to connect face to face. 
So as a part of my (half)cross-country trip, I scheduled a stop in Akron.  Leah Renae and CrossFit Legacy were kind enough to have me. And James Schooling from Ultra Mega Photography was kind enough to capture the occasion for us.  

 Check out some of the photos from out workout.

Warming up - Leah Mae with a little kettlebell envy

Adding up reps.  CrossFit math is tricky.

I am so glad that we got the chance to meet and learn a bit more about each other.  Beyond some of our shared interests, Leah Renae and I are similar in a lot of ways, despite our very different backgrounds.  The most apparent, to me anyway, is that we are both independent spirits who value the things we are able to accomplish on our own.

If there is one way in which we can set an example for other women, I hope it is in this way. 

Balance

Tweet

Wow! Life has been absolutely crazy. I took a week off, to work on my house. That was totally needed for my houses sake and for my mental sake. There is nothing like the satisfaction of breaking a sweat to make your own house into a home. I had a week of friends and family piling in to my little living too just to get instructions on what to do and how they could help. I'm so blessed!

I've also taken a slightly new approach with CrossFit. I've backed way down from the intensity at which I've spent the last 2 years working. I realized sometime during the Open this year that I wasn't competing against myself anymore and was making myself sick with anxiety over doing well. I've always loved the fun and challenge of CrossFit but it had become this other thing that taunted me that and would mess with my head by telling me I just wasn't good enough. That's bull! The reality is, I may not be a super star or he fittest person on the earth but that doesn't change my worth and I certainly shouldn't hang my identity on a wod. 

I've been going 3-4 days a week and just pacing myself. I truly am enjoying it. I guess you could say I'm treating my new strategy like a healing injury. I'm taking it slow, pushing myself hard but listening to my body.  Outside of cf I've been able to add in relationships I had neglected, get things done around the house and meet the extra demand work has taken recently. 

All in all I feel happy with where I'm at. Amazing friends and family, a great Coach, and a more balanced feel to my life. 

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Old bronze before...

Sleak black after!!

After!

Honor Thy Mother

Tweet

I write occasionally about the ways in which my father influenced my independence, my decision making skills, and other traits that are very much woven into the fabric of my personality. But it is not often that I write about the ways in which my mom has shaped me as well. And today perhaps I should.

My mom, Pam, is a lead-by-example parent. She feels strongly about her own beliefs but never judges or puts down those with differing viewpoints. She accepts everyone as equals. Her approach is subtle; she's a great listener and always supports my plans to save the world, no matter how wacky!  

As I've grown older, I've been able to more clearly identify some specific things that make me truly appreciate the kind of parent she was to me. Some women are defined by motherhood in an absolute way. The kids' hobbies become her only hobbies, and homework/art projects/science fair submissions are mission critical and appear on each day's to-do list. Thankfully for me, this does not describe my mom.

While a loving and committed mother, she was very much her own person with her own hobbies. Front and center of those hobbies is, and always will be, tennis. She has been very active in the tennis community since before I was born and still plays at a very competitive (national) level, no doubt frustrating scores of players twice her size and half her age.  

She has instilled in me the notion that you're never too good to practice.  And that progress isn't necessarily about your win-rate, but about the self-improvement you've made through hard work and dedication. Despite more than a handful of trips to recreational tennis' greatest stage, she remains passionate about her athletic journey.

The last ten years have thrown a few major curve balls at us. It maybe would have been easy for her to settle into a dreary pocket of self-pity, with sadness for things lost.  Instead she has paved a new path for herself. A path that has led to experiences well outside her comfort zone (ahem, salsa dancing) and, I think, widened the way she sees the world.  

She has shown me, and everyone around her, what it means to venture into the unknown with grace.  That you don't need to know what lies around every corner, just to know that you're strong enough to face it. Whatever it is. 

So when I talk about my mom, it is always with pride and genuine appreciation for the things she's taught me.  I am grateful to have a truly positive role model in my life.

And what should every girl get to do once with her role model?  ROAD TRIP!!

My mom and I are leaving in a couple of weeks on a 2,200-mile adventure. I'm so excited to get to share this experience together. I'll be posting some pics to d&d, so be on the lookout. On the lookout literally and figuratively please....if you see us stranded on the side of the road, call AAA.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Run Love

Tweet

The past week was extremely difficult and emotional for most of us.  As athletes, as parents and children, as people of faith, and as humans, it's hard to imagine and to understand a purposeful and hateful motivation to harm others.  It goes against the very core of us and of the fundamental way in which most of us, hopefully all of us, live our lives.

Tuesday morning on my way to work, I couldn't help but hear a verse in a song I'd heard a thousand times, in a completely different way -- We're one/But we're not the same/We get to carry each other/Carry each other. U2 released "One" as a benefit single, with the proceeds going to AIDS research and it inspired this week's photo project. 
 
Leah Renae and I, like presumably thousands of others, ran a tribute mile in silence. It was our way to honor those injured in Boston, their families, and the communities that spent the rest of the week frightened and confused.  

The painful images that erupted (or in a few unfortunate cases, leaked) out of Boston will stay with many of us for some time, but there were also images of bravery, compassion, solidarity, and love that poured out of every city in this nation and beyond. We were reminded that while we are all, indeed different, we are also in this together. 

Communities of friends and strangers gathered for their own tribute runs, and we wanted to showcase those images.  This is our small contribution with the purpose to remind ourselves and each other that if all we take away from this week are the tragic images, then these hurtful monsters have won.  

Let us remember, this week and always, to carry each other. 

http://bit.ly/13pCCwb

Photos were submitted by you, our friends, and by fellow runners on Instagram.  Please click the image to launch the mosaic. We hope you enjoy the collection. 

 

If you get lost...

Tweet

Have you ever felt like life gets away from you? Like somewhere along the way you got distracted and when you finally look up, you don't recognize anything? Well it happens to me every once in a while. When I was a kid my parents always said that if I got lost just to stay put and that would make me easier to find. So that's what I'm doing in my own adult way.
Life got hectic and busy and began to control me so I'm slowing down, stopping the craziness, sticking to what I enjoy and what makes me happy.

1. I'm overhauling my house. With all the craziness in the last year or so the upkeep has taken a back seat. But this is my home so I'm getting down and dirty fixing fences, painting walls, pulling weeds, planting flowers and fixing cracks. Im not spending crazy amounts of money but plenty if hard work and sweat equity will go into these projects. It's so rewarding to me to see this house become my home.

2. I'm also taking a break from my regular workout routine. Instead of pedal to the medal, intense, CrossFit workouts 6 days a week, I've been simply running. Me and my dog, wrestling with my own thoughts. It saves me 40 minutes of drive time everyday too! I feel a different sense of accomplishment because I choose get up to run and work out on my own. Ill go back to CrossFit one of these days. Most likely after I either lose momentum and need a little extra workout accountability or I become excellent at running and decide to add weight training back in. (Whichever comes first)
3. I've learned that while 90% paleo 100% of the time is ok. My recent 90% paleo 10% of the time is not ok! Ha ha DUH! 3 days into paleo and honestly I already feel better. The food tastes better because its fresh, natural and full of real flavors. I feel more satisfied, I stay full longer and I just feel healthier.
4. I've also been spending more time in the Word. While this has always been part of my daily grind, I've decided to take a deep breath, sit back and relax and enjoy it. I want to meditate on Him and His Word and allow Him to work in my life and be my peace of mind.

I guess sometimes when life seems out of control, you have to decide if your gonna allow all that "stuff" to define you and continue to drive you crazy. It's not always easy to turn the tide, slow down and focus on the things you enjoy. But it's worth it!

What one thing you can do to slow down and enjoy life?

Fresh starts

Tweet

Day 2 of running and 100% paleo.
While I've been consistently crossfiting for a year and a half now, my running ability has not improved very much... I hate running and I've never met another human who enjoys running with me. Basically because my running pace is equal to 90% of the populations walking pace.
But I want to change that for 2 reasons. #1 I've heard running can be therapeutic. I certainly hope that feeling starts soon bc right now it's 10 mins of pain!!! #2 I'm not great when it comes to the endurance part of any WOD. Give me a really heavy barbell and tell me to lift it a few times and I'm happy, give me a light barbell and tell me to lift it 21-15-9 times and i sputter out before coach yells to GO!
I know this is just a mental barrier. But I've gotta start somewhere and my hope is that working up to running 2 or 3 miles with a vest on will teach me stamina, endurance and pacing.
My goal is to be able to run 3 miles without a vest by may 15th. I'd like to be able to run 1 mile with a vest by then too.


Here's a pic of the shoes I'm running in. Can't wait till they make friends with my shins and calves. OUCH! Oh and my running buddy.