Yesterday’s WOD, Kelly, was rough, huh? One of our fine athletes, 3 rounds in and on the box jumps, yelled across the room, “Brian, I can hear my pain. Can you turn the music up?” While this was mostly a clever request for faster- paced music, I didn’t let him off easy. I replied, “Whenever you start hearing your own pain, you’re not encouraging other people through their pain loud enough.” His response was amazing. He cheered people on through the rest of his WOD. He was there on the last person’s last 15 reps, counting them down. His small attitude change lit up the room and changed the WOD for everyone. He was inspiring. I wish I had been doing the WOD next to him.
I believe this concept is an incredible powerful one. This weekend, my girlfriend’s fiance’s pastor told a story of a man from his congregation who had just lost his wife traumatically. The pastor asked how he was dealing with the loss. The man replied, “It’s hard. I get really lonely and I miss her. But when I get lonely, I just think of someone else who’s lonelier than I am and I give them a call”. It’s the same as I always say, “The best way to get a high five is to give a high five”. Be mindful toward others. Encourage them. Lift them up. It is very hard to feel bad about yourself when you are encouraging someone else. I believe we’re meant to live this way and I believe it’s part of the reason CrossFit is so powerful.
Next time you’re in the middle of a WOD that is totally beating you down, my challenge to you is to stop thinking about yourself, find someone else who looks like they’re having a rougher time than you and give them your confidence. Practice this daily in the gym and we will have an amazing community. Practice it in the rest of your life and it can transform everything.
Warmups: Warmups on your own- 3 Rounds of:
200 M Run
1 Round of Cindy (5 Strict Pullups, 10 Pushups, 15 squats)
6 Scorpions
6 Iron Crosses
Skill Work: Barbell Progressions (10x)
- 3 Tall Squat Cleans
- 3 Hang Squat Cleans
- 3 Squat Cleans
- 3 Split Jerks
Can I do the WOD at the gym if I’m not taking a class? I don’t have access to a pull-up bar.
Yup.
I was doing the WOD next to him and it’s probably the only thing that got me through it. For the Paleo challenge how do you define in moderation??
Thanks!
Day 3:
Food as fuel, not as treat, food as fuel, not as treat, food as fuel, not as treat…
Christine,
It all depends on your goals, but here’s how I think of it…
You can have a banana with breakfast as a nice treat, perhaps instead of a cup of coffee full of cream and sugar. You shouldn’t have a banana with every meal, that would be excessive.
C&J: 125# PR by 30! I was able to clean 135#, but just couldn’t lock out on the jerk.
Burpee Challenge: 33/29
Thanks to Brian, Cam, Greg and everyone else who cheered me on during the last few lifts. You all are awesome, and it reminded me of why I love being a part of the CWCF communitty so much.
Yeah Rob!
C&J: 185#. Came really close on 195# but didn’t quite get low enough.
Burpees: 38/38.
Thanks Ian!
Thanks Brian for sharing that story. It is exactly the reason why the CWCF team got me hooked. I’ve never been a gym rat, and I *heart* CWCF because we are clearly NOT a gym.