Tales from CrossFit

I want to take a short break from my regular posting to offer my prayers to the family of Shannon Stone.  You all have probably read about the man who died at the Ballpark last night while trying to catch a foul ball.  The story is so unbelievably sad and I specifically pray for his son who witnessed the fatal fall.  My heart also goes out to Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers baseball team.  While the largest loss is to Shannon's family, I would imagine that Josh Hamilton's life will never be the same.  Each and every foul ball he comes in contact with he will no doubt run this scene through his head. 

Hopefully this will remind people that accidents can happen at any time and you should always play safely.  Nothing...and certainly not a baseball...is worth your life.  Be careful.

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So I went to my 2nd CrossFit Fundamental class yesterday.  I'm not nearly as sore today as I was yesterday.  This time we "warmed up" with a 400m run which apparently is going to be a thing.  Super.  Then we learned about the proper form for dead lifts, shoulder presses and push presses.  She noticed that we were really tight in the shoulders (duh!  My whole body was aching!) so she showed us some spectacular stretches that really made a huge difference.

You wouldn't think that learning form would be a good workout, but my heartrate got up several times and I was sweating like crazy.  After she felt we had the right form on everything, it was time for the Workout of the Day.  Sometimes the WOD is for time (how fast you can do it), for a duration (you do it for a specified time period), or for completion (I think this is more for beginners and it is just do it until you finish, but they aren't timing you.)

This WOD was for completion.  We had 4 sets of 20 deadlifts with a medicine ball followed by a 400m run.  So, let me clarify...we would do 20 deadlifts and then run 400m, then do 20 more deadlifts and then run 400m, then...  We ran a mile total just in the WOD.  And did I mention that all running is outside?  And need I remind you that I live in Texas and it is 100 degrees when I'm doing this?  Super duper pooper scooper.

I was the last one finished BY FAR.  Even Puker was back and he beat me (although I did see him cutting his last 400m short).  But I FINISHED and I did absolutely every deadlift prescribed and I kept my running form for every single meter.  I'm slow, but I did it!  By the last one, I really had to push it and I just kept pushing.  That is what I LOVE about this class.

I feel much less sore today.  Between the stretches and less strength training, I think I'm going to be less sore all day.  I guess I will know more after lunch.  :)  My next class is tomorrow morning at 8am.  I think we are going to be lifting weights so that should be interesting.  I still have bruises on my knees from the pushups on Tuesday, so I'm hoping those will heal before we have to do more.  Just motivation to get strong enough to do them military style and not on my knees!

Sidenote:  while writing this, I was summoned to the President's office.  He wanted to know how my CrossFit class went.  Ha!  I like having the extra pressure. 

I know you all will get sick of hearing about CrossFit and I apologize in advance.  :)

Hugs!!