What is it like?

Occasionally, when I mention that I started Crossfitting I am asked, "What's it like? I hear it's pretty hard."

Trying to explain what Crossfit is like is like trying to explain to a desert nomad what it's like to swim in Lake Michigan; you have to do it to truly understand.

However....

I will describe to you what it's like for me. Hopefully, you'll gain some insight from that. Usually, the process begins the night before and continues until I have actually completed the workout.

Evening, the Night Before a Workout: Ho-lee crap! He expects me to do pullups? I can barely pull up my socks, let alone pull my fat behind up to a bar! And Burpees? I HATE Burpees! I look like an elephant seal trying to make to the water! Oh shit, Wall Balls? Better get the barf bag ready.

Morning, Day of the Workout: Okay, 8 hours of work and it's off to Crossfit. It's gonna suck, but I'm not going to get any better sitting on the couch watching the tube. I wonder what's on? Is NCIS on? I can't miss the mid-season finale! Maybe I'll, skip today and go tomorrow!

Lunch Time, Day of the Workout: Half the day gone and only four hours until Crossfit. Funny, I'm not as tired today as I usually am by this time. My feet and back are actually feeling pretty good. I could probably skip today and it wouldn't hurt me.

Quitting Time Day of the Workout: Here is my exit to go home. All I have to do is turn here and I'll be warm and comfy on my couch snuggling up to the missus and catching up on NCIS. (Sigh) And I'll still be the same lump of disappointment that I was yesterday. Okay, no more excuses, nothing to it but to do it.

Entering Crossfit, Twenty Minutes Before the WoD Begins: Wow! These people look miserable! Thank GOD! I thought I was the only one that looked like that when I was working. Good Lord! That guy is in incredible shape and he's laying on the floor like he's dead. This one must be a smoker!

Workout Begins: Ya know? I might flirt with that woman if it weren't for two obstacles; 1) I'm a happily married man and 2) Judging by the way she's tossing that ball, she'd probably stomp me into a bloody mush if I offended her. How can someone that small generate that much power?

Five Minutes Into Workout: How did I get so weak??? When did I lose my ability to lift myself off the floor? I think I'm going to suggest that they have oxygen tanks somewhere around here because I sure as hell need some right now. I think they mis-marked this ball; it says '14' on it, but I swear it weighs '50'. If I can just get through this without throwing up on that woman in front of me, I'll consider this a success.

Ten Minutes Into Workout: I think with the next Burpee, I'll just stay on the floor until my blood stops burning. Uh-oh, the coach is yelling at me. What? 'Good job?' Haven't you been watching me? I can't even keep up with the scrawny, little, woman in front of me. Well crap! If she can toss that ball up there, I can do a couple of more Burpees.

Workout Complete: I feel like a wet noodle that's been run over by a truck. I should have realized that I'm in no condition to workout! Still, I managed to throw that wall ball a little better today. And the Burpees didn't hurt as much today as they did last week. Plus, skipping rope during the warm-up was waaay easier. As soon as I can talk in complete sentences, I'll be ready to go. I sure like the way people encourage each other around here.

Home After the Workout: Wow, I feel great! I haven't felt this good for a while. I did okay, too. I made it and achieved most of my goals. I'll work harder next time. I wonder what's in store for the next workout? Ho-lee CRAP! Front Squats??? What madman devises these workouts? Why not just waterboard us and get it over with???

Success

I finally made it three times in one week. The WoD was a killer for me, but I learned a couple of things;

1. Concentrate on what I'm doing. Focus on proper movement and doing the exercise correctly.
2. Forget about speed. Something I've learned from competitive shooting: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I'm participating with people that are half my age and worlds ahead of me in fitness. Don't try to keep up, just try to keep with it.

I have a confession to make; when I walk into the box, and I see all of the people with pained expressions on their face and sweat streaming off of them, it makes me happy to know I'm not alone. I am inspired by these people. I strive to do what they do as well as they do it. I won't mention any names, but I have witnessed remarkable athleticism from an Air Force Lieutenant, a couple of middle school teachers, and at least one new parent. They lift much heavier weights than I do, do more pushups than I do, and have a lot more stamina than I do. And those are the women!

I have learned humility, because I have learned I have much to be humble about.

BUT...

I can feel me getting stronger. I was less sore this week than last week. I could skip rope a little better this week than last week, and I recuperated faster this week than last week.

Baby steps, small victories, long term commitment. This is my new mantra.

Epic Fail

The Thanksgiving weekend did me in. Not only did I not make it to the gym, I ate everything that I wasn't supposed to. I was working Black Friday; my employer graciously provided breakfast and lunch. Same with Saturday. Unfortunately, they consisted of high-carb fast food. And I ate it.

 This is going to be a tougher battle than I thought. Nothing to do now but get back into the fight and quit making the same mistakes.

Earning My Right Arm Back

Truth time: A couple of years ago, I sustained a neck injury that caused my right arm to lose strength, specifically, my right tricep was atrophied and near useless. A month of physical therapy got me back to where I could use it again, but the damage had been done. My right tricep is weaker than I ever remember. The heaviest thing I could lift with it was a gallon of milk. I hated that fact, but I figured it was the result of my own bad decisions, The Wages of Sin, so to speak.

Today, the WoD included pushups. As I was struggling through the WoD, I noticed that I felt my right arm "firing up". I could actually feel my tricep getting pumped. Was it my imagination? I need someone 'in the know' to tell me if it's possible for an atrophied muscle to recover. If it is, I figure that the work I'm putting in is the way to earn my right arm back.

By the way, Susie the instructor is a great teacher. She knows the mechanics and she can do the work. I can't begin to express how impressed I am with this whole experience. The more involved I become with this bunch, the more I want to be involved. Soooo, to any out-of-shape, over-the-hill, couch potatoes that stumble across this blog, I say this: find a Crossfit in your area and go there. The people you meet will, by themselves, be worth the trip.

Getting Back into Alignment

I forgot to mention that I went in for an adjustment with Dr. Bahr yesterday. I figured that it would benefit me in that it would help my body complete the movements if it were properly aligned. I was right. There is something profound about having your entire body relax simultaneously. I hadn't even realized that anything was wrong until I went in to her. It turned out that my left leg was an inch shorter than my right, and that I had a curve in my spine.

One of the things I appreciate about her method is that she doesn't twist you around. Everything is done on a flat plane and no torque is administered to your spine. I'm not saying that those who do twist you are wrong, it's just that, when I originally injured my back in 1994, my doctor cautioned me to never put too much twist into my spine for fear of further injury.

This also translates into a better workout because your body is evenly distributing the work load. If you live in the Rapid City area, I enthusiastically recommend her. I'm also trying to get her to come and try Crossfit to see what it's all about. That could result in a very positive synergy between the two. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Back in the Box

First day back after several days off to move. Today's WoD was a smoker that included Burpees, although what I was doing would be more accurately named "Flop-ees". No matter; I was there. That was what I kept telling myself when the suck got bad, "I'm still here!"

It made sense at the time.

Early Signs of Life

I haven't been to the Box this week (yet) for 2 reasons: an erratic work schedule and we're moving. Now, there are few things in life I hate more than moving. I've done way too much of it and, frankly, I'm sick of it. This move isn't too bad in that we're only moving 60 feet down the hall to a larger apartment but, it still sucks because I have to move everything with just me and a hand truck.

On the plus side, lifting and moving stuff isn't nearly as tough this time as it was when we moved in to the old place. By the end of the move last time, I was spent, sore, pissed off, and disgusted. This time I'm just pissed off (Did I mention that I hate moving?) I could feel myself using the stuff I learned at Black Hills Crossfit to lift and maneuver couches and freezers and whatnot. I take this as an indication that I'm on the right path.