One Year

Warning: This post will contain excessive amounts of talk on the subject of Crossfit. All haters/nay-sayers/don't-carers (totally a word) have been warned. ;)

You guys. Come the 29th of September I will have officially been a part of Crossfit for 1 year. I feel like there should be some sort of celebration - or at least some cake.

But in all seriousness I can't believe it's been a full year since that first workout I did after my sweet Rose was born. So much has happened in that year (i.e. I now have a one year old - what?!). I decided a couple weeks back that once I hit this anniversary I'd post a little tribute blog for myself. I am a firm believer in goals and an even firmer (again totally a word) believer in celebrating our accomplishments. While I am usually great at celebrating others accomplishments I tend to down play my own - but not this time. I am proud of what I have done in the past year and how far I've come, so I'm gonna celebrate dang it (but probably with a donut rather then cake... I'm much more of a donut kinda gal).

Now while I am in no means saying in this blog that I am a top dog or even close, I can still be proud of what I can do and the scores/weights I can pull. So for those that actually semi-follow this blog (hello to all 3 of you!) - bare with my as I toot me own horn. ;)

Looking back and thinking of the first time I went to work out with Braedon after Rose was born is a bit weird. I remember being almost sick to my stomach I was so nervous and was feeling rather intimidated. My first day at Crossfit was a Saturday - which means Team Workout day. I told Braedon I wanted him to do it with me because I didn't want to hold anyone else back. The work out was as follows:

In teams of two, with only one person working at a time, and alternating rounds, complete 10 rounds each of:

- Power Clean x 3 Reps

- Burpees x 6 Reps

- 100 Meter Sprint.

I could choose from three different weight categories - advanced (135 pounds), intermediate (105 pounds), or beginner (65 pounds). I of course went with the beginner weight.

Folks, I remember this being one of the hardest things I had done in a long time (possibly ever). I even think the phrase "labor was easier" came out of my mouth. I remember my arms feeling like Jell-O from that 65 pounds. And I especially remember thinking Braedon was doing his rounds WAY too fast and that he needed to slow down so I could have more resting time.

One year later and I now warm-up on power cleans at 65 pounds. In fact, my one rep of a power clean is now 150 pounds. And don't even get me started on how crappy my burpee's and runs looked.

That right there is improvement if I ever saw it.

Now, unfortunately there still are times that I get frustrated with my performance or don't feel I am progressing fast enough - we all know it's hard to see the change in ourselves sometimes. Things can be so gradual that it almost doesn't feel like we are really moving. I finally feel like I had a bit of a break through on how far I've come this past week. It was benchmark Friday and we were doing a workout that we hadn't done since December of 2012. We were doing Angie:

Complete the following:

- 100 Pull-ups

- 100 Push-ups

- 100 Sit-ups

- 100 Squats

You can partition the reps however you wish. 

Like I said, we did this workout back in December of 2012 and it destroyed me. I had just started to do my pull-ups without any assistance of a band. I still had to do my push-up's on my knee's. I was slow on my sit-ups still having that little bit of a mommy gut. Basically it was like my worst enemy of a workout. Most people were finishing this in under 20 minutes. I on the other hand did it in 28:45. I remember being so proud and happy that I actually finished it. While my time wasn't great (and I'm pretty sure I was the last one done) - it was still an accomplishment.

Fast forward to September 19th of this year.

I finished in 16:27.

That's over 12 minutes difference! Twelve Minutes! And of course this time I did my push-up's the regular ol' way rather then on my knees. I was floored. I couldn't believe the difference. This was the proof that I needed to really tell myself that I am doing alright and progressing just fine.

I could go on to mention a bunch of other PR's (personal records) but I wont (have I mentioned my 48" box jump? ;)). Let's just leave it with the fact that I have come far and what's even better is I plan to keep going. Crossfit has shown in me that I do have what it takes. That I can do hard things, lift heavy weights, run faster, push harder, etc. It has given me so much strength not just physically, but mentally. I have a drive in me that I never knew existed and I love it.

Back when I wrote my post about Crossfit in February I thought I knew what Crossfit was to me. Turns out I was only scratching the surface.

I feel strong, happy, alive, and healthier then I ever have. I am so lucky to be a part of this amazing community and to have so much support not only from my trainers and fellow athletes, but from my amazing husband. He supports me and lifts me up in all that I do and I am so glad we can do all this together.

It may be cheesy, but Crossfit truly has been completely life changing.

And the best part - if the numbers weren't proof enough, and how I feel isn't proof enough - there is always how I look (nothing like loving your body and marveling at all it can do):

And while I know it's not for everyone... boy do I love me some Crossfit!

Happy Anniversary to me and Crossfit Draper! :)