My Life as Failure

I slowly lowered myself to the floor for the 8th ring pushup of my set. At this point I was so exhausted from the strength training earlier that I was managing only knee pushups at this point. I've heard them called "girly" pushups before but they didn't feel that girly. No ma'am. All my determination was needed to keep my body moving. Two more pushups squeezed out and I had earned the right to rest for a few seconds before climbing the rope.

I lay there thinking about failure. In the styles of training I've been involved in, there comes a point in the workout where you reach failure. This is when you break strict form and use a cheat movement. You can squeeze out a few more partial reps or switch to a lighter weight. Crossfit is different. You finish the rounds with the weight you start with. It's a matter of commitment. And failure comes early in the WOD. I generally experience "The Wall" about half way through. It signals it's arrival with laboured breathing and it takes longer and longer to catch my breath. The weights seem heavier and now my body tells me to stop. I shudder when I realize I have more rounds to go. It seems like a lot more. But, the only way past the wall is through it. I've learned that in the last six weeks. You can't negotiate with the wall. It feels no pity. You can't rest enough to hope the wall goes away. It sticks around for a long time. You can't trick the wall. You have to put your head down, dig deep, and smash through it. You experience failure and you decide to keep on going anyway. You stretch. And in this way, I've learned that I'm capable of far more than I ever thought possible.

Here's what I did:
5 Rounds
5-Power cleans 135 lbs
5-DB Bench press 50lbx2db
5-Pullups
rest 60sec and repeat

5 Rounds for time:
10-db split snatches @40 lbs (5 per side)
10-Ring push ups
2-rope climbs

Using my trusty calculator and compensating for "girly" pushups and modified rope climbs, I calculate that I moved an astonishing 14,850 lbs!

Failure indeed.