We all know that place in the WOD where you've lifted your guts out and your tank is nearly empty. Still three rounds to go. Ah yes, a very special place in my heart. I was there during the last session. A seven-rounder of hanging DB power cleans, L-pullups, rows and sandbag getups. Let me tell you something; if your house is being flooded and you call me to help you build a retaining wall, I'm going to turn you down friend. It's the sandbags, you see. I have never, and I mean NEVER, been unable to get up off my back until I tried the sandbag getup with 75lb. Halfway through the rounds, I could no longer roll to my knee with the sandbag on my shoulder. I rocked. I rolled. I twisted. I turned. Each time, I fell flat on my ass. I was a turtle on my back. Somehow, after an almost comical effort, I was able to eke out a getup to my feet, and then slowly lower onto one knee to the lying position. Five on each side, for seven rounds. That's seventy for those of you counting. I looked at the ceiling lights a lot, summoning a hysterical burst of energy to try again. It got harder and harder as I went along. The sand shifts in the bag and that only adds to the diabolical nature of it. I actually thought it was going to be easy and fun. That happy thought became a distant memory.
In that massive effort laid a core of resolve to keep fighting onward. It's amazing what Crossfit enables you to do with your mind. My body was begging me to quit. It was offering me bribes. Take it easy, it would say. You've earned a little slack, it would say. My god, you don't want to have a heart attack, do you? I knew it was getting desperate if it resorted to the old heart attack threat. And I'll be honest with you. I was listening. I wanted to quit. The thing that kept me going, struggling to my feet each time, was the support I felt from my fellow Crossfitters. We were all in pain, bulldozing ahead, and encouraging each other. "Keep going!" "Just a few more!" Sometimes it was just a nod of appreciation and other times it was Coach telling me "That was a great clean! Way to go Brandt." When the shit hits the fan, those words are meaningful. Those words are pearls.
In the end, I think it was that which made me give it 100%. It's would be easy to wimp out on an exercise. You're accountable to only yourself and it's a choice each time to go for it or to hold back. The drive to make it worthwhile comes from the experience of sharing the pain with others. You feel that high after the WOD. That same experience makes you feel like you missed out when you skip a WOD and you hear later that it was a real GRINDER, a GASSER, and a SHITSTORM. The joy comes from being part of that with your friends.
5 Rounds
7 - L pullups (20 box jump pullups)
7 - Hanging DB power cleans 45x2db
125m row
10 - Sandbag getups 75lbs, 45lbs for the last round
1 comment:
Those words are pearls! I love it! The ol' heart attack excuse. Was your arm going numb? did you have stabbing pain shooting through your body? To date no one has died doing crossfit that's the good news! You'll puke or passout before you kick the bucket brother:)
Eh dude great work today on those benches! Way to eek out those extra reps. Your KTE"S are getting much better I see your hips starting to roll around more and more everytime I see you. Won't be long I can assure you that and you will be touching your elbows by fall! Mark my words brother!
Go to the main site and watch the squat clean videos. Learn the lingo of the lifts and what they mean. It will help your lifts tons if you understand the theory. The first, second, and third pulls. Creating elevation on the bar. Pulling under the bar. Understand that you always pulling yourself under the bar not pulling the bar up:) My coaching two cents for this week. There are snatch videos out there that show the path of the bar. It makes if very clear how the bar doesn't travel very high. Again nice work and great effort today bra!
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