I just spent a great night with a very special female... My beautiful daughter Ciara. This week was a very busy week. Early mornings and late nights meant very little family time. Then off to her Grandma's she went for a sleepover as Mommy had to work this morning as well. These busy times can kind of take a toll on family life. Unfortunately family time is going to have to wait. Parker is away with the Major Bantam Boys Basketball team at their Provincials. So instead of Family QT, Ci and I had some Girlie QT. Off to Kelsey's we went. While we waited for our food we chatted and coloured away on her menu. Played some Tic Tac Toe. Food was delicious. We headed home and got into our PJs. After a couple of iCarly episodes, we settled down for a cuddle and to watch "Aliens in the Attic". Although she's seen it before, she wanted to see it again.
We didn't do much tonight but it was time we needed. With so much happening in our busy lives and some big changes to come, I made a promise to Ciara that we would do this much more often. We did the big handshake on it :) Family is so important. I'm very lucky and have grown up with a family that has always been there for me. Through the good and even more so through the bad. I want Ci to grow up with that same feeling of togetherness and love. For Ci and I, we've gone through a couple of tough family changes and a couple of really great ones. We have a strong family unit now and couldn't be more happier. So my promise to her, is something I plan on keeping... for as long as she wants to hang with her Momma ;) I'll leave you with a quote that is very fitting for my family situation :) The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life ~ Richard Bach
I actually started this blog post last weekend but I think I was still so tired!!
Check another item off my Bucket List, "Compete in the CrossFit Games Open". As of today, that is complete! What is the "Open"??? The Open competition is an opportunity for fitness enthusiasts from all over the world to compete in an international CrossFit competition. The competition began March 6th with the "announcement" of the first workout, 13.1. There were a total of 5 WODs (workout of the day). Each were announced on Wednesday night and had to be completed, with scores submitted by Sunday night. The first week, 13.1, was full of electricity. All kinds of hype leading up to the big announcement. The CrossFit community was a buzz. Parker and I sat down in front of the computer and waited.13.1 will be 17 minutes of: 40 Burpees, 30 reps of 45lb Snatch, 30 Burpees, 30 Reps of 75lb Snatch, 20 Burpees, 30 Reps of 100lbs Snatch, 10 Burpees, as many Reps as possible in time remaining of 120lb Snatch.Here was my thought process: "ugh burpees" then "75lbs!!! Are you kidding me? My 1 rep max is only 65lbs. Well I'll be done at 100 reps (40+30+30)". From Wednesday night on I had butterflies in my stomach. What was I thinking? I can't do this! By Saturday morning I thought I was going to puke. Reminded my of my old skating days. Never was much of a competitor LOL. Always lost my cookies before hitting the ice.
So Thursday I set up a one-on-one session with my coach, Tyson. Time to work on that Snatch. He coached me up to the 75lbs. I did it! It wasn't pretty. "Get under the bar! Under the bar" (those words still echo in my head). On Saturday I knew I would get at least 1 of those 75lb Snatch lifts up. So away I went. My dear friend Tammy, my mom, Parker, Nate, and others yelling encouraging me to pick up the bar! Not only did I get 1 up, but I managed to get 7 of them up!! According to other members of our community, every time I got the bar up, I had a big smile on my face. Damn right I did! I was pretty darn proud. Needless to say, I survived week 1 and was ready for more! Next up, 13.2. Same kind of excitement and electricity. The anticipation of the announcement on Wednesday night...13.2 will be 10 minutes, as many rounds as possible of: 75lb Shoulder to Overhead, 75lb Deadlift, 15 box jumps at 20" This was a little more my WOD. Although the 75lb Shoulder to Overhead was a little trying with my shoulder. Bad shoulder. Damn muscle ups! Then, 13.3. The Wednesday night nerves were finally settling by this point. Always exciting to tune into the website and watch the top CrossFit athletes tackle the next WOD. Also, sometimes their reaction was just as surprised as our reaction :) 13.3 will be 12 minutes of: 150 Walls Balls (14lbs), 90 Double Unders, 30 Muscle Ups.As you may remember from an earlier post, I did not enjoy this one at all! This one crushed me. To the point that I was holding back tears. Really?? I had to do a serious reality check with myself that night. Reminding myself that I couldn't even do a proper Wall Ball a year ago. Let alone 150 at 9ft target!! It took a little while but I got over it.
13.4, almost there! As we near the end of the Open with this WOD, you can tell that HQ was looking to weed some people out. Those of us that still weren't lifting Rx (prescribed) weights in a lot of WODs.13.4 will be 7 minutes of: 3 reps of 95lb Clean and Jerks, 3 toes to bar, 6 95lbs Clean & Jerks (C&J), 6 toes to bar (T2B), 9 95lbs C&J, 9 T2B, 12 95lbs C&J, 12 T2B, 15 95lbs C&J, 15 T2B, 18 95lbs C&J, 18 T2B. If you complete the round of 18, go on to 21, then 24, etc.95lbs Clean & Jerk!! WHAT!!?? This was where quite a few of us surprised ourselves. I missed my friend Cathy Jackson but I know this was a huge PR (personal record) for her! I've heard that it was a very emotional and proud moment for Cathy and all those that were there to cheer her on. Awesome job! For me, my 1 rep max was 100lbs. So 95lbs? I told Tammy my goal was to get through the set of 3 and then take the rest of the time to get as many of the 6 as possible. Low and behold didn't I shock the s@#$ right out of myself. And again came the smiles every time that damn bar went over my head. I made it through the 3s AND the 6s AND managed to get 4 more reps! Super proud? You bet! Considering my current weight is 115, that's a lot of weight to be throwing over my head :) 13.4 definitely brought me out of the slump I was in after 13.3.
The Grand Finale, 13.5. I'm sure I'm not the only one that felt this way, "Let's just get'r done!" 5 weeks was a long time. Too many unknowns, so many emotional moments. Really takes a toll on one's body! This Wednesday, still excited to watch it but not really excited to do it, I sat on my couch with my laptop and watched 4 AMAZING CrossFit Athletes get completely and utterly crushed. This WOD wasn't just a test of strength and endurance but also a major mental test.13.4 will be Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 4 minutes of: 15 reps 65lb Thruster, 15 Chest to bar Pull-ups.If 90 reps (3 rounds) are completed in under 4 minutes, time extends to 8 minutes. If 180 reps (6 rounds) are completed in under 8 minutes, time extends to 12 minutes. If 270 reps (9 rounds) are completed in under 12 minutes, time extends to 16 minutes. HOLY CRAP!! What a way to end the Open. This was a truly crushing WOD. Leaving many, I'm sure, emotionally and physically drained. That's where your CrossFit community comes in. Unfortunately for me, I had some health restrictions. BUT, instead of just walking away, I at least did my 1 rep to get a final score. Why not right? So although I didn't feel the effects of this one, I saw many of my CrossFit Community that did.
Thankfully, we have a Box full of AMAZING people! After the last athlete performed 13.5 on Saturday, we celebrated with great food and music. We had a fun team WOD where the morning folks took on the evening peeps. Full of fun and laughter, we tackled the WODs as a team and it truly bought everyone's spirits back up. Although... apparently us morning folks were accused of cheating. I'm still waiting on an explanation of that one. Scott??? Thank you for an amazing Open experience CrossFit Indestri! I would say that my biggest highlight of the Open was not all the PRs (they rocked but), it was feeling that sense of community we always talk about. I love our CFI group! It truly feels like a family. But when we do something like this, we don't just feel like a family, we act like one. We're out there cheering on, encouraging, and supporting each other. When we fall down, someone runs over and picks you back up. Seeing everyone come out just to watch or come early/stay late to watch, was priceless. And THAT my friends is my most favourite and cherished part of CrossFit! Watch out CrossFit Open 2014, I think there's a few CFI members that are going to come back with a vengeance! Check out this great video that my friend Jen made of our community taking on the 2013 Open!
One thing I wasn't prepared to give up in my new lifestyle... CHOCOLATE! So I haven't completely given up chocolate. I like to have a square or 2 in the afternoon. I try very hard not to have one every day but they're just so yummy!! Oh chocolate... What I did change was the type of chocolate. I now eat dark chocolate at 72% cacao or more. Usually I get the Lindt 85%. It's really dark. Dark enough that I just want a taste and that seems to satisfy the sugar demons. Unfortunately I have been on a milk chocolate binge though since Easter. Yep, Ciara's chocolate is not safe with me. Not one bit! Ugh, it's just so delicious! The only thing with milk chocolate is that it contains all the bad stuff that tells your brain you want more. It's so full of sugar that your body just keeps going and going and going... You know, like the Energizer Bunny. Then, you feel gross. Chocolate overload! So my goal for next week, stay away from milk chocolate. Notice I said next week? Ya, I'm giving myself the weekend. Why not? Here's one of my favourite Paleo-Friendly chocolate treats: Peppermint Chocolate Macaroons from Against All Grain
I just made 2 batches of these goodies for tomorrow's celebration of the completion of the CrossFit Open competition at CrossFit Indestri. Hope everyone enjoys them!! Stay tuned for a recap of my first Open experience...
