Community

com·mu·ni·ty  

1. people in area: a group of people who live in the same area, or the area in which they live
2. people with common background: a group of people with a common background or with shared interests within society
3. nations with common history: a group of nations with a common history or common economic or political interests

When I think of the people at CrossFit Indestri (CFI), I think "community".  As defined above, #2 is exactly what it is.  Not necessarily people with a common background as we all have led very different lives and come from very different backgrounds.  But we are a group of people with a shared interest.  We all have a love/hate relationship with CrossFit LOL.

But seriously, it's very hard not to grow close to a group of people that you've completed a WOD with.  We cheer each other on, give encouragement to help keep them going, and give them a high five or props at the end of the workout.  We smile, we laugh, we sweat, and well, sometimes, we cry together.

Community is one of the top reasons I am still at CrossFit.  As much as I have learned that I love to lift heavy things, the people bring me back day after day.  Whether it's a "Hey Mighty Mouse" from coach Tyson in the morning or some "ribbing" from some of the members about whether we're ready for today's workout or not.  I don't think I could ever leave this type of environment.

Photo by Jennifer Nichol

This couldn't have been more true when I, unfortunately, had to take a total of 6 weeks off from CrossFit.  Between Pool School, a vacation, and some medical issues, it was the longest time away from these people that I've had in the past year.  And when I was going through my personal troubles, the only place I wanted to be was at CFI.  Kind of a Cheers effect.  You know "where everybody knows your name"...

While I was off, I received messages on Facebook.  "Miss you", "When are you coming back?"  "Quit slacking and get your butt in here!"  (My favourite).  Just made me miss CFI more.  So the first day I went back, I was a little emotional but boy, was I happy to see everyone.  Got some great hugs and "welcome back".

Another great testament to this community, well now more like a family, is how people stepped forward to help Chris achieve his goal at MetCon.  They were either there to watch him or there to help him.  Truly amazing!

So, if you're looking for a place where you can get fit and feel a part of a "community" like ours, then check out your local CrossFit box.  Ask the members.  I bet they say the same thing.

"Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came;

You want to go where people know,

People are all the same;

You want to go where everybody knows your name."

Where Everybody Knows Your Name by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/cheerslyrics.html

Girls Night

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

CrossFit Open Complete!

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!

So Deeply Moved... Thank you

I am completely overwhelmed by the response and support my blog has received in it's short existence. 


When I started writing my story last week, it was really in celebration of all that I have accomplished over the past year.  I had all these thoughts that I just needed to get out.  I wanted to share so much but only expected that it would be to those that know me.  Either we're friends on Facebook or they follow me on Twitter.  I truly did not expect anything more.

I checked my stats after my first post.  There was over 100 pageviews in less than an hour!  This "audience" was from all over the world!  I had posted my blog on a Facebook page I follow "Women of CrossFit = Strong".  A page where women share their inspiring stories.  I thought "hey, why not."  

Next thing I knew, my blog was being shared by others.  Shared by friends.  My first post is already up to 277 pageviews.  Really?

Since then I've written 3 more posts.  A total of 729 pageviews!!  What???  Now, I'm not going to get too excited, I understand that it's not necessarily 700 peeps but still.  WOW, it's all I can say.  Of course most of these are in Canada but my little blog has been seen in the US, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Indonesia, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, and Panama!!

The messages I have received through Twitter and Facebook have been overwhelming.  These people are calling my story "inspiring".  They're proud of me, my accomplishments.  They are words of encouragement.  I thank you.  

Then today, my blog was read by 2 people who I often either read their articles and blogs or listen to their opinions on the radio.  I received great comments and this:

McLeods Musings with Mariane McLeod

Thank you Mariane!  Your words are very kind and I am honoured that you shared my story!

Thank you everyone!  Thank you for your kind words and your support :)

Oh the Changes I've Seen

Six years ago I made a decision that would affect many people.  That decision was the TSN turning point of my life...

Not long after my daughter was born, I began to really look at my life.  I began to see many things that others were seeing happening in my relationship, my personality, my life.  People had been telling me things that I just didn't want to see.  Sure I was happy.  I had a house, a job, a husband, a beautiful daughter.  I thought I had it made.  

Unfortunately, I was still miserable!  Sure, I had a husband but not a partner.  I'm not going to go into great detail here.  For two years I lived my life going through the motions.  It was going to get better, right?

Well, in 2007 that's when it hit me.  Nothing was going to change unless I wanted it to.  I told my husband that I was not happy. We tried counselling.  Well, once anyway.  At that meeting, my husband was "diagnosing" me according to the counsellor.  He told the counsellor I'd been depressed since my daughter was born.  That I must be suffering from postpartum depression.  What did the counsellor say to this?  He said "I don't think that's the case at all.  I think you make her miserable."  BAM!  Like someone jumped up and threw ice cold water on my face.  I finally got it.  It wasn't just that he made me miserable, brought me down in his world of negativity.  I wasn't in love with him anymore.  I hadn't been for some time.

The other crushing moment was when my daughter, at the age of 3, asked me "Mommy, are you going to be happy today?"  WOW, she was seeing and processing all of this at such a young age.  She may not have known exactly what was going on but she knew something wasn't right.  And that was when I told him it was over.  I couldn't go on pretending anymore.  The moment those words left my mouth, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.

I'm not going to pretend I wasn't scared.  Boy was I scared!  Was I going to be able to make it on my own?  How would this work with my daughter?  Was I going to have to look for a new house?  

I have to admit.  I am one lucky girl.  I have an amazing support system of family and friends.  They helped me more than I could thank them for.  I don't know what I would've done without them.

We settled a lot of our stuff between us in the beginning.  I bought him out of the house.  We started a shared custody agreement and we were moving along.

Things started happening for me in other areas of my life.  Now that I was not dealing with all this negativity, other aspects started to flourish.  I got a promotion at work.  I started to see my friends again.  My health was improving.  Life was great.

Although there was one more major hiccup that happened over these last 6 years, one I'm not going to write about as it's not really appropriate, my life has changed in such a positive manner.  I can look back and say "yep, I'm a better person today".

One demon I was still battling up until I started CrossFit in March 2012 was my low self-esteem.  That's right folks.  For those that know me, I can put on a great show but my confidence levels were not that high.  HOWEVER, that has changed.  CrossFit and the strength it has brought me makes me feel like I can take on the world.  I have so much more confidence in everything I do.  Sure I get nervous sometimes and start to doubt myself BUT instead of running away, I go for the "well, I guess we'll just have to see what happens".  And every time I have to say that to myself, I shock the crap out of me!

I hated looking at myself in a mirror.  So, ya, I joined CrossFit to see some physical changes happen.  Boy did I ever.  When you look at the first picture, I look miserable.  The second picture, taken today, I'm happy and actually looking forward to bikini weather!

Everyone's results are different.  Not only has my body image improved (which was a bonus), I have new strength.  Strong is the new sexy!

Here are my numbers in the beginning:
Deadlift 65#, Thrusters 35#, KB Swings 8KG, Front & Back Squats 45#, Overhead Squat 35#, pull-ups with a purple band... I could go on and on.

Here are my numbers now:
Deadlift 185#, Thrusters 90#, Kettle Bell Swings @ 20KG, Front Squat 120#, Back Squats 130#, Overhead Squat 85#, Pull-ups NO BAND!

So changes, oh ya, I've had some major changes in my life over the last few years.  I'm truly thankful.  I'm blessed to have an amazing man in my life who is a wonderful life partner and father to my 9 year old daughter.  He tells me I'm beautiful and that he loves me everyday!  How can a girl not feel special :)

I have a beautiful daughter that my whole world revolves around.  I can't imagine my life without either of these wonderful people.  My life finally feels like its MINE.  Like it was meant to be.