Major

Living in Pain

Going into this year I was flying high! Not only did I feel as though I was in the best shape of my life but I was also about to start a new job as a coach at CFV. While I could have not asked for a better start to my coaching career, my personal athletic progress has been all but a waste. 

On Christmas day I hurt my back while chasing a goal that I had set for myself 6 months prior. While I have no regrets, I can't help but be filled with rage as this is the 3rd time in my life that a serious injury has worked against me and stalled everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. There has not been a day this year where I have not woke up in pain; while some days are far worse than others, each day has presented itself as a battle. While I feel as though I have been able to stay mentally strong and overcome this injury the best I can; I feel like it has worn on me enough to declare that it has finally gotten the best of me. 

When each day is a war, you eventually start fighting yourself. While coaching has provided me with an incredible outlet and has helped me to stay focused, coming to terms with the fact that I have not made it through one wod this year without feeling some kind of pain or discomfort has now officially gotten to me. The last month the pain has come to ahead and has finally beat me down to the point where I just don't want to feel it anymore, which means that I don't want to work out. While I still hurt when not working out, it is not nearly as bad as when I do. While I have been able to push myself to some good times and weights this year, they have all come at a cost, and none of them have been taken on at 100%. 

This all came to ahead during my last wod. I have done everything that I know and now it is time to try a different approach. While the last thing in the world that I want to do is to not compete this weekend at the clash, I feel like not competing may be right where I need to start. 

If I want to continue as an athlete, my approach will need some serious adjustments, and I will need to make some tough decisions in the near future. 

Stiff

One of our greatest artists... Much respect!

Ended up taking an extra day off. My lower back is just plain stiff and it is really pissing me off! Made an emergency appointment with the Doc to on Tuesday and will be getting a 3rd epidural asap! I hate it but its my best and only option right now. 

Today's Wod:

6 Rope Climbs For Time

+

Wod from the Crossfit USAW in October:

AMRAP in 10 Minutes:

6 Squat Cleans @55kg

12 Pull Ups

24 Double Unders

Registered!

Pretty excited to announce that yesterday I registered for the inaugural CrossFit/ USAW Open coming this October in Colorado Springs. My love for Olympic Weightlifting has really driven my development as a coach. This event is a huge step forward for crossfit and not being a part of it was not an option. A lot of the big names will be there and having the opportunity to make a name for myself in this forum will be big for me. This will be my first trip to Colorado and I will be making my way there with Colin to compete! 

Knowing the workouts in advance will definitely force me to adjust my training, which is fine by me. Oly lifting more will no doubt make me a better crossfit'er and happy! Becoming more efficient at pull-ups and double unders will also be big for me! 

I am truly looking forward to this and will prepare appropriately! I think that both Colin and myself have a good opportunity at doing well! 

Pain

Khalipa doing the same wod in 2:38 to win the 2008 CrossFit Games. Little different situation but an absolutely incredible time. 

Today's Wods:

7AM

30 Squat Clean & Jerks @155lbs. 

    3:45

Without question the most painful wod I have ever done! It took me well over an hour to get to the point where I thought driving was ok. I thought sub 4 would be a good time for me so I am pretty happy with the result. Not at all with my recovery though! 

3PM

For time:

15 HSPU

30 Pull-ups

45 KBS @ 53#

60 Anchored Sit-ups

75 Double Unders

14:02 

Not at all happy with this time. I was mentally beat after this mornings workout and just had to fight my way through this one. Nothing to learn from or take away, just one of those workouts. 

Back at it...

My Drink... 

Needed a few days of recovery....

Today's Wod:

In 10 minutes:

    Run 1 Mile

Complete amrap  of:

    3 CTB Pull Ups

    3 Burpees to an 8' target

6:14 on the mile 

45 total reps

My energy levels were low today, I was really not looking forward to working out. My body has just been in pain the last week, every second of today's wod hurt because I was just not there mentally. Now that I have this one behind me though, I am ready to go forward. 

The time for the mile was a 12 second PR. I was hoping to go sub 6 for the first time but I knew that it was not gonna happen after the first 400m. I just could not push myself hard enough to get the job done. I am happy with the PR but not with how I felt during and especially not with my recovery. I came in and was just plain defeated! I actually laid down until the clock hit 7 mins and then went after it. The pull ups were easy and fast, the burpees were slow and hurt! That said I am actually not to disappointed with my reps. I was thinking that 50 would be a pretty legit score, knowing how I felt and my inability to push myself today I gotta say that I am pretty happy with both the 6:14 and the 45 reps. 

Interesting one tomorrow!