Chasing PR's - The Never Ending Battle of a Crossfitter

When I started Crossfit this year, I didn’t have any set goals. I went in with the mentality that I was going to be the slowest, most out of shape and asthmatic person there and all I had to do was show up, refrain from throwing up and not cry. I am happy to report that I have shown up for eight months now and I have learned that setting real goals are important for growth and confidence.

In the first few months of Crossfit, everything is a PR which made it hard to set goals because I didn't know what I was lacking or chasing. For me, doing an Over Head Squat, Front Squat, Handstands, Box Jumps, I could go on and on, everything was new. My very first WOD in April of 2014 had OHS and I used a 15# bar. Compared to today, my OHS is at 80# and will only go up. Looking at those numbers I can laugh because it reminds me that I really did start at the bottom, something I fail to remember at times.

When you are in the box, you are surrounded by every type of athlete which makes it easy to overlook your inexperience and down play your gains. I train regularly with people who have been doing Crossfit for years, ladies that are in their 50’s and even newbies that out lift me, out run me and certainly out burpee me. I recall getting my first clean and not being proud because those around me were leaps and bounds above my weight. It took me awhile to adjust to a positive mind set because I was trying to compare myself to those ladies instead of finding myself in awe at what they are able to accomplish.

My first experience doing MURPH (1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats and a 1 mile run for time) I went up to our box owner and asked if I should scale the run because of my asthma and lets be honest here, I was praying he would say yes. He looked down at me (the man is easily over a foot taller than me) and said “scale anything but the run, you can do it” and smacked me on the shoulder. I thought he was insane. I was more scared of running than doing anything else but you know what? I ran two miles that day, something I have never done and in that run, I met another Crossfitter who helped me pace myself and my breathing and he ran the last mile with me and didn't leave me behind.

Since that WOD I have learned so much about lifting, pacing myself, proper form and my ego. I have let my ego in the door on at least two WODs and I can say from experience to leave that jerk at home. I don’t mind failing reps and falling on my butt in front of everyone, I don’t mind being last (in my class and the entire box) more times than I can count and I don’t mind pushing myself so hard that I see spots in front of my eyes because all of that makes me a better athlete. I mind having asthma attacks and feeling like I am not making progress.

Then there are weeks like I had last week, where all of a sudden I am hitting goals left and right. Actually, the last 30 days have been a constant PR for myself. I did 50 unbroken wall balls one night, another night I did 50 burpees in a row, I finally got a handstand and a medium sized box jump. It is as if the Crossfit God’s shinned a light on me and said “It’s your turn to be a beast Carly”. I would like to say I have been humble through all of this but I haven't been, I am too freaking excited, I mean down right giddy. I was so proud of myself for the handstand I had to post it on social media from the parking lot of our box.

Have I become conceited through all of this? Heavens no. For once, I am truly, deeply proud of my accomplishments. I have been chasing that handstand for EIGHT months, I have fought through 90 WODs to build the strength and confidence to do it and I absolutely EARNED it. When I post PR’s on my lifts, I am proud of myself but nothing compared to the pride I felt from accomplishing my first gymnastic movement because those movements are absolutely foreign to me.

Box jumps on the other hand are about lack of confidence and the belief that my legs will go that high, which is why my first box jump last week was down right comical. I would walk up to the box and my whole body would lock up and I’d just fall forward. Fear had firmly planted my feet to the ground. I was laughing at myself, the ladies in my class were laughing right along with me and we are talking about a 16” box jump here, child's play. When I finally talked myself into moving my legs, I got on top of that box!! My heart was racing and I was in utter disbelief. So what did I do? I jumped off and did it again, just to be sure it wasn’t a one time deal.

I still have a long list of goals to achieve and that will only grow as I become better and better at Crossfit. I just got my handstand, next on the list is the handstand push up. I just got my first baby box jump, next up is the 20” box jump. I am currently chasing a 235# deadlift and once I hit that, I will be chasing a 255# deadlift, that is the nature of the beast. It may be another year before I finally get a pull up, but lets hope that isn't the case because that means a muscle up is in the FAR future.

I am fortunate to have such a strong Crossfit community to help remind me of how far I have come because when I am chasing a goal I am so consumed with the final result, I forget where I am at times. In these last few weeks I was complemented on the numbers I am putting on the board with my weight training and I was praised for my increased aerobic endurance. These comments made me stop and take a good look at where I started and where I am today. So thank you to my friend that introduced me to Crossfit, thank you to my husband that cheers me on and tells me “you did good baby” after every WOD, thank you to my fellow Crossfitters and Coaches who have taught me so much and THANK YOU to myself for not quitting, crying or throwing up!

Picture from: http://therxreview.com/how-to-improve-box-jumps/

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