We love olympic lifting. We love developing our strength. We also love those opportunities to showcase our conditioning during randomly programmed METCON's. Running, Pull-ups, Squats, Double Unders and yes, even Burpees. But not just your normal regular "run-of-the-mill" burpees, we're talking "Barrier Hop Burpees" which include parallets. Why be predicatable anyway? It's boring. It's uneventful. It's so un-gang-like. After 6 minutes of high-intensity barrier hop burpees, we all caught our breath and took a moment for a post-METCON pose. It's a box norm for us. Get used to it.
To be clear: There is nothing like loading up the bar with a shit-ton of weight and then lifting it off the ground all the way over your head. N-O-T-H-I-N-G! It's a rush. It takes hard work. It takes concentration. It takes well executed technique. Most of all, it takes HEART. Every day we get up before most of the free-world for the opportunity to develop our technique and strength. We coach one another. We grunt. We leave sweat puddles behind. But most of all, we work our asses off to set new PR's. To call us strong is a borderline insult. We prefer you call us all Beasts. Why? Because we deserve it!
Sometimes "pretty technique" is both more efficient and fun to watch. Notice I said sometimes and not all of the times. Olympic lifting is kinda pretty. Kettle Bell swings are not pretty. Now, Butterfly Pull-ups? Yeah, those are pretty. Come on now, how can you not agree? When executed properly they are both pretty and extremely efficient. Like anything else, all it takes is some good 'ol fashioned ball-busting practice. Execute these well and you're assured of a faster "Fran" time. But, don't get me started on that evil bitch. For now, we'll relish on the beauty of the Butterfly.
Isn't it nice to always have an "angel on your shoulder?" Let's be serious here for a moment. To feel as if you have an angel watching over you is a good thing. It's healthy. It's a positive sense of security. It's spiritual. It's inspiring. Sound familiar? It's another way the gang defines CrossFit. No wonder why we all openly welcome our Sweat Angel to the box every day. She's a positive byproduct of who we are, what we love, and how hard we work. Go ahead, give her a hug. It's okay. If you're lucky, she might even hug you back.....after you call "TIME!" of course.
Grains? You're outta here. Sugar? Sugar feeds cancer! Dairy? Don't even get us started, 86 that garbage too. Meat? Yum! Nothing less than one pound please. Eggs? Oh yeah! Whip me up a dozen will ya? Avocado? Oils? Bacon? Nuts? Seeds? Yes! Yes! YES! Hell YES! Keep it coming! Anything that falls into the paleo diet, we'll eat it up and by the truck load. Anything from the FDA derived recommended daily allowances food pyramid that falls outside of being "paleo approved" and we'll run that same truck right over it. Now pardon all of us while we knaw on the bone. Someone's gotta support the cavemen. It can't be just GEICO. That's just not patriotic.
Know what one of the of the most admired fixtures in our box is? No, it's not the bumpers. Certainly not the rowers. Dare we say it's not even the beloved pull-up bar. It's the whiteboard. Without question, it is the most coveted fixture in our box. We grimace in front of it. We smile in front of it. We sweat, scream and shout in front of it. We even celebrate in front of it. But all of us gang members respect the hell out of it. It is loved. It is feared. It draws all sorts of sound and facial reactions. But, at the end of every WOD, be it great, good, or bad results, we give it the love and respect it deserves and we write on it.
1) 80kg snatch (current PR is 60kg)
2) 100kg clean and jerk (current PR is 90kg)
3) 10 muscle ups (current PR is 7 unbroken muscle ups)
1.) Mile Under 7:00 (2009 PR: 8:03)
2.) 10 Dead Hang Pull Ups (2009 PR: 2)
3.) Weight at 170 (2009 PR: 197.4)