{"id":578,"date":"2012-03-12T10:03:59","date_gmt":"2012-03-12T17:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libernetics.com\/?p=578"},"modified":"2012-03-12T10:03:59","modified_gmt":"2012-03-12T17:03:59","slug":"crossfit-the-games-the-edge-and-the-demons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libernetics.com\/?p=578","title":{"rendered":"Crossfit: the games, the edge, and the demons"},"content":{"rendered":"

I confess I did not want to participate in the 2012 Crossfit Games<\/a>. \u00a0I told myself that my numbers wouldn’t be particularly interesting, or important, or meaningful to anyone in particular.<\/p>\n

But there was another reason, which is that I held a secret grudge against all those stronger, faster, and younger people who were really going to do well. \u00a0I was angry because I\u00a0thought\u00a0I wouldn’t be able to compete very well. \u00a0I decided to ignore the fact that there is a masters division; I told myself that the real world didn’t make those distinctions, thus the masters\u00a0division\u00a0was phony. \u00a0It\u00a0aggravated\u00a0me that there even is a masters\u00a0division. \u00a0I was smart enough to know these feelings were simple inferiority fears, so mostly I ignored them. \u00a0I\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0them, but didn’t dwell on it.<\/p>\n

But I still wasn’t going to participate. \u00a0But deep down I really, really wanted to. \u00a0Like a kid watching other kids playing baseball, who tells himself it wouldn’t be fun, but in reality wants to join the fun.<\/p>\n

As it so happens Justin Riley at CFES\u00a0<\/a>likes to have as much event participation as possible, so he told us to sign up. \u00a0He told us we were going to do the WOD anyway, we might as well get on the leaderboard, and in any case he would pester the daylights out of us until we signed up. \u00a0So I signed up. \u00a0I didn’t think I’d get anywhere, but I wanted to participate and Justin gave me the perfect excuse.<\/p>\n

Last Saturday was week 3 of the workouts. \u00a0First week was burpees, 2nd week snatches, and 3rd week a combination of box jumps, presses and toes-to-bars. \u00a0The WODs are posted every Wednesday at 5 pm. \u00a0It’s nerve wracking. \u00a0Except for burpees and box jumps I was nearly totally\u00a0unfamiliar\u00a0with the movements. \u00a0 I had never done a snatch with any real weight, and I really didn’t understand the movement. \u00a0I had never done toes-to-bar, and a 95# press is right on the edge of what I can do.<\/p>\n

And that’s it, right there: the edge. \u00a0If you’re not on the edge of your ability, you can’t improve. \u00a0And yes I could do these workouts alone, but that nerve-racking stress, the noise, the chaos, the fear, is all part of the\u00a0challenge. \u00a0Managing the surges of\u00a0adrenaline, all the hormones, all that emotion, is part of what must be done.<\/p>\n

I won’t say I’m relaxed during the event, but I will say I plan out my approach to the work at hand, set some goals, figure out what pace I need to be at, and step up to the bar. \u00a03-2-1 and go. Once it starts I’m fully engaged; I’m tense, but it’s getting to the point where it’s more about focus, and less about fear.<\/p>\n

When all is said and done, failing is better then living with fear. \u00a0My numbers are, as expected, near the bottom 15% (maybe lower). \u00a0The masters\u00a0division\u00a0is full of great\u00a0athletes. \u00a0But for a few minutes every week I get do the emotional\u00a0equivalent\u00a0of a space walk. \u00a0Right out there on the edge of my space.<\/p>\n

Well that’s it for now. \u00a0Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!<\/p>\n

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