Spartan Citi Field Weekend

'Hey, you should run a Spartan Race, you will love it'......  How about two in one weekend?

 

I signed up for my first Spartan over the winter and them proceeded to count the days until I finally got close enough to taste it.  It was at that point that I started to get nervous.  Yes, I knew I would make it through but I was still a wreck.   I've run 5Ks but this included challenges and penalties.  I also had no idea who my competition would be. 

 

I was signed up for the 9:30 heat and spent an hour or so after getting settled watching the time. I saw others around me getting ready, watched the screen display real-time video of fellow runners attempting the obstacles and heard the clinking of medals as finishers walked by.   I was getting anxious.

 

I moved toward the starting line.  At this race, it was the ramp you would take along the outside of the ballpark to get to the other levels. We stood in line as they released a group each minute.  As I stood there watching the clock count down I was just pumped to get going.   From 'Aroo!!" for the next hour or so, I navigated my way through each obstacle.  Some with ease and some, I failed and got to do the standard 30 burpees. As I crossed the finish line, I just wanted to find out my time and figure out how I would race again.  I was relieved, relaxed and exhilarated all in one.

 

Saturday ..... Race 1

I was scheduled to volunteer on Sunday but decided to get there early to run again.  Crazy to some but to me, a necessity.  I already knew what to expect and I was going to do better, I just knew it.  Off and running, I already noticed a difference.  There were less people on Sunday and especially early in the day so I didn't have to fight my way through.  I was more relaxed and found myself enjoying the experience in a different way.  I crossed the finish line almost 8 minutes faster than I did on Saturday!

Sunday ..... Race 2



After running, I checked in for my volunteer shift. I got to man the rope climb and having run already, I knew that everyone needed encouragement as they approached.  They had already completed most of the race and now they visibly had the last three obstacles ahead of them. It was volunteering there that made my Spartan weekend complete.  I met awesome athletes, heard stories, witnessed injuries, tears and victories.  My heart was full.

 

There are so many other stories and lessons learned from this weekend but I don't know where to start.  I wanted to get these pics up and check in with everyone.  The next race is already scheduled and just around the corner.

CrossFit Open 2014

I'd only been taking CrossFit Classes for six weeks when I registered for the CrossFit Open.  Other than it being a worldwide competition that would show me where I stand against 200,000 others. I had no idea what to expect.  My start in CrossFit was to just jump in with both feet.   I have learned as I had to in order to complete a WOD ( workout of the day) and tried to spend some extra time working on  the lifting aspect.

My experience may be different than many.  I didn't plan this as a way to lose weight or get stronger.  I started because I was bored with my routine at the regular gym.  I was lonely and finding that I wasn't challenged any longer.  It was also winter and I couldn't even take a run outside to break up the monotony.  I'd already been told by others that I would love it, it was right up my alley, that I was the perfect candidate, etc.  Well, being told that is one thing, making the leap, quite another.

I contacted the box (aka- the CrossFit Gym) and was invited to try a free class.  I went slowly and did a few of the moves.  A couple days later, I completed my first WOD....all Kettlebells.... and kept up with the class.  One more day of working on a few basics and it was decided that I would just do the WODs as written.  Feeling ok about my place among my peers, I signed up for the Open.  THAT is where I really found out where I stood.

For the Open, we were given a workout each Thursday night and had until the following Monday to complete it while being judged. Here's how it went:

 

WEEK 1

Nothing like flying by the seat of your pants.  Do you even know what a Double-Under is? It's jumping rope but for each jump, the rope goes around twice. I couldn't do one, much less 30!  So, I practiced Fri., Sat. and Sun.  I was finally able to get some a few minutes before the judging.  I made it through three rounds plus 6 more DUs to get a score of 141.  Not a bad start for someone only 6 weeks in, huh?  I have to say, If it wasn't for me pulling the DUs out of my @ss, I would have likely been pretty down about this adventure but this showing got me pumped. I was able to perform under pressure.  Pretty freakin' awesome.

WEEK 2

This week was a doozie.  Overhead squats are tough for me and I was just learning the movements when this was announced.  Then they throw in C2B Pull-ups? Ha.  I attempted this twice but in the end scored 17.  That means I didn't make it past the first round but this was the point in the competition that I decided that the Open was my chance to find out what I didn't know.  I planned to keep showing up and noting my weaknesses so I could work to improve.  This was NOT going to mess with my head, it was going to drive me.

 

 WEEK 3

Ohhh!  I was so excited for this one!  Something I knew I could do.  And if I had some experience under my belt, I would have killed it but my lack of form, due to my excitement, as well as coming off  a week of not feeling 100% worked against me and I only posted 90 reps (three full rounds)

WEEK 4

Rowing?  Who can't row?  Ok.... I'll at least get 60.  Toes-to-bar?  Exactly what it sounds like.  Hang from the bar and lift your toes until they touch.  Now do this 50 times.  Or not.   I got 44 and never made it to wall balls.  I wanted to get to the cleans so I was frustrated by the end of this one.

WEEK 5

I wasn't panicked.  I knew that in the end, I just had to complete this.  There was no time cap so while I had to keep moving, I wouldn't get disqualified by not being able to do something.  There were only two options; Finish or give up.....hell no on the giving up!

I originally planned to complete this Saturday morning.  Our Coach had arranged for another box to visit and we would be able to complete this with them.  Sounds great on paper but I was still a bit intimidated.  I wanted to go before they arrived but that didn't work out so I threw my hat in the ring on the first heat.  It was a grueling workout and I didn't finish as quickly as I'd wanted to but I did finish in a decent time (22:09).

I was thrilled to be done and have the remainder of the day to relax.  I got to cheer on everyone else and feel what they were feeling as they worked their way through this toughie.  It was a long, exhausting day but I don't think the smile left my face once. Being surrounded by others that cheered for me and that love this sport as much as I do was incredibly inspiring.  I wouldn't change this experience one bit.

  

CFONY and CFMH after 14.5

Final Standings

North East Standings

 

Worldwide Standings

Note: When I looked at the Leaderboard, it seems that many people in this didn't post scores for at least one week.  Each week, you earn points based on your standing.  The lower the number, the better. The final standings show as a cumulative number of points so if you didn't post a score, of course you would have less points and will place higher.  So.... I probably placed higher than this but it's not a make or break at this point.   I will keep working and have high hopes for the next one.

New outlook, new friends and teammates.... I see this as success all around. 

Congrats to anyone that attempted this at any level in their CrossFit Experience.