Do you want to be a morning runner? Do you know people who seem to thrive in the morning? They wake up loaded with rocket fuel and just tackle the day before the day can tackle them? Do you wish you could be half that perky? I have a secret. I once was a morning …
CrossFit
What is CrossFit?
"CrossFit is a strength and conditioning brand that combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and medicine ball training.
CrossFit contends that a healthy, fit person requires proficiency in each of ten general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.
It defines fitness as increased work capacity across all these domains and says its program achieves this by provoking neurologic and hormonal adaptations across all metabolic pathways.
CrossFit athletes run, row, jump rope, climb rope and carry odd objects. They frequently move large loads quickly over short distances, and use powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting techniques.
CrossFit athletes also use dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells, and many bodyweight exercises.
CrossFit is used in nearly 2,000 gyms worldwide and by many fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and military organizations including the Canadian Forces, and the Royal Danish Life Guards"
So that's the wiki definition.
What's the real definition?
Serious strength training that is the hardest thing I've ever attempted to do. And the days when I complete a full workout, I feel like I'm 10 feet tall.
It's that good.
In fact, I wrote about it in the following articles.
- Can CrossFit Improve Running?
- CrossFit, Running, and Rhabdo
- I Trusted my Trainer and He Saved My Life
Currently, I am working on returning to CrossFit. I took a break from everything, including running, for a couple of years and lost all the strength gains. I'm slowly buidling a base of strength training and running consistently. My ultimate goal is to join my CrossFit gym by fall of 2020.
It’s been almost 2 years since I last consistently enjoyed CrossFit and I have missed it tremendously. In 2 years, I’m noticeably weaker. Running is fantastic for what I love about running. It’s “my” thing. But, it doesn’t keep me strong. Not only do I notice how much weaker I am, I notice my posture …
I registered for the Rock’n’Roll Virginia Beach half marathon last week! And this time, I’m actually going to stick to a plan and possibly continue the plan into a full marathon in December. Now that I’m signed up, I decided to stick to the tried-and-true Hal Higdon plan. His training plans have guided me to …
4 miles. That’s ALL I got this week. I took Monday off to rest up and when I ran Tuesday morning, my IT band seized up bad. It’s been years since I felt this kind of IT pain. I knew from experience to stop running and try to remember all the at-home things my physical …
This is the last Friday in February. Let that sink in. This time next week, March will come roaring in and winter won’t be far behind. Alabama people may seem like we do not know a whole lot but we know our weather. If winter misery didn’t sit for a spell in February, we better …
As part of our school employee health program, we have to have a Wellness Screening every year. I wasn’t thrilled about this when it first started, but it’s a minor screening and it’s things I need to know every year. Every year, I get a pretty darn good result. Glucose is within range, good cholesterol …
I often hear various reasons or barriers of why people do not want to try CrossFit or other heavy-lifting classes. One of the most common is the idea that people MUST already be in great physical condition before trying a class. I know there are many different CrossFit franchises and each one is different. One …
I wish I had some great news to share about the journey to conception, but no news is just that. Nothing to report for now. When school started, the timing of everything became a LOT more difficult to navigate. Then when I got sick a few weeks ago, well, that had an impact on the …
I consider myself a reasonable person. I don’t have huge expectations that are difficult to meet. I rely on the usual—air, water, sun. The rest is negotiable. However. I must have a working Sharpie. And lately, they are failing me. Miserably. I have cups and caddies all over the classroom full of pens, highlighters, regular …
If you are a Twitter follower, you’ve probably noticed a few retweets from me from Women’s Running magazine. A few months ago, they reached out to our Rock ‘n’ Roll Ambassador fearless leader to see if any of us would be interested in working with them to promote some articles and print subscriptions. As …
I’m almost beginning to recognize my “old” self. I have to admit, I feel better after just a few days of better-not-near-perfect eating and haphazard strenght workouts with some consistent running. I was once a person who enjoyed whatever process I was working through. After being stuck for so long in a bad place, I’m …
I think it is safe to say that Summer is in full swing. I haven’t dared to look at the temperatures in Colorado because I know just how wonderful it was there a few weeks ago. In Alabama, we are melting. Literally, melting. It’s hard to believe that school will start soon and I will …
Taking some time to look on the little things today. I get bogged down in big picture stuff and I’ve noticed an increase in anxiety as the summer break comes to an end. I have this feeling like all my ducks are not in a row, therefore I’m not going to start my year off …
Yesterday’s post was a tough one. It’s never easy looking in the mirror and seeing what I see and then sharing that with others. What is worse is doing nothing to change the status quo. Being in a perpetual state of stagnation is almost as bad as the downward spiral that led me there. So, …
This post has been waiting for a long long time to make an appearance. This has nothing to do with recipes or CrossFit or running or Paleo or Whole30 or food photography. It has everything to do with me and how I lost my way. A few months ago, I got lost. Hopelessly and completely …
The past year has been a roller coaster of highs and lows and every possible step between the two. Many of you may remember about 9 months ago that I had a miscarriage and you have had a front row seat to my struggles with that process. I asked all the same questions many active …
Story of my life this week. Caffeine overload and oranges in a bag. It’s been a few days but nothing new to share, really. Life gets in these ruts for a few days at a time and it takes me a minute to figure out that I’m not really thriving…but surviving (totally stolen from THIS …
Not much to say about the tuesday. Coffee. Jelly Beans. Soup. Teaching. Wanting a nap. And sharing the story of the famed spray tan. Sunday, I got a good skin burn after being at the lake for a while. I have been spray tanning since February to knock some edge off the vampire pallor I …
Tuesday arrived again but not with the same dread as usual. I’m sick..again…and the pollen count isn’t helping. But the day wasn’t a total waste. Check out my new Divergent stickers and some blog love from Krissyanne Designs! I LOVE her (mostly) Dauntless stickers and her entire shop makes me smile. Huge. My morning workout …
Today is all about winning. I got in a great workout. I slept like a champ. We got some great school news concerning our new permanent principal. Things are finally settling down there after the best and absolute worst school year in all my years of teaching. And I’m gearing up for a hectic rest …