CrossFit: The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

Someone at my CrossFit gym recently said that there’s something wonderful about doing something so awful (referring to the CrossFit WOD of 12 Days of Christmas) together.

I agree; yet, there’s something even more wonderful about doing something so awful alone.

Struggling to Make it to The Gym

Most people struggle just to make it to a group fitness class, but once they are there, they participate with the others and push due to the competitive nature of humans.

You don’t have any of that when it’s you working out by yourself, alone. It’s you against yourself, and it’s 100% mental.

Yesterday, I did the 12 Days of Christmas CrossFit workout by myself at 5 am. I didn’t really want to do it. I had myself convinced I was too sore from Orange Theory on Saturday to do it. Yet, I reluctantly dragged myself to the CrossFit gym and went.

I was all alone. I did heavier weight than prescribed for the workout. And I finished, moving through one rep at a time. I always got bogged down in the five 95 pound thrusters, but did them all.

Half-way through this horrible CrossFit workout, I was wondering why I was doing it; this phrase popped in my mind: the relentless pursuit of excellence.

There’s something in me that wants to be the best, to do my best, and to beat others — even if they aren’t there. I beat them in my mind; I do what I think I can’t do. And, therefore, I win.

This is everything in life for me. I want to be the best at work (which I produce more consistently every month than another write at my job). I want to be the best at CrossFit. I want to be a better parent, wife, and pet owner. I want to be better, period.

Relentlessly pursuing excellence will get me there. Guaranteed.