What Would a Day without Pain Look Like?

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0517171515This is one of my cats.

She leads a hard life.

Sleep.  Purr.  Eat.  Drink.  Meow.  Sleep

I don’t know how she handles the stress.

This morning I felt like her.  Great.  I did.

Then after a couple of hours my left arm started hurting.  Or it’s sore.

Yesterday, my stomach hurt (I did do 200 sit-ups two days ago).

I’m just wondering what a day looks like of normalcy–i.e. no pain, no soreness, an ability to squat without extreme soreness, an ability to dress yourself, etc.

I’m not complaining.  I’m not.

Because I can’t imagine my life any other way.

I don’t want to go back to pre-CrossFit.  That idea never enters my mind.  Even when I’m injured.

I do, however, sometimes crave a day of my body in rest.  I do realize I choose to put my body through what some see as torture every day.  I realize this.  Still,…

Any insights into a day without CrossFit effects?

“I Won!”

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I love winning.

Anything.

Writing contests.  A $5 gift card.  Uno.

CrossFit 5k

Yesterday, I won a 5k.

I came in 4th overall and 1st place for adult women.

I was pretty happy with my time.  It was a course of hills, but I felt the best I’ve felt running in months.

It was for a good cause and afterwards the kids jumped in blow-up castles and collected free gear.  The weather was cold but my competitive spirit warmed my heart!

When My Body Goes, My Mind Goes With It…

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Now, my left knee hurts.

I must have tweaked it.

Somehow.

My mind follows where my body leads.

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All Sunshine And Rainbows I tell myself.

When I’m pissed off that my body is aging, my day sucks.  It just does.  It’s cloudy and murky and hard to concentrate on anything.

Rest.  Again.  That’s all I can do.  And it’s extremely frustrating…

Throw in the fact I’m restless again about the path I’m on (which means something has to change) and this week has been dismal.

I try to look on the positive.  The good things in life.  God.  That gets me through…

But it won’t be the same until my knee heals.  And time is in control…

My Bruises are Badges of Honor…

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In the Comp on Saturday, we had dumbbell cleans, dumbbell presses, & dumbbell thrusters at 35 lbs. Needless to say, I have pretty sieable bruises on each shoulder. They hurt. Bad.

Dumbbell Bruises

Dumbbell Bruises

But to me they are Badges of Honor. Proof that I did something only a very small percentage of people do–even smaller than those who CrossFit.

My mom came and watched and her husband. They were blown away by what Cross Fit actually was. They couldn’t believe what some people chose to do. Nor could they imagine themselves doing it

CrossFitters are a special breed. They push their bodies to the limit day in and day out and keep coming back for more.

I live and breathe CrossFit. And when I’m so sore I can’t lift my arms the next day I’m driven to improve my weaknesses and get stronger. I can’t explain why. It’s innate. It’s the drive in me to be the best.

My First Comp…

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I had my first CrossFit competition (comp) yesterday.  It was a two-person team (same sex) to raise money for KidsatHeart, a non-profit organization that sponsors foster children.

I had only met my partner once.  At my box, there just aren’t that many women who can RX so I had to find a partner.  She was very nice and we got along great and worked great together.

Toes to Bar

Toes to Bar

The first WOD was a chipper that involved dumbbell cleans, dumbbell presses, and dumbbell thrusters, which we both struggled on.  I hate these so I don’t work them, but I need to.

The Row

The Row

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We won the second WOD, which consisted of 7 deadlifts, 7 kettlebell swings, and 7 cal row for 7 rounds.  We were both strong there.

 

 

 

Me and the Girls

Me and the Girls

Me Getting Ready

Me Getting Ready

The State of My Arms…

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When I first started CrossFit, I would get bicep tendonitis.

I’d back off, and it would go away.

The last six months I’ve had perpetual uncomfortableness in my arms, meaning one or the other feels off (usually my right arm).

In the last 6 months, all of my PR’s have increased.  Dramatically.  I’m lifting heavier and heavier weights.  Doing more pull-ups and bar muscle ups.  Overall, training and lifting at a more competitive level.

I’m wondering if my arm pain is just normal for this stage in my weight lifting career. Like growing pains with kids.  My muscles are growing and adapting and healing in a perpetual cycle.  With the normal muscle soreness and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Or is it something more?

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It’s so hard to tell with soft tissue.

All I know is it’s something I’m aware of.  I manage it.  I back off when I need to.  Take a week off when I need to.  Scale when needed.

I’m seeing a massage therapist.  And a muscle activation specialist.

There’s only so much one can do.

And I feel like I’m doing everything humanly possible while still maintaining my training regimen.  Other thoughts?