Tag: CrossFit Competitions

Learn about my CrossFit competitions.

CrossFit: When the Workout is Perfect

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

Has this ever happened to you? You show up to do your WOD/workout and it was exactly what your body needed that day?

This happens to me occasionally and today’s workout was exactly what I needed after my CrossFit competition on Saturday.

I warmed up with cardio: an EMOM (every minute on the minute) of row, burpees, and double unders–perfect to get the body warmed and work all your muscles.

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Rowing in CrossFit Competition

 

The workout was 5 rounds for time of:

  • 15 cal row
  • 10 bar-facing burpees
  • 5 power cleans, climbing in weight each round

I had so much fun doing this I did an extra round! It was one of those workouts you never want to stop. You just want to keep going and going and going…like the Energizer bunny.

I polished it off with some strength work and felt amazing even though my arms are still incredibly sore from Saturday’s CrossFit competition.

Recovery Tips for CrossFit Competitions

  • Hydration. You used a ton of energy in one day and you need to replenish. Drink water till your heart’s content.
  • Active Recovery. Take one day off and then get moving! Get your muscles working to get rid of the lactic acid build up and start feeling better sooner.
  • If you’re sore in some areas, work the others. Give your body time to rest, but that doesn’t mean don’t do anything. Work your legs if your arms are sore and vice versa.
  • Don’t kill yourself in the next few days, trying to beat the best guy in your box. The last thing you want is a strain or injury.
  • Listen to your body. Do what it’s telling you: rest, recover, light exercise, massage, etc.

Every CrossFit competition is different. After some CrossFit competitions, I’m fine and not sore at all. After other CrossFit competitions, I’m wrecked and need more recovery time.

Find a workout that’s right for you where you’re at right now. You’ll feel so much better afterwards and be on the road to recovery. Happy Competing!

CrossFit Competitions : Granite Games Throwdown

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

My home box, CrossFit Endure, hosted the Granite Games Throwdown today.

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Third Place Granite Games Throwdown at CrossFit Endure

It was an awesome day, great weather, full of fun and friends and challenging workouts, laughter, and camaraderie.
The gals and I finished third place, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Both are some strong ladies who know how to bring it! Thanks, Michelle and Candice, for making great memories!

CrossFit Competitions: How to Get Your First Pistols

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

I had a CrossFit competition at Official Fitness in Windsor, CO. It was called the Silly Summer Showdown since it was built around odd objects.

Odd objects in CrossFit are not one of my strengths. But my weekend opened up and a friend wanted me to do it with her, so I signed up.

One of the workouts had pistol squats in them. This is an advanced move in CrossFit where you do a squat on one leg (body weight) and stand up. It’s very challenging for most because it not only requires a lot of strength, but it also requires coordination as well.

I have never done a pistol squat in my life without assistance. But I didn’t want to do scaled because I’m not a scaled athlete, so I signed up for this as RX (or prescribed). In CrossFit terminology, this means doing a harder workout.

My goal was just to get one. I know. Lofty, right? But that was my goal.

My gymnastics daughter who was with me (and is my official CrossFit photographer at these events) said I could do them.

The CrossFit Workout was:

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Pistol Squats

4 Rounds for time of:

  • 10 chest to bar pull ups
  • 10 hand release push ups
  • 10 pistol squats

But every minute on the minute you had to stop and do 5 wall balls. The time cap was 8 minutes.

I do my first round of pull ups and push ups and get to the pistols. I do one almost easily. I was ecstatic! I keep going, the whole 8 minutes and ended up doing 20 pistol squats!

Even though I didn’t do so well in this CrossFit competition, I had won in my heart. I was beaming after that WOD, so excited to have accomplished a move I never thought I would.

TIPS ON PISTOL SQUATS

So how did I do it?

  1. I wore lifters (olympic weightlifting shoes). Lifters have a higher heel, therefore allowing you greater range of motion and stability.
  2. I had the strength. It’s amazing to me how much stronger I am than 6 months ago. CrossFit works. Any training program works if you stay consistent. Slow, methodical progress you can’t see every day happens. Trust the process.
  3. I pressed through my heel. After a few, I found the technique. Press through your heel until you stand back up.
  4. I used the bounce. Use the bounce at the bottom to get back up.

CrossFit is about believing in yourself, pushing the boundaries, and having the self-confidence to just do it!

I didn’t think I could do it.

I proved myself wrong.

And that’s the best feeling ever!

CrossFit Competitions: Recovery Tips for the Day AFTER a Competition

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

You’ve just done four workouts in one day. You’re tired. You’re sore. You hurt all over.

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CrossFit Competitions!

You return home and plop in bed for some well-deserved rest.

The next morning you feel it: sore to the extreme. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which is when muscles are stressed and tiny tears occur has begun to set in and moving is not exactly fun. You got new bruises. It may be hard to lift your arms and put on your clothes or even use the bathroom!

So what can you do?

Here are some post-competition recovery tips:

  1. Hydrate. Drink plenty of water to get water to your muscles to aid and speed recovery and aid in diminishing the soreness.
  2. Eat! Eat healthy. A good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and some fat will go a long way in aiding your muscles to feel better and grow stronger.
  3. Rest. The day after a CrossFit competition should always be a rest day. Allow your body the time it needs to recover. Take a nap if you have a chance and get a good night’s rest.
  4. Massage. Massage promotes blood flow to the muscles, which will aid in your body ridding itself of lactic acid build up from the extreme exercise. Research has shown this won’t necessarily rid yourself of soreness, but you will definitely feel better afterwards!
  5. Creams. I personally use Hot Stuff to heat up my muscles. These creams ease your sore muscles and help with joint aches and pains. Cold creams work the same way in cooling down your muscles. The active ingredients in these creams are said to block the pain signals from the muscles to your body and don’t have an actual effect on the muscles themselves. Again, research is minimal in the effects of these creams so try it out for yourself and decide.

Let’s face it: depending on the competition, you just put your body through movements you’ve never done before, heavier weights than normal, a lot of moves, and multiple workouts. You’re gonna feel it.

The Results & Benefits of CrossFit Competitions

It does get better the more competitions you do. It’s like any stressor on the body; the more you do it, the more your body adapts. Give your body the time it needs to perform the miracles it does best.

Follow these simple tips above the day after a CrossFit competition and in a few days you’ll be back to “normal”–only stronger, wiser, and better for having done something not a lot of other people choose to do to themselves!

Happy competing!

Crossfit: Whiteboard Classic at CrossFit Arvada

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit
Jumps in Crossfit

Crossfit Madness: This weekend was the Whiteboard Classic CrossFit Competition at CrossFit Arvada, a suburb of Denver, CO.

My partner & I entered the female/female scaled division. We did pretty good until the third workout or WOD, which involved a sandbag hoist–something neither of us has ever done before. We had to sit on the ground and pull a 50 pound sandbag up to the ceiling and lower it back down.

The learning curve was substantial & we lost our placing because of it. It was also brutally hot out–near 100 degrees most of the day. I’ve learned I don’t do well in the heat

It was a fun day though. A group of us from CrossFit Endure showed up & had a great time encouraging one another, cheering, and congratulating the personal wins.

REASONS TO ENTER A CROSSFIT COMPETITION

One of the reasons to enter a CrossFit Competition is it forces you to do things you wouldn’t do otherwise (like the sandbag hoist).  It takes your comfort zone away and before you think about it, you just do it!

For me personally, this CrossFit competition taught me that I can jump a lot higher than previously thought, and I do better in the cold. And once I get tired everything goes.

There’s nothing easy about CrossFit competitions.  Doing four workouts in a day is brutal. Add in other factors such as the weather (heat), slight body tweaks here and there (pulls and strains), and challenging equipment at a location you’ve most likely never been to and the day turns into a lot of work instead of play.

WHAT CROSSFIT COMPETITIONS DO FOR YOU

However, if you’re one of those people who thrive on diversity, live to push yourself both mentally and physically to unknown locales, and the challenge is more important to you than the win, CrossFit competitions are for you.

You’ll meet a lot of new people, get some cool swag (t-shirts, supplements, protein bars, and more), and maybe even a podium spot!

But importantly, at the end of the day, you will experience what everyone at a CrossFit competition is seeking whether they know it or not: a sense of accomplishment.

  • Doing something else others can’t or won’t
  • Pushing yourself to the extreme and to the edge of mental and physical exertion
  • An indescribably boost psyche that will get you through the tough challenges of your life

CrossFit competitions are thus more than just the physical challenge of it.  For some, they’re what gets you through the rough patches in life and what will take you to the next level in whatever your goals are in life.

CROSSFIT COMPETITIONS ARE FUN!

And CrossFit competitions are fun!  An amazing community coming together to celebrate you!  What you can do.  How far you can push.  How far you’ve grown.

I challenge you to enter one today.  You’ll never know unless you try.

CrossFit: Granite Games Finish…

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

 

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Ring Muscle Ups

“What I need is for ring muscle ups to show up either in a competition or the Granite Games,” I remarked to my daughter.  “Then I’ll have incentive to get one.”

Well, guess what?  They showed up the next week in the Granite Games qualifier as workout #5.

I was excited.  As excited as you can get about muscle ups when you don’t have them and you need them for a competition.  And I had almost gotten one the day before.

However, going into the workout, I was sore from the week and from practicing muscle ups.  My mind was just not there.  It wasn’t my time…

I came in 83rd overall for my age group.

Not bad considering my score on Workout #5 was a big, fat zero since I couldn’t get a ring muscle up.

The last workout with dumbbell thrusters surprised me.  Surprised me because I did better than I thought I was going to do.

I entered the Granite Games on a whim.  No expectations.  Not really caring where I finished or how I did.  Just to do it…

All the workouts were hard.  Some were insane struggles just to keep moving.  But overall I learned a ton.  Had a good time with my fellow box members who took on the challenge along with me.  Progressed mentally more than anything.  Which at this point in my career is where I’m at:  breaking down mental barriers as to what I think I can and can’t do.

Final verdict:  Worth every sweat drop and bruise!

Next year?  Who knows…

The Granite Games: I’m Unsure Why I’m a Glutton for Punishment…

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

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The Granite Games.

For some reason, I signed up for this.  I know, I know.  I just bemoaned THIS.

Unsure why.

I don’t care about the results because I’m under no delusion that I’d actually qualify.

I think I just wanted to see how I did amongst my peers.  Currently, for my age group, I’m 33rd (we’ll see how far I fall once all the scores are in).

This is Week 2 of two workouts we have to complete and working out non-stop is beginning to take its toll.  We did Workout #3 on Friday night and Workout #4 today.  It definitely wasn’t my A game today and took everything I had just to keep moving through the reps.

I went home, ate, and napped.  All my pets napped with me.  Then I laid around all day, reading a book to my kids who are under the weather and being overall lazy.

The last week is coming up, and we find out on Wednesday what the last two workouts are.  Then…done!

Just in time for the 4th!

 

 

No Gutz No Glory

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit

Image may contain: one or more peopleI spent the weekend at the No Gutz No Glory CrossFit competition in Denver, CO, at CrossFit Omnia.

It was fun!  The weather was gorgeous.  The people were great.  Good competition.  Great atmosphere.

My partner was from CrossFit Omnia, and he was good.  We did really well together considering we’d never met before.  We placed 18th out of 30 teams.  Not bad.  Our weakness was the strength ladder (that was me–he cleared it) and the rowing.  Our syncho moves were spot on.

My legs were gone by the last WOD (workout), but we did pretty good.  I’m a bit sore this morning but nothing too bad.

Good fun.  Great time.  Looking forward to this one next year!  Shouts out to Omnia for hosting!

Finally! A Podium Finish!

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit
MOB Comp
That’s Me in the Bright Red!

Today I had a CrossFit competition at CrossFit MOB (mind over body) in Thornton, CO called Battle of the Boxes. I entered the female/female competition, and my partner was a girl from their box.

We worked really well together. She’s crazy strong, and I had a bit more skill work than her. The workouts suited us as well.

We got 2nd overall. We won the Floater, which was a partner sled push and pulled out a second place finish for WOD #2. Our prizes were really cool: a case of Kill Cliff drinks, a jump rope, wrist guards, a $100 gift card to Reebok, and a recovery drink.

I had a ton of fun (of course winning helps).  Another team from my box competed in the male/male division and won 2nd place as well!  Way to go, guys!

My partner commented how with partners you try harder because you don’t want to let the other one down.  That’s certainly true.  In WOD #2 one partner had to hold a 95 lb barbell in the front rack position while the other either rowed and did wall balls.  I ended up doing most of the holding, and I held it longer than I normally would have because of her.

It was her first competition, and she had a blast.  That’s what it’s about:  pushing yourself while having fun!

Weekend Warrior

by crossfitmomm, posted in CrossFit, CrossFit Open

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Yesterday, I did another CrossFit competition. It was a partner comp with one male and one female. This one was local, held at Official Fitness in Windsor, CO.

Like most CrossFit competitions, this one had 3 workouts and a floater and a final if you made it. We finished in fourth place by just a hair.

My partner, Alex, and I make a great team.  Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other and it’s always fun to work out with someone who 1) pushes you and 2) wants to win as much as you do!  The great thing about partner workouts is you work harder so you don’t let the other one down!  I definitely did, and I know he did as well!

It was a great time. The day was bright and sunny. My kids were able to come and watch because it was so close to our house.  The other competitors were amazing athletes.  Official Fitness was a welcoming, warm box.  Hanging out with other athletes is always inspiring.

In addition, I added more bruises to yesterday’s.  It was a great warm-up to the Open (which is happening in 5 days and I’m not ready!!!).  And I was blessed to spend time with some of my favorites athletes from my own box, CrossFit Endure!  Thanks for cheering us on guys!