Hello Loves! How goes it y'all? Man I swear - I am loving life right now, but it sure feels like I am in warp speed some days haha! This weekend my box ( CrossFit Aspire) hosted the Festivus Games. I aggravated my groin Thursday (thought it was a pull, but had a friend stretch it and seems a TON better) so was limping around Friday, but still made it to the gym to help get set up. I wasn't a ton of help - but I could do the math for the bars quickly and help get the weight on the bars. Picking it up was out of the question though haha. After we got the box ready, I headed over to Sandy's with Holly and we helped make signs for Saturday's event. By we - I really mean them haha. I just colored stuff in and traced letters :) I think they came out awesome! Everyone seemed to like them, and that's all that really matters. Plus I had a lot of fun with Sandy and Holly.
Sandy made her sangria and let me eat her grub. I'm not even sure what I really ate...chicken lettuce wrap things. They were really good. She also sent me home with advil for my groin because at that point I couldn't get up and down haha. Her boys helped out on stuff too.
After we were done we found the littlest one passed out. How cute is he?
Tara KILLING the thruster ladder!
Aspire Crew on the Thurster ladder!
Saturday was AMAZING. Like seriously. Justin and Alycia had that shit running like a well oiled machine. It was AWESOME! Our box crew totally stepped up and were great judges and volunteers. I know I've said it before, but seriously...my box is the BEST!
Nick making Thrusters look EASY!
me & Tricia
I am still amazed at how well it ran. My girl Diva from Diva Richards Fitness was a fabulous MC. She had everyone going and kept things running smoothly!
AC and me!
Jillian and me
Diva & me
It was cool to see how many people came out to compete. Lots of local boxes were well represented! I got to meet one of my twitter buddies - Jillian. She is awesome. She works for HellaLife.
Pat & me
Caitlin & me
After everything was cleaned up we all headed to PJs. It was a great time - lots of fun as always with me crew! Some of the crew came over after PJs to watch some Orange is the New Black, play cards and eat cookies haha!
me & Marvin
Me & Tee Jone
me & my Allie
Seriously - it was a fabulous weekend. I was suppose to go to Ohio for homecoming weekend, but all in all it worked out. I am glad I got to stay and see my friends compete and help my box out.
Michelle and me
Nick and me
CrossFit Aspire has changed my life. I think it's funny that Alycia couldn't believe how many people would stay and offer to give up their Saturday to help. Hello - I can only speak for me, but that place has changed my life. I wouldn't be who I am today without them and their box. Yay CrossFit! I was talking to a random guy this weekend and he said - CrossFit is a FAMILY thing. I couldn't agree more!
Hey y'all! Happy Tuesday! This fall is flying by. I think between school, training and life - I am super busy! I'm loving it! This weekend I competed in my first Olympic Lifting Competition. Liberty Barbell Club (inside CrossFit Center City) held the Hookgrip Classic. It was an amazing experience. I learned a ton - about how I lift, how to get better and build more speed, tips for wrapping my thumbs to help with my hook grip, etc. We started with snatch....
I opened with 39kg....Hit it no problem...
Second attempt was at 43 kg...I missed the first try so tried again...
No problem! I got really frustrated by this only because I should have locked out my shoulder on the second lift and had it. I really wanted to get over 100 that day, but it wasn't in the books. Lots to learn from and move on. The girls in my class were awesome - made my snatches look like nothing. Def not quite as excited for my 100# snatch anymore haha. Time to get bigger and stronger! Next up was the Clean and Jerk. Seriously - I love these two movements so I was happy!
First attempt...I'm not really sure what weight I did haha. Coach took care of that. I think maybe 45kg? Not 100% positive on that one though. First one felt great. No issues and looked decent.
Second attempt...first thing I said to Justin when I got back to the seat was "that felt fast" haha. I thought I flew, but after looking at it - I really didn't haha. The last attempt...
61 kg. Not a PR for me, but felt and looked good. I had JUST PR'ed my C&J two days prior to this, so I am stoked I got this up!!
I've learned a lot from that experience. I can't WAIT to do more OLY competitions - I loved it. Major things I took from this: 1. I NEED OLY shoes. Like majorly need them. They are on my Christmas list, but I may have to splurge and get some earlier if I can swing it. 2. I need to pick up my training. I need to get more serious and step it up. 3. I HAVE to clean up my nutrition. I think to myself, what could I really do if I just cleaned it up a little bit more. I have been doing good - primal Sunday - Friday night....no drinks during the week and so forth. I did have two drinks this week on Wednesday. But it was birthdays of two of my closest so that was needed. After the OLY comp, Caitlin got Nilda and I flowers! She's awesome. She was my first CrossFit Aspire friend and is my main lifting partner outside of Nilda. Without those two ladies, I'd be lost in the gym. I also treated myself to a Philadelphia Cupcake after the comp...and I don't regret it. It was AMAZING! I also had drinks with both my Coaches, Shamus and Nilda in the city...I loved it! I need to do that more!
That night - Teralyn (who is typically more proud of what I do then I am of myself haha) wanted to get drinks to celebrate. We headed out for some drinks and the Ohio State game! Rachel and Holly came up too! It was a great night and a perfect end to a fabulous day!
Hey Loves! Know what I just realized?!? I didn't fill you in about my awesome weekend. Last weekend I participated in the MS City To Shore Bike Ride. I rode my bike 80 miles (couldn't do the 100 this year). The picture to the left is the main part of my team minus Paul and his daughter Emily. I meet the guy on the far left - Mr. Sieber - on the first mile of the same ride four years ago. The girl on the right of me (in the white jersey) is his daughter, Ro. I ended up becoming great friends with her since then, and I've rode with them every year since. The year I meet them, I was biking with a team from South Jersey, but I really didn't know anyone. I have been living here about 2 months. I was suppose to crash down the shore and stay with the team, but I ended up after the ride that year back at the Sieber's house. They fed me and welcomed me like family. They've been stuck with me ever since! I honestly look forward to the ride and getting to see them. Ro's schedule has finally changed and hopefully we are planning on doing monthly happy hours. Anyways, it was a BEAUTIFUL day for a ride.
The weather was perfect and I had a great ride. I've already signed up for next year and am looking forward to it. Justin & Alycia said we can design some CrossFit Aspire jersey. I can't WAIT! I love my box, so rocking them while riding will be a great idea! Ro has MS so she gets a special jersey.
Me & AC
Me & Allie - Birthday Girl
Tricia and me
Sunday was spent with my CrossFit loves for my girl Allie's birthday. They cooked out and we all brought some food/drinks/sweets. It was a fun afternoon with some of my favorites. Much needed relaxing day after the bike ride Saturday!
Hey y'all! Can you believe it's October already? I swear life seems to be FLYING by lately! Let's chat what's going on in life and some goals I need you to help hold me accountable for!
Life! Life is FABULOUS right now! Have I told you that lately? I am seriously the happiest I have been in a very LONG time. I have made a lot of personal changes since end of May/early June and I am reminded more and more every day how I definitely took the right path for me. School is fabulous - even with all the changes. It's more work and planning, but I am really loving it. I have great munchkins, as I always do. I'm a little homesick right now. It always comes and goes in phases. This is the first September and October that I'm not making a trip home. We are doing the Princess's birthday in November this year, so I will be home twice then!
CrossFit. Yo, CrossFit is kicking ass right now. Pardon the language but seriously...if you don't follow me on twitter or instagram you may not know that I hit a HUGE personal PR...
100# Snatch...did it! Triple Digit baby!! I also hit a new OHS PR....95# for 3 reps.....
Then added 10# and hit 110# baby!!! I still can't believe it!
It's been awesome month of CrossFit stuff for me, but I want to do more and I need help. Here is what I know -- sometimes I get overwhelmed. I don't know how to figure it all out. I need mobility help and mobility WOD is one of my goal for October. I want to learn more about it and figure it out and how to better use it. I also want to incorporate 2-3 Gymnasty WODs in a week. Plus I want to really clean up my nutrition - strict Paleo Sunday - Friday night. Gives me Friday nights and Saturdays to relax some. So, there is the three main goals:
1. Adding Mobility work into the week - 4-5xWeek for at least 45mins/1hour.
2. Adding 2-3 Gymnasty WODs a week - Tuesday and Thursday nights with Nilda and maybe another day!
3. Food - No going out or alcohol during the week -- strict Primal instead of Paleo as I want some cheese and greek yogurt sometimes.
Last but not least, I'm getting back to running!! I'm starting this week - a track night/speed session with my girl Kelly from the box, plus Aspire Run club on Sunday mornings and one decent run a week! What's your goals for October? I promised some people to talk more about my running/CrossFit schedule...it's coming :)
Last - as you all know I am an ambassador for Delta Labs and I have 5 samples from Delta Labs - the Hair, Skin & Nails -- who wants to try it? I've been taking it for about two weeks and I love it! Leave me a comment below and tell me what are your goals for October! I'll pick 5 random winners :)
Also - Delta Labs is donating 10% of ALL proceeds this month to #BreastCancer -- check out the information in this video from Bex!
Alright y'all...I tried. I tried to not blog about it. I've tried to avoid the conversation with people. I've refused to look at all the ignorant comments. I understand CrossFit is newer (not really, but still to a lot of people). I understand a lot of people are drinking the hateraide. I get it, you HATE it. OK so STOP F**KING TALKING ABOUT IT!! Here's the deal, we live in a time where everyone feels as though they HAVE to share their two sense. So, share your thoughts and keep it moving. You do NOT have to bash it into the ground. There was an article floating around this weekend. I am not going to say anything about the article except I think it is garbage. You can read it for yourself if you'd like. The gist is according to the author that CrossFit is the worst thing to ever happen.
Y'all know how I feel about CrossFit. I love it. I am in love with it and my box. I love my coaches, my fellow Aspire members and our training. I love what it has done for my life, my health and my connections. I'm the strongest I have EVER been, in my entire life. I'm the happiest I have EVER been. Things are just coming together. So here is what you should know...espeically before you try and make any "informed decision"....
1. TRY IT. If you have NEVER tried CrossFit, sit down. You do not have a say. Period. I tell my students all the time, if you have not tried something (fruit, activity, sport, etc.) you can't have an informed decision on it.
2. SCALABLE. Yes, CrossFit is hard. However, as a MILLION people have already tweeted, blogged or discussed, CrossFit is scalable to ANY PERSON! Hell even after I broke my ankle - the VERY NEXT DAY I was at my box. I was doing the WOD. CLEARLY I had to scale it and sub movements. The next 6 months I was still scaling and changing workouts. We currently have a fellow member who is preggo (not to mention one of our coaches, Beth, who WODed and coached almost her whole pregnancy). Everyone can do it. You have to know what your limits are....which is perfect lead into....
3. PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. I'm SICK of people trying to say that CrossFit will hurt you. No, it won't. Overtraining in ANY sport will hurt you. PUSHING YOURSELF TOO FAR will hurt you. You have to know form first and weight second. You have to know your body. You have to listen to what it is saying. I go 5-6xWeek -- but if my body is shot and I'm not feeling it - guess what that means? REST DAY. And if I'm still not 100 by the next day, I take another rest day. If my ankle bugs me - or currently my shoulder is very tight - or it's not feeling right, you best believe I drop weight or don't do the metcon. I know it is MY choice no matter what any coach or person says....
4. COACHES. If you don't know - I have the world's best coaches. haha but seriously, I LOVE my box staff. There are bad coaches out there. I get that and IF you want to have that discussion, I will gladly have it at any point at any time. That's life. There are bad teachers out there too, but I pride myself on not being one. I also am TOO STOKED to become a L1 certified CrossFit coach. A lot of people who end up injured is due to lack of good coaching. They have to know what they are doing, how to cue your position and how to teach form first. You have to be able to recognize good coaching and not good coaching.
5. HEALTH. This is the last thing for me. Again, as I have already stated, I am in the best shape I have ever been in. EVER. I've played sports my whole life and have never been like I am now. Broke my ankle 6 months prior to the Disney Dumbo Double Dare - guess what...still ran that race with NO training. Just CrossFit under my belt because I wasn't cleared to run till right before. Being fat can kill you. Eating processed shit and crap every day can kill you. CrossFit can NOT kill you if you do it smart.
Lastly...check out my girl Diva of Diva Richards Fitness - she's a trainer, CrossFit athlete and coach. She pretty sums up what I wrote.....
Hello Loves! Happy Saturday! I'm finally getting into the groove of school, training, studying, and life, so hopefully back to semi-regular scheduled blogging!! The weekend after Labor Day aka the awesome California trip for Dumbo Double Dare (which you can read about a short thoughts here) was BUSY! I had made plans to keep the Peanut all weekend + had a school BBQ and CrossFit BBQ Saturday and run club fun Sunday. I took the Peanut with me to everything - she's good like that. She spent about 6 hours in the pool on Saturday and two hours on Sunday. I LOVE that little girl - she's such a joy to have around and take care of! The school BBQ was fun - at my work BFF Nicolella's house. Her dogs are AWESOME - seriously, they dive into the pool and swim to the bottom to get the ball - how cool is that? Peanut and I thought it was super cool - wonder if Scarlet would jump in?!?
Got to the Aspire BBQ late, but my bestie Jilly was there! I got to see her and her hubs, Tommy. I LOVE love LOVE them! Seriously, would be lost without them. As always, I had a good time with my Aspire crew. Didn't really talk to a lot of people. Peanut and I didn't get there till late, so most people were in conversation. I got to talk with TLyn and Kelly a lot, so that was good! Relaxed by Sandy's fire pit. I love her backyard/house - so relaxing and makes me feel like I'm home. It was a LONG day for both Peanut and myself.
Sunday started with Aspire Run Club........
I love my Sunday runs with the crew. Our turnouts have been growing steadily and I love it. Jess has even started coming. She is brand new to running, and we all know how much I love working with new runners. Ev comes too now! Such a good group. The boy I have been hanging out with is in the picture too...but no disclosure on that...yet ;) After Run Club I also stayed and did some clean work with Caitlyn.
Got a new Clean and Jerk PR at 130#!
Kelly, Me, Coach Alycia
September 11th brought about the 9/11 Hero WOD - that thing was something different. I really had to push myself. I've been having some issues on my right shoulder, so it was a lot on my shoulder, but I did it. We, as CrossFitters, do this to pay our respect and show we remember and value the lives lost. There was NO way I was giving up! Took about 42 minutes, but it was done. I did 95# for the lifts and 24" for the box jumps!
I LOVE the thought of Steve's Club and really want to get involved - such a good thing and...some of my students are even in it...
Jake & Nilda - teammates
TLyn, Me, Nilda
I had a great time, as always. I love doing CrossFit stuff, especially with my CrossFit crew. It was good to see JC - one of my students from last year, and glad he has found Steve's Club. Was good to hear how hard he has to work to get to the box to train and to keep his grades up. Will have to check in on him! Had fun with my girls...and cheering on the other teams, from our box and others.
Team Snatchtastic - Jamie & me
I was lucky enough to pair with Jamie. She's the best. This lady is seriously AMAZING! When everything went down with my ankle, she was there when it happened and held my hand, she helped me with the girls before I took them to TN, she took me to and from the gym. Not to mention she is a BEAST! She got 1st in her last competition because she completed like 21 deadlifts in a min - I wanna say at like 175 or something too - amazing!
We had fun! At least I did. I was the second to last heat, so I got to watch everything go down. Lots of handsome CrossFit guys to check out ;)
As always, this past Sunday started with Aspire Run Club. It's just becoming a normality at this point haha!
This week has been good - Back To School Night at school and we got treated to sweet new cups from our administration! Love them! I am so blessed to have a job I love so much. I've taken a lot of time off this week, but yesterday I went and played with my snatch to see how my shoulder was feeling. I do have my FIRST EVER Olympic Lifting Competition coming up...and....
I hit my FIRST EVER TRIPLE DIGIT SNATCH!! 100#!! Can you tell be the end of the video how excited I was?!? Even with my broken ankle this year, I've made most of my goals already - and just keep updating them!! CrossFit has changed my life! Can't wait to get my L1 here soon and start changing other people's lives!
Hello Loves! How goes it y'all? Man I swear - I am loving life right now, but it sure feels like I am in warp speed some days haha! This weekend my box ( CrossFit Aspire) hosted the Festivus Games. I aggravated my groin Thursday (thought it was a pull, but had a friend stretch it and seems a TON better) so was limping around Friday, but still made it to the gym to help get set up. I wasn't a ton of help - but I could do the math for the bars quickly and help get the weight on the bars. 
Picking it up was out of the question though haha. After we got the box ready, I headed over to Sandy's with Holly and we helped make signs for Saturday's event. 
By we - I really mean them haha. I just colored stuff in and traced letters :) I think they came out awesome! Everyone seemed to like them, and that's all that really matters. Plus I had a lot of fun with Sandy and Holly. 
Sandy made her sangria and let me eat her grub. I'm not even sure what I really ate...chicken lettuce wrap things. They were really good. She also sent me home with advil for my groin because at that point I couldn't get up and down haha. Her boys helped out on stuff too.
After we were done we found the littlest one passed out. How cute is he?
