Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Inspiration Terrace


So I ran a half marathon yesterday and as usual I didnt train very well. (only got up to 8 miles) I was debating on doing it or not and thought to myself.. what would Karen do?? and I figured you would suck it up and run the race! (of course you would have trained and not been in this situation but anyway) thanks for still inspiring me even though you are miles away!!





After completing WEEK 1 of my running program I felt super accomplished.  As of right now, I'm a stay at home mom, which, with all the unpacking, is harder than it sounds!  So fitting in a run isn't as easy as I'd hoped, but so far, so good.  

I came across the corner of Curiosity and Inspiration and started to think about what inspires me.  And as if on cue, I received the above message on facebook.  

I couldn't have been more flattered that this particular person was inspired by me and did something positive by keeping me in mind.  Especially since I very much look up to her as a trainer, an athlete, and a friend.  

Inspiration can be found in unexpected places, but I think for athletes, the biggest inspiration comes from others.  

When I was a brand new Crossfit, I was inspired (and of course insanely frightened) by the talent I was surround by.  Trainer Mike and Molly, Gerbino and Lindsay, Courtney and Frank were all people I would train with, yet they were leaps and bounds better than me, and all of them assured me that if I stuck to it, I would eventually be at that their level.  

I personally do not think that I am inspiring in any way, but if simply posting how many miles I run in a day can make somebody else want to run, then so be it:


sxxxxh.sxxxn: Right now? just working. not sure what im doing tonight. maybe groceries and working out. Tomorrow im getting a pedicure, laundry, and packing for tomorrow night!
  I ran 1 mile yesterday I was so proud lol
 me: oh wow awesome
 sxxxxh.sxxxn: You have inspired me


My advice, be yourself, be awesome and be inspired, you never know who YOU will inspire!

Post what/who inspires you to comments!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Proud Terrace

Today I turned the big 3-0.  The most common question today was "how do you feel?"  The answer?  Proud.  I feel Proud.  



During my long walk and short run today, I found myself at the crossroads of proud and curiosity. I thought about everything in my life that I was proud about and here is a sample of my list:

1.  Buying and paying off my own car.  
2.  Choosing twice now to move away from all that is familiar and comfortable    to me.  (CT to PA) and now (PA to VA)
3.  Carrying and delivering a Baby
4.  Getting approved to purchase a house by myself
5.  Keeping the same job for over 5 years
6.  Embracing Crossfit instead of letting it intimidate me. 

Yes I've had my less than proud moments, and I've not always achieved my goals but over all, my head is held up high!  

Thursday:

1.50 Mile Run

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Expectation Square

Even though today was a scheduled rest day (from running) I did go for a shorter walk with Shane and explored more of the neighborhood.  I kept taking notice of all the ridiculously named streets, and decided that Expectation Square was going to be my next blog topic.  



 An expectation, which is a belief that is centered on the future, may or may not be realistic.

Expectations are sort of a moving target and should adjust as things change.  When I first joined Crossfit, I had zero expectations for myself.  I was overweight, out of shape, and never lifted a weight in my life.  After a year or so of training, my expectations for myself had changed, and I held myself to a higher level.  

After my pregnancy, they changed again.  

I think the key to expectations is to keep them as realistic as possible.  I don't expect to ever win the Crossfit Games title of Fittest Woman on Earth, but with hard work, I can expect to look and feel the way I want, and isn't that the name of the game?

Yesterday's running requirement was to run 1.50 miles.  Since it had been months since I did any type of running, and I suck at running, I expected that I would have to stop to walk during it.  I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have to walk, at all.  My run time wasn't fast by any means, but I exceeded my expectations by not walking.  

My advise to you?  Keep your expectations as realistic as possible and don't feel bad for defeated if you  have to adjust them in either direction. 

Happy Rest Day!

Curiosity Square

I'm not really sure who names streets but whoever was in charge of naming the streets in my  new neighborhood was simply an over achiever.  Every time I tell somebody my new address, they always respond the same way.  "Curiosity Square, I LOVE THAT!"  


It certainly doesn't stop there.  Curiosity Square is just the tip of the ice burg and when I went for my first run yesterday, I thought it would be REALLY fun to use the names of the streets as topics for my blog.  So I wanted to start with what I thought was most fitting.  Curiosity. 

For those of you who don't know me personally, about a year ago after my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, my husband got laid off.  The excitement of being first time parents was clouded with the sadness of becoming a one income household.  

With my husband's career, I knew that leaving the Lehigh Valley was a possibility, but mostly I was in denial that it would happen.  But about 4 months ago, my husband accepted a position outside of DC.  

This started a whole series of events that made my life more chaotic that I thought I was able to handle.  But as of this past weekend, it's over.  And here I am starting at my street sign, Curiosity Square.  

Was this the right choice for my family and for me?


Since it's only been a few days since the big move, we haven't figured out which crossfit box here in VA is right for us.  In the mean time, I am going to be focusing on running and doing at home WODs.  

Monday:

1.5 Mile Run / 11:36 Pace

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Crossfit Games 2013 WOD 13.5

Once again this past Wednesday I found myself huddled over my laptop eagerly awaiting the announce for the final WOD of the Crossfit 2013 Open.  With 4 WODs behind us an not seeing a Thruster or any type of Pull-Up, I was semi expecting to have a repeat of last year.  Fran on Crack.  This year was a little different:

Fran AMRAP or "FRAMRAP"

4 minute AMRAP of:
15 Thrusters (100 / 65 lbs)
15 Chest to bar Pull-ups
*4 minute bonus for every 90 reps (3 rounds) completed.



FINALLY A WOD I COULDN'T DO!  (I say this like it's a good thing). 

I knew my score instantly.  15. 

It's a pretty anti-climatic end to the season for us non-elite Crossfitters, but over all I'm very happy with the 2013 Open and as always, I'm glad I participated. 


 
 
 
With the number of people doing the Crossfit Open more than doubling, my placing was quite curious compared to last year. It was the same.
 
Not sure how that worked out (PUN!) but thats how the numbers for me played out.  In 2012, I was in the best shape of my life, but when I did the 2nd half of the games, I was pregnant. 
 
From then until the end of the games in 2013, I had only trained for about 3 months, had a baby, and trained for 2 months post baby. 
 
 
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
 
Not sure it REALLY means anything besides the fact that I lost a year of training to have a baby but my strength is still comparable to last year where as my endurance took a beating. 
 
I know that between now and the 2014 Crossfit Games I'm not going to be pregnant so this will be my year of training.  I'd obviously like to get pulls and dare I say a muscle up? so that when those show up in the 2014 I can get a few in. 
 
Congratulations to all that participated in the 2013 OPEN and a SUPER Congrats to those teams and individuals that will be moving on to Regionals.  :)