Shoulder Press I Say!

What I meant to say yesterday was that I hit a PR on my Shoulder Press at 115 lbs. Travis gave me a great tip about how to breathe just before I attempted the lift. He said "breathe in with pursed lips like you are sucking the air into your lungs using a straw, hold it, and and then push". He also told me I also needed to focus on keeping the barbell close to my body by imagining hitting myslf in the chin with it on the way up, moving my head back out of the way until it passes, and then bringing my head forward to get underneath it. That is eaxctly what I did and Boom!

I have no idea if I can shoulder press any more than 115lbs, but I'm going to keep exploring my strength and taking the leaps into the "unknown".

Crossfit Run Tex Benchmark - "The Total"

This benchmark is designed to find your max strength performing 3 lifts: Shoulder Press, Deadlift, and Back Squat.You are supposed to warm up by gradually adding weight, usually 10-5-5. When you are ready, you get three (3) 1 rep attempts to reach max weight. We usually break this one up over two classes. Today we started with deadlift and push press. My partner was Max. Super nice, super strong.

Here is what I did:
Deadlift: 245-260(f)-255 * My last PR was 260
Shoulder Press: 110-115-120(f) * I PR'd at 115, my old PR was 110 (yay)

Right now the muscles around my left collarbone/shoulder blade are sore. I'm sure it's because my left arm is weaker than my right and I put it to the ultimate strength test today. Overall I am pleased, but realistically realize that evetually I will reach my "max" max.

Go Boise State!

I've gotta cheer for Boise State this football season in loving memory of my mom and also add that I was born and raised in Idaho.

Crossfit Tribe Saturday Morning Breakfast Club WOD - Solo

It's been a long time since I have done the Tribe's WOD solo.

For Time:
21-15-9
Wall Ball (20lb.)
Kettlebell Swings (40lb.)
Pull Ups

My Time: 8:11

This one killed my arms. I had to break up movements on every round (booo).

A Day Of Thanks

I spent last night laying on my couch with my cat Jada thinking back over the last 23 months. I have endured many losses in a short period of time that singularly could send a person over the edge:
a 10 year relationship
my house and property
all of my pets except 1
my corporate job (after 14 years)
both of my parents
many friends
Dec. 2007, I was physically taken to my knees filled with so much emotional pain that I thought I couldnt take 1 more step forward. I spent countless nights for months with terrible insomnia and would run the Town Lake trail by myself at 0400am 5 days a week. I cried alone many times for hours until there were no tears left. I could barely go out in public because seeing people was too painful and made me feel like I was on the outside of life looking in. I stopped watching TV because I couldnt handle the emotional overstimuation, overdramatization, and negativity in the world. I was forced to leave a 2100 sq. ft house on 4 acres and move to a 423 sq ft. efficiency with borrowed furniture. I had to accept that it was my new "home", although I hated every minute that I lived there. I still call it my rehab place. One year and 3 jobs later, I had worked my way up to be able to buy my current place in Clarkesville only to lose my job (lay-off) after making the second mortgage payment. 22 job applications, filing for unemployment, and two interviews later, I put myself back on track. Whew!

So why am I telling you all this? Because through it all with a heart torn to pieces and a life that seemed to have no meaning or future, I never allowed those events to break my spirit. Because of my resilience, it allowed me to see (eventually) the good things that living a full life provides that previously went unnoticed. Also, the many hours spent in silence has allowed me to hear what my soul speaks loud and clear. Intellectual and emotional clarity is key. The two are now connected in healthy ways. I have learned that to gain the experiences of true joy and happiness I have to allow myself to experience loss and pain both materially and emotionally.TOTALLY.WORTH.IT.

So today, I would like to give thanks to a world that didnt abandon me when I was close to abondoning myself and to those people who continue to believe in me and look forward to seeing me succeed in more ways than I think are possible....I'm keeping an open mind.

Many Thanks,
Miss B

THE BURPEE MILE VIDEO - NOV. 21, 2009

Check out the video with audio from the Burpee Mile last Saturday.

VIDEO LINK

Crossfit Run Tex WOD

I've spent the last two days recovering from completing the Burpee Mile on Saturday. Yesterday, I could barely get out of bed, walk, sit down, or hold silverware up to my lips to eat. Jada made sure she stepped on all my sore spots last night. I woke up this morning, went to the gym, and saw B-U-R-P-E-E-S on the board. So much for trying to recover.
Lisa explained that we start out with dumbbell swings, going heavy, then do 1 Burpee, 10 swings, 2 Burpees, 10 swings, 3 Burpees until we did 10 swings and 10 Burpees.

For Time:
10 Dumbbell Swings  X 10 (60lbs.)
1-10 Burpees

My Time: 12:30
I used the second heaviest DBs during the WOD and finished in the back of the pack. The guy that finished last used 70lbs.

Hopefully I'll be recovered enough to do the free Crossfit Central Bootcamp WOD at Deep Eddy and the 5k run at Crossfit Central on Thanksgiving Day.