Lesson Gainz

It seemed simple enough to me.  Six rounds of twelve calories on the Assault Bike followed by twelve jumping pull ups followed by a minute of rest.  I was biking as a substitute for running four hundred meters.  The pull-ups were to be done without stopping.  If I stopped that set my number to achieve for the next round.

OK.

3.2.1.Go!

Twelve calories - not so bad.  I don't love the bike but running sets me up for pain and dysfunction the following day.  I moved over to the pull up bar, stepped onto the box and went to work.  At four I was starting to fatigue. After five I stopped.  Five out of twelve.  Not great but it is what it is. Rest one minute.

And..."Michelle!!!"  My Coach was yelling at me from across the gym.  Really yelling.  He asked me what I was doing.  He told me what I had done was bullshit.  He went on to let me know I didn't need chalk for jumping pull ups.  He watched me do twelve and then addressed my RPMs on the bike.  I needed to go faster.

He was right.

As a distance runner, I spent years pacing myself to a very slow pace.  My goal was to finish not to finish fast.  I started my running career (in my forty's) rarely breaking a sub-nine mile.  I finished my running career happy to coast along at thirteen minute miles for hours.  Hours.

Occasionally CrossFit calls for pacing.  If you've got several longish distances (none of them are really THAT long) in a workout, you don't (generally) go all out from the start.  You use your energy wisely so you'll have something left in the tank to finish.  Usually, though, the pace is fast and borders on furious.

I've been working on getting my head around this.  I have a thousand reasons to be slower than everyone else.  I'm middle-aged creeping up on Senior status.  I carry more pounds of fat than I should.  I have chronic joint injuries.  Blah, blah, blah.

In the last ten months I've dropped fat and gained muscle.  In the last ten months, I have more soreness in my muscles and less pain in my joints.  Sure, I'm chronologically older now but my blood pressure is lower, my sleep is better, and my mood is massively improved.  I'll take it.

In the last ten months I've accepted that I'm not that crazy about running.  To me it's boring AND my joints don't appreciate the pounding.  I've learned to kinda-love rowing.

Anyway...

I needed to be called out today.  I needed to try harder, to strive for more intensity.  Phil was absolutely right and his candor is appreciated.  The lessons I'm gaining from CrossFit are worth every penny I'm spending on my membership.  Work hard. Work fast. Work harder still. This ain't no marathon and this ain't no solo sport where I can cruise along unaccountable to anyone but myself.  I'm good with that.