My 2014
Well, it’s that time. And just so we’re clear… I don’t write
anything in this blog to brag or to try to prove that I’m tough. Honestly, most
of the time I’m genuinely surprised at the things I’m able to do. Someone just
said to me recently, “I can’t believe all those things you are doing.” And I
replied truthfully, “I can’t believe
all those things I’m doing.”
I just work hard. Anything I do… anything I’ve done… you can
do it, too. Maybe not right at this moment. When I first started, I couldn’t do
what I do now. It’s been a journey. There have been long hard days. Days when I
didn’t want to run or lift or eat clean. But you just have to do what you know
is good for your body… good for your health. It’s not about being super fit or
having 6-pack abs. It’s about having a long life and being able to enjoy it.
Here is a look back at my 2014…
January
Super Hero Scramble—my first event of the year. I’d heard so
many positive things when the race series began, but this was the first race
that worked with my schedule. While I had a great race, unfortunately the
organizers didn’t. And Super Hero Scramble is no longer producing races.
Lesson learned: Carrying
water on a long course in the South Florida heat (even in January) is a very
wise thing.
February
S.E.R.E. UrbanChallenge—a Special Forces
inspired event. They are NOT GORUCK. They aren’t trying to be GORUCK. I really
loved this event. It was part scavenger hunt, part education, part PT (physical
training). S.E.R.E. has shifted its focus to custom events.
Lesson learned: having
a great team is EVERYthing. And it’s really fun (and only slightly painful) to
ride in a shopping cart.
CrossFit Open—an event that every CrossFitter should
do. It’s a chance to compete in a CrossFit event in a no pressure situation.
Choose your day and time and environment—just have your score verified by a
CrossFit coach or video and submit. It’s simple, but it’s not easy.
Lesson learned: I
really do love the dead lift/box jump combo. And I really do not love toes to
bar.
March
CVI No Retreat, NoSurrender—my son’s first
CrossFit competition. He competed in the men’s division and did an excellent
job of holding his own. He was nervous, but not scared. I am so proud at his
bravery competing for the first time against grown men.
Lesson learned: Read
the fine print. Originally, I signed my husband and I up for this event,
failing to realize this was a first timer/scaled competition. My husband was
over-qualified.
Florida Open—my
first Rx competition. The first workout was the last workout in the CrossFit
Open, and then 3 others followed over the 2 days. This proved to be a wake-up
call for me—I had not expected just how tough Rx would be.
Lesson learned: Dave
Castro is an evil mastermind. And I hate burpees and thrusters. Especially when
combined in one WOD.
April
Florida Super Spartan—the 4th time the Spartan was
held in Miami and my 4th time racing it. This year I wasn’t really
sure I even wanted to race because last year’s race had been rough (I went
alone, didn’t meet up with anyone there and despite my nutrition and hydration
strategy, I found myself cramping terribly again.)
This year was much better—I saw friends before the race, out on the course and
connected again at the finish. I finally broke into the top 10 (thank you,
Sunday start), and didn’t deal with the crippling cramps.
Lesson learned: Don’t
take yourself too seriously, always take water, and a high fat/low carb diet
can work during races.
In the middle months of the year, I completely shifted my
focus from training for running and obstacle course races to CrossFit competitions.
Tapering and racing means missed workouts and lighter lifts, and that just
wasn’t a sacrifice I was willing to make. So, I lifted heavy and shifted from
distance running to shorter more intense runs.
We also traveled nearly every weekend of the summer for my
son’s baseball tournaments and took a much-needed family vacation.
Lesson learned: Pick
your priorities.
October
Miami Terminator—this
new local event was surprisingly impressive. They had a variety of obstacles,
plenty of volunteers and a great course.
Lesson learned: give
the smaller races a chance.
Goliath Gauntlet—my
favorite race of the year. Not only because it’s also the first race I’ve won,
but also because of the awesome organization behind the event. It was also race
1 in my birthday race weekend.
Lesson learned: find
a spot on the course where you can encourage and cheer on other racers.
Flannagin’s Rockin Ribs 10k— and the best post race food! I may just have to do this race next year—we
got some amazing swag with free ribs at the finish line. And it was a really
great way to enter my 40th year of life.
Lesson learned: always
do something special on your birthday! And wearing a tutu and tiara during a
race isn’t even that annoying.
November
 |
| Happy New Year! |
GORUCK All Women’sChallenge and Light—with 1000
lb. club weight lifting test. The Goliath Gauntlet may have been my favorite
race, but this was my favorite event. I went with my amazingly tough friend,
Cindy, and while we weren’t on the same team for the duration of the event, it
was good to know that she was out there suffering with me. And would be
enjoying breakfast with me between the challenge and the lift. I met so many
tough ladies over the course of about 18 hours. It was a completely
unforgettable experience—and I’m already registered for next year’s event.
Lesson learned: if
it scares or intimidates you, then you must push forward into it.
December
Beast Mode Battle—a
team CrossFit competition and my first with my husband. It was a brutally
exhausting hour of competing, with 4
separate workouts.
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