Pump Games Recap: Event 2

In addition to the four scheduled WODs - two Saturday, two Sunday - there was a floater WOD that you could do at any time over the course of the weekend.  It was a short workout, only two minutes and 15 seconds long.  You had one minute to bang out as many bench press reps as you could at one of two weights depending on your division.  The heavier the weight, the more points you were awarded for each rep.  After a 15 second break, you had one minute to do as many reps as you could of a gymnastics move.  Burpees were worth half a point each, pull-ups were worth one point, chest to bar pull-ups were worth two points, and muscle-ups were worth four.

I went with the lightest scaled women's weight - 65lbs - and pull-ups.  I knew I'd only get a handful of reps in at 85lbs, so it wouldn't have made sense strategically.  As it was, I didn't get in as many bench press reps as I'd hoped (~15 I think).  I was probably still tired from the first WOD.  The pull-ups went well, though.  I did 15 unbroken (a new PR) and then another four before I ran out of time.  

My crew was wise to get over with when we did.  The line was always long, and it would have been rough trying to squeeze this in on Sunday when the soreness set in.

-Gym Belle-

Pump Games Recap: Event 1

The thing that had me the most nervous about this weekend's Pump Games competition was the backsquats.  The first of five WODs started and ended with 30.  Sandwiched in-between were sit ups and a shuttle run.  The weight for the women's scaled division was 95 lbs.  Ordinarily, I can handle 95 lb backsquats, but this WOD required us to get the weight from the ground to our backs.  I had never cleaned 95 lbs - my max was 85 - and I was anxious about bringing the bar around my head.

The weekend before the competition, I worked up to 73 lbs, practicing the clean, getting it over my head, and some squats.  I felt fine at that weight, but didn't think I could handle much more.  I knew in my heart that 95 lbs was out of the question.  I decided I'd still go to the competition, but that I'd use 70 or 75 lbs and just not have my score count.  

I thought that I had made peace with my decision, but when we arrived at Pump CrossFit Saturday morning, I realized that I had been kidding myself.  I wanted to be in the game for real.

I warmed up to 85 lbs.  85 went up just fine, but I stopped there.  I didn't want to risk a failed rep before the WOD.  I had a new plan.  I would somehow get the 95 lbs up and on my back and get in some reps.  Even if I didn't get through the whole WOD in the 14 minutes allowed, I'd have a score and be in the game.  

The 3-2-1 go came quickly.  Without over-thinking it, I cleaned it up, and got the bar over my head.  It felt awesome.  With that out of the way, I focused on banging out all 30 reps at once, so that I wouldn't have to pick it up again until the end.  Those 95 lbs got heavy quickly.  Soon, my legs were shaking.  Then my whole body.  Then I started feeling like I might pass out.  After 23 reps, I dropped the bar.  

I spent the remainder of the time trying to get that damn bar back on my back.  I tried and I tried and I tried.   At one point, I remember thinking that my continued efforts were a colossal waste of energy at the beginning of a two day event.  The thought was fleeting, though; I had to keep trying.  If nothing else, I wanted those last seven reps.  I did manage to clean it two more times, but I never got it over my head again. 

The crowd was awesome.  The judges were awesome.  And as much as it sucked to suck, it really was one of those warm and fuzzy CrossFit moments.  Everyone was on my side.  Everyone wanted me to get that bar on my back just as much as I did.  And when time was called, I felt pretty good.  I had a legit score, and new clean PR.

-Gym Belle-

A Few Pictures from Last Weekend's Surprise Lake Hike/Swim

Last weekend, I hiked to Surprise Lake with Discover Outdoors.  It was cloudy, but warm enough to warrant a dip in the lake.  The dip came to an abrupt end when someone on shore shouted, "there's something swimming towards you!"  Snapping turtle?  Vicious water snake?  We will never know.  

-Gym Belle-