The Night Before the Race

I should probably be asleep already, but I'm totally keyed up for tomorrow's half marathon and not quite operating on Austrian time yet. If things go well, I'm going to try to beat 1:57:36. If not, I'm just going to enjoy the setting. It's supposed to be sunny with a high of 63 degrees, so it should be a very pretty day for a race through Vienna.

At the end of last year, I decided that I wanted to do a race abroad. I figured it would be an interesting experience and a good way to force myself to plan a real vacation. The Vienna half came at the right time of year, and I had always wanted to see Vienna someday, so here I am. So far, I think this was a very good choice.

After an early morning workout at our hotel, my travel buddy R and I saw a performance at the Spanish Riding School. Those Lippizaner stallions are serious athletes! I wish I had pictures to share with you, especially of the jumping, but cameras weren't allowed. Seeing the show really made me miss riding. Unfortunately, riding is tricky in NYC. I used to go up to Riverdale, but it's a long trip from the upper east side and I'm always short on time these days. It's also very expensive. If I ever strike it rich and have oodles of time on my hands, I'm buying a pony and taking up dressage! (I prefer ponies because I'm short.)

Anyway, after lunch, we saw a stunning performance at the Philharmonic and then watched a beautifully staged but rather bleak opera (Dialogues des Carmelites) It was a lot of sitting, but hopefully my legs are rested and ready to go!

I've charged my Garmin and my shuffle. I've taken out my knee bands, my throw away jacket and gloves, my pre and post race sweats and my race outfit (capris, t-shirt, sleeves and lucky hat). I've got my chip on my sneaker, and I've located pins to pin on my number. As I type, I'm chugging some more water...

So there's nothing to do now but try to catch sone z's. Wish me luck!

-Gym Belle-

Hi From Vienna!

I arrived in Vienna this afternoon just in time to head over to the expo and pick up my packet for Sunday's half marathon. I'm beyond excited because 1) I'm in Vienna, 2) I'm here with one of my best friends from college who lives halfway around the world and 3) I'm ready to race! The expo was like most that I've been to, meaning that there was tons of great stuff that I wanted to buy but probably don't need. I limited myself to three Bondi Bands (one says "Run Vienna") and two cute workout tops (presumably a brand not available in the U.S.). When I signed up for the race last fall, the website was all German. I managed to successfully register, but apparently I ordered myself both the men's t-shirt an the women's. Oops! At least they're different colors! I'll post all my pre-race thoughts tomorrow. Right now, I need to get some sleep! Auf wiedersehen! -Gym Belle-

Three, Two, One, Go.

I assumed squat stance.  My feet were shoulder width apart, slightly turned out.  My weight was evenly distributed, and I was starting to split the ground apart beneath me, pushing on outside edges of my shoes for stability.  I filled my belly with air.  Three.  Two.  One.  Go.

Just a few moments prior, I had been antsy about getting through this.  I hadn't practiced as much as I probably should have.  I hadn't gotten quite as much sleep I would have liked.  This kind of thing just isn't my forte.  But, I reminded myself that, as a CrossFitter, I'd been in this position many times before.  In fact, I feel this way nearly every time I enter the gym.  The workouts are daunting.  Sometimes, they seem downright impossible, and I'm sure I'll fall flat on my face.  And then the clock starts, and I do the workout.  Usually, I do better than I expected to do.  Even when I struggle, the seconds tick by.  And then it's over.  I've done it.  I may not always be happy with my performance, but I'm always glad that I've performed.

With that in mind, I opened my mouth and delivered a mock opening argument infront of a room full of coworkers and a rolling video camera.   At one point, I paused.  I was searching for the words to get my next thought out, but nothing came.  The silence held me captive.  "Pick up the bar!" coached the voice in my head.  I opened my mouth, and the words came.

If you'd asked me a year ago if I would ever deadlift 190 lbs or backsquat more than my bodyweight, I probably would have laughed at you.  If you had asked me if I would ever do seven consecutive pull-ups, I would have responded, "in my dreams."  If you had asked me if I would ever enter a competition that involved bench pressing, I would have wondered if you knew me at all.  CrossFit has made me fitter than I've ever been, fitter than I ever thought I could be.  Yet, all that pales in comparison to the impact CrossFit has had on the way that I think.

These days, I am far less prone to accept my perceived limitations.  I push boundaries.  Just because I haven't accomplished something yet, doesn't mean I won't.  I have come to realize just how much I underestimate my strength, my speed, my stamina, my nerve.  I have conditioned myself to grit through fire breath, nausea, pain, and the sharp string of sweat in my eyes.  I'm ok with being uncomfortable, and I have come to relish the challenge.

One of the most valuable lessons that CrossFit has taught me is that we don't wait for "ready."  Ready might never come.  Instead, I take a deep breath, and then it's three, two, one, go.

-Gym Belle-