It's 2015

2014 was an odd year for a lot of reasons.

Among them, I stopped going to CrossFit Metropolis.  I had decided to focus on Olympic Weightlifting, and CrossFit just didn't make sense for me anymore.  Over the summer, I joined up with Celeritas Weightlifting.  I train there on the weekends, and during the week I train at Equinox.  

I love lifting.  I love training with Celeritas.  I even love Equinox (they let me drop weight - and cold plunge + sauna = happy Gym Belle).

But the CrossFitter in me misses the absolutely destroyed feeling that you can only get from a brutal WOD.  And so, as sad as I am to see one of my original Metropolis buddies move out to Chicago - his impending departure was the perfect excuse for me to drop in at Metropolis today.  

I lucked out in that it was more of a lifting day (5x5 front squat), but the burner at the end (hill sprints and assorted pull-ups) was enough to leave me gasping and humbled.  Holy cardio, Batman.  When pull-ups get so hard?

Spending some time with the 6am crew at the House of Love was a great way to kick of 2015.  I can't wait to see what else the year brings!

-Gym Belle-

 PS - Best of luck, Jared and Jenny!

Splits Happen

So, last  Thursday afternoon, this happened:

 I bent over to lift some heavy files off my office floor, and riiiiiip.  The entire back seam of my Theory pants popped.  Two things make this a funny story as opposed to an absolutely mortifying one.  First, I have an office - with a door that closes.  It was open at the time of the incident, but I don't think anyone saw (and if anyone did, I never need to know that).  Two, it was freezing outside, so I had worn my long puffy coat to work.  Had either of these not been so, I might be sharing this with a therapist instead of the blogosphere.  (Also, those pants were at least seven years old.)  

If you don't squat, you are still welcome to laugh at my Spongebob Squarepants moment (props if you know the song) -- but this post isn't for you.  This one is dedicated to my ladies who lift.

 

- Gym Belle - 

P.S.  If you're wondering, I've yet to take the CrossFit booty test.  But I'm fairly confident that I would pass. 

 

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

The week before I went to Hawaii, I left CrossFit Metropolis, my home since 2010.  I have wanted to collect my thoughts into some more eloquent missive, but they are inchoate, disparate.   So, I list them.

1. I will always love CFM.  
2. It was time for me to leave.
3. When I left, I felt the heady freedom of a kite whose string has been cut.  And it was wonderful.  And then I felt lost.  And now I am calmer and excited to explore the world around me.  But I miss it, and probably always will.  
4. What I miss most is how it was in the beginning.  It's not that I necessarily believe that "Metropolis 1.0" (with its two squat racks, one of which was busted) was a better gym than Metropolis is today - rather, I think that all of us become nostalgic for our first year or so of CrossFit.  That's when the magic happens.  We start to see things differently, and the way we view our potential changes.
5. That is why I love working with newbies.  I will do that again someday.
6. Perhaps in leaving I am chasing my next paradigm shift.
7. CrossFit changed me.  I may be a lousy athlete, but I am an athlete, and I train.
8. I am happiest training.
9. CrossFit changed fitness.  My old globo gym - to which I swore I'd never return - has lifting platforms.  They've ordered a women's olympic lifting bar.  And they like when I lift there.  They're even ok with dropping.
10. CrossFit changed.  When I first discovered CrossFit, it was exercise.  Now, it is also a sport.  
11. Sometimes I feel differently, but if I had to choose, right now, I think I'd choose the sport.  
12. I haven't figured out my next move.  But, for now, I'm CrossFitting, I'm lifting, I'm boxing, I'm yoga-ing.  When the winter vortexes have passed, I'll be running outside again.  
13. Good things are coming.