Practice makes Perfect

I am a perfectionist. I am also a procrastinator (something of an "if I can't do it perfectly now than I'm not going to do it at all" kinda thing). The end result of these two traits is that I am very often dissatisfied - generally with myself, as opposed to the task at hand.

Lately, this has crossed over into my training. Case in point - on Tuesday I PRd my deadlift, pulling 240#. At first, I was jubilant. Bitchin'! I kick butt! High Fives were traded with my training partner.

And then I watched the video.

Sigh.

Watching a video of a PR is often like seeing a photo of yourself in your favorite outfit - some things are better left in the happy place. Especially if you're a nutcase like me.

The first time I watched the video, I thought to myself "OK, form definitely suffered with the heavier lift - I'll really have to work harder to set my back better next time". The second time I thought to myself "Man, that is not a pretty deadlift". The third time " Eh, my previous PR lift of 225# was uglier than this, so that has got to count for something". The fourth time "Ew".

Eventually, I watched the video and decided that I looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I opted not to post the video in my training log, and set it to private on my YouTube channel.

Does the fact that it was not a perfect DL negate the PR? Or do I accept the imperfection, and glory in the sheer brute strength (give me my happy place here) that I exhibited in lifting it at all? It was not pretty, it was not perfect, but it also was not dangerous. And regardless, I was unable to lift 240# in any way, shape or form 2 months ago. But does it count?

The question I put to you is Where do we draw the line? At what point does simply doing it no longer cut it? If your squat is parallel but not below parallel, does it count? If the new CrossFit standard is chest to bar, does that mean the chin over bar is no longer valid? Are these nuances the difference between an elite athlete and a casual one? Or just the makings of neurosis?

For me, I think it all comes down to what I ask of and expect from myself. There is a first time for everything, and I will bask in the glow of accomplishing something that was previously impossible. But once mastered, it must be perfected. If not, what's the point?

Walking the Plank

Always adhere to training schedule while on vacation?

Always. My schedule doesn't change, just my location.	2 (20%)
Never. A vacation is just that, a vacation.	1 (10%)
Sometimes, if there's time or a convenient location.	4 (40%)
I mean to, but rarely (if ever) get to it, and always feel guilty later.	3 (30%)

I want to know who the two of you are that said "Always". You're either lying, delusional, or go on really sucky vacations:)

It's no surprise to anyone that I generally fall into the "I mean to, but rarely (if ever) get to it, and always feel guilty later" category. But this past weekend was different. No, not because I actually pulled out my running gear and went for those runs my friend promised me. But rather because I did NOT run and I was OK with that. Really.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not going to give him guilt for making me cram my running stuff into my carry-on bags and schlep them all the way from NY....after all, he promised ;)

You just can't trust a Pirate.......

Tuesday's Tip, February 17th

"Never pet a burning cat." - Rosa, preeminent Baker of fine pancakes.

First Comes Love then Comes Marriage....

Imagine, if you will: two young women (ahem) meeting daily at the gym. While there, they train (a.k.a. "work out") together.

Now, perhaps I'm missing the big red flag, but what about that scenario screams "romantically involved"?

Apparently, there are a few people at our gym who seem to think that my training partner and I are a couple. Really. Now, as far as I can recall we've given people no reason to come to that conclusion. No mud wrestling, no P.D.A. Just a lot of hard work and sweat. In fact, I have had many "gym dates" over the years and never once was pegged as a couple.

So I can only assume that it's the lifting. Since we're not gym bunnies or cardio queens - but instead pretty bad ass (if I do say so myself) chicks throwing around substantial weight (shh, let me have my happy place) I wonder if that is the jumping point from "girls who train hard" to "girls who must be gay".

Eh, whatever. The end result is the same - nobody bugs us :)

Poll Position

I'm off to Tampa this afternoon for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Came in to work a half day (i.e. to hit today's WOD before I leave), heading out this afternoon for the airport and back again Monday afternoon.

Many of you know that I struggle with training while on vacation. I always mean to do it, schelp all my running gear, my burpee challenge spreadsheet, my tabata timer...but never manage to eek out more than one or two workouts. Such is my lot in life.

This time around, I had absolutely NO intentions of training while away. None at all. But Mr. Diva offhandedly remarked the other evening "I'm surprised you're not going to try to run while we're inTampa. It'll be in the 70's". O. M. G. I actually almost had him repeat it, so I could record him suggesting that I go for a run. Needless to say, my running gear is packed and one of the friends that we're off to visit has agreed to go for a short run while I'm there!

So, I leave you with the poll you find above. What's your stance on training while on vacation? Hell yeah, no f'ing way, perhaps? Enquiring minds want to know!

100 Reasons I Run, #98

#98

• Because it's so much more fun to run up Cat Hill when the road is snowy and unplowed! But only if you're with Maria.

Heavy Metal Crossfit

This past weekend, I went to see Metallica in concert. From my vantage point in section 226, row 3, seat 20 I was able to look down upon some of the most entertaining chaos I have ever seen :) And virtually none of it was on the stage! It was all out on the floor, amongst the crowd that pressed up against the security barrier.

At least 5 times I saw (who I dubbed) Mr. Stretcher man come out from "backstage" and make his way through the throng of people with and empty stretcher and come back with a full one. OK, fine, my idea of entertaining might be a bit sick ;)

I witnessed multiple body surfing sessions, one of which resulted in the body in question being wrenched from the crowd by the security personnel and carried hand and foot out of the concert.

And of course, there were mosh pits galore! Here a mosh pit, there a mosh pit, everywhere a mosh pit!

As I looked down upon the gleeful carnage, I realized that in some ways, CrossFit is the Heavy Metal of the Fitness world...

We are often loud, occasionally vulgar, always sweaty, and - let's face it - from the outside we're just not that easy to understand.

Rock on!