[ Sport of Curiosity ] - This doesn’t just apply to CrossFit but I have noticed the concept surfacing a lot lately in my day to day training. Be Curious. It is so important in this sport to not get set in your ways in regards to training. There is always room for improvements and space for a new concept or approach. I am not saying that you should try ten thousand things, but don’t dismiss a coach suggesting a new way of doing things.
I recently hit PRs in Snatch (250 lbs.), Clean and Push Jerk (315 lbs.) , and Super Squat (330 lbs x 20 ) all with chucks and chalk. I like that style but with the loads I am playing with, it is time to get curious with the proper equipment ( lifting shoes, wrist wraps ect.). I am not saying I need those things, but why not try them out? If I am going to be a CrossFit athlete I need to be willing to put myself in the best possible situation to succeed. There is no way to tweak and adjust without being curious and open to change.
Don’t fight change out of reflex. #BeVigilant
It doesn’t matter how long you have been in the gym or training in the sport. Curiosity provides for an opportunity to have a break through. Something will new will not always work just because it’s new, but practicing “the attempt” is a valuable skill. I am repeating myself from several different angles because I believe it is important to grasp this from a 360º view. Be curious. Quickly decipher what to add to your tool box and what to discard. AND as always, enjoy every moment of this process. This is life and it’s fun.
I wonder if I can pick up that much weight <— The dangerous curiosity responsible for PRs
We are well into the 2012 CrossFit Games Regionals Season and it could not be more exciting. The hype underestimated the high level of excellence on display. The entire community has stepped up. It is almost as if a global PR is being executed. Our community, as a whole, super excited and connected on a higher level during this worldwide showdown. It is hard to pin point my favorite moments so far. [But I’ll try anyway]
[ Focused Competitor ] Azadeh Boroumand was so inspiring to watch. She came to this years South Central Regionals on a mission. Her dominating performance this year was so special to watch because I remember last year. What struck me most was how cool and collected she was after coming up short at last years Regional in Houston. That left a mark of curiosity as to what would take place this year. Apparently she went to work on becoming the best CrossFit athlete she could possibly be. Azadeh showed up this year and punched her ticket to Cali with the same cool and collected style. I can’t wait to see what she does in July.
[#Spealler] WOW! So many excellent articles have all ready been written spelling out this story way better than I can. [But I will say this]—> I watched Chris Spealler at the 2011 Games and then at the UFC Fan Expo later that year. His dedication to adapting to the changes in the sport is simply phenominal. We are witnessing a living legend of our sport.
[ Aja Barto ] My all time favorite CrossFit athlete. Simple and plain.
[ ME ] After riding the sidelines at the 11’ Regionals I decided to dedicate the next year to making it to that level in 2012. I learned way to many things and could probably go on for days. However, the most glaring lesson/reminder that I got was that you cannot understand a sport until you are fully face deep in it. I had “played CrossFit” for the first couple months of my training and I thought I knew something. I knew absolutely nothing until the South Central Regionals. The athlete in me was re-awakened in a way that I cannot explain. I’ve played football in front of 90,000+ but competing for the RedBlack team was probably one of the top 3 favorite moments of my life.
Don’t wait to go after the things you want. Make the choice now and be constantly caught in the act of working toward your goals. AND HAVE LOTS OF FUN TOO.
This weekend more of CrossFit’s top athletes are putting on an awesome show. Dan Bailey talked big and played big in the first event of the Central East Region. And.. according to Rich Froning [and only Rich Froning] Day 1 was like a “rest day.” So I am sure these next two days of Central East Regional competition will be unprecedented. Stay tuned visit games.crossfit.com if you still have no clue what I am saying.
photos courtesy of : Brian Sullivan & CrossFit Inc.
This is the answer to your athletic deficiencies. RedBlack Gym is harnessing the power of the beard.
Source: redblackgym
Sahara ——> Coliseum
I had thought I was excited for before, but with the 2012 CrossFit Games Regionals Workouts and I could barely contain myself with all of the different emotions and memories that was unlocked as I started to watch the movement videos. If it wasn’t real before it’s about as in your face as anything gets now. It’s hard to explain exactly how I feel but I’ll give it a shot.
[ Looking Back] Last year was my first Regionals experience. The 2011 South Central Regionals, more affectionately know as “The Sahara,” was an amazing experience. There is a lot to be said about the nasty muggy heat that the competitors, judges and spectators all marinated in for what seemed like a week. BUT there is even more to be said about the electrifying energy that was pumping throughout the weekend.
From the moment you stepped on site you could feel the excitement, focus, and passion that was being poured out over the course of three days. I guarantee you the South Central Region is connected on a different frequency because of what took place at the Sahara.
[Personally] I watched all this from the sidelines (tweeting about all of it of course) last year and made the decision that I wanted to compete in 2012. I remember watching Aja Barto and Ingrid Kantola (my two favorite CF athletes) and now I will be playing on the same field. I could not be more excited.
[Team] I have trained with the same dozen folks for the past year. We started off pretty squirrelly to say the least but we have struggled, bleed and fought together. Now, I have been selected to represent that bunch and the rest of RedBlack Gym. That is a special honor; not because of the esteem of Regionals ( no a diss) but because who and what the team represent. We represent our values, our commitments to each other, our people; we represent our Gym. I would not trade gyms or teammates for anything. The coolest part of feeling that way is knowing that I am going to a competition where EVERYONE feels the exact same way about their gym. The reason why the CrossFit Games keeps getting better and better is because we, as a community, are better every time we show to compete. That can only mean one thing - Fireworks like you have never seen before. I cannot wait.
True Beauty is always evident, no matter the canvas.
*My friend Jessica Estrada has some of the prettiest butterfly chest to bar pull ups.In CrossFit Games Open Workout 12.5 She completed 3,6,9 and half of the set of 12 unbroken. It was beautiful and awesome.
![Jessica Stephen finished in 31st place at the 2010 CrossFit Games. After missing out in 2011 with her team by one spot, she’s back in 2012 with the intent going to the Home Depot Center to compete.
Jessica exemplifies the mindset of: Being caught in the act of your intentions. I have had the opportunity to watch Jess train (at CrossFit Central) and I have never heard her say what she wanted to do. From last years regionals until now she has simply showed up everyday and spoke to her goal with her actions. The outcome is speaking louder than she every could.
[ Lesson Learned ] Let your results and fans do all the talking. Get to work.
(Read more about Jessica here)
If you dig it Check out my Adventure Page](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m17odi04tJ1qi1qk2o1_1280.png)
Jessica Stephen finished in 31st place at the 2010 CrossFit Games. After missing out in 2011 with her team by one spot, she’s back in 2012 with the intent going to the Home Depot Center to compete.
Jessica exemplifies the mindset of: Being caught in the act of your intentions. I have had the opportunity to watch Jess train (at CrossFit Central) and I have never heard her say what she wanted to do. From last years regionals until now she has simply showed up everyday and spoke to her goal with her actions. The outcome is speaking louder than she every could.
[ Lesson Learned ] Let your results and fans do all the talking. Get to work.
(Read more about Jessica here)
If you dig it Check out my Adventure Page
![This is a perfect depiction of how many thoughts can go through your head surrounding just one moment in competition [ Yet ] —-> There is a complete peace and harmony at the same time. | Competing is something I do for the trip equally as much as the destination. #ItsTime | A new adventure is beginning—-> http://on.fb.me/x0L59w
(Photo Credits to the CrossFit Games North Central Region —-> http://on.fb.me/zhB7gi )](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0xzubjNkK1qi1qk2o1_1280.jpg)
(Photo Credits to the CrossFit Games North Central Region —-> http://on.fb.me/zhB7gi )
Whatever you believe. Whatever you love. Reflects all around you. It spills out blatantly and cannot be hidden, dimmed or doused.
Pure Passion
![Constant
[ Past ]The CrossFit Games Open is about a week away. This will be my second crack at the Open. Last year was a 6 week beat down. I was new, not super skilled and out of shape. I remember all of the circumstances and drama floating around going into it last year. I could give excuses for days but I bottom-line is that I was not good enough. Not in respect to anyone else’s standard. But my own.. I failed Me.
[ Present ] This year I find myself a tad bit more skilled, in shape and mentally focused. There are a lot of people who talk a lot about going to Regionals and doing this and that. Don’t get me wrong I am hyper competitive and all of that is important to me but this year it is not so much about that for me. The 2012 CrossFit Games Open is about Me. I will be focused for the next 5-6 weeks on not letting Me down. I am my harshest coach. I want to leave each workout knowing that I put it all on the table. Nothing else is acceptable.
[ But what about the Excuses? ] —> More potent distractions have arisen this year and I think that will be an important part of this trip. I actually wouldn’t prefer it any other way. Bring it. I have come to far and given up to much to be stopped by anything. I am winner. When I am on… when I lock in and focus I am unbeatable. I inch closer to that point everyday (I can feel it). This is a slow and steady beat but it is constant. Constant. [Sparks a thought] We hit a WOD today and the whole time - all I could think of was BE CONSTANT. Not fast, or strong, or the best, but CONSTANT.
That concept is resonating with me right now. If you can be constant. You can win, because no matter what happens you will always continue to strike. You may hit that wall a thousand times with out it moving but since you are Constant you will break through. My want is pure and constant; therefore it is stronger than the resistance I face. Your want is stronger than the resistance. I don’t know what it is next but I will consistently press forward. See you in the Open](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzd6zqlZ7Z1qi1qk2o1_1280.png)
Constant
[ Past ]The CrossFit Games Open is about a week away. This will be my second crack at the Open. Last year was a 6 week beat down. I was new, not super skilled and out of shape. I remember all of the circumstances and drama floating around going into it last year. I could give excuses for days but I bottom-line is that I was not good enough. Not in respect to anyone else’s standard. But my own.. I failed Me.
[ Present ] This year I find myself a tad bit more skilled, in shape and mentally focused. There are a lot of people who talk a lot about going to Regionals and doing this and that. Don’t get me wrong I am hyper competitive and all of that is important to me but this year it is not so much about that for me. The 2012 CrossFit Games Open is about Me. I will be focused for the next 5-6 weeks on not letting Me down. I am my harshest coach. I want to leave each workout knowing that I put it all on the table. Nothing else is acceptable.
[ But what about the Excuses? ] —> More potent distractions have arisen this year and I think that will be an important part of this trip. I actually wouldn’t prefer it any other way. Bring it. I have come to far and given up to much to be stopped by anything. I am winner. When I am on… when I lock in and focus I am unbeatable. I inch closer to that point everyday (I can feel it). This is a slow and steady beat but it is constant. Constant. [Sparks a thought] We hit a WOD today and the whole time - all I could think of was BE CONSTANT. Not fast, or strong, or the best, but CONSTANT.
That concept is resonating with me right now. If you can be constant. You can win, because no matter what happens you will always continue to strike. You may hit that wall a thousand times with out it moving but since you are Constant you will break through. My want is pure and constant; therefore it is stronger than the resistance I face. Your want is stronger than the resistance. I don’t know what it is next but I will consistently press forward. See you in the Open
The next generation of @crossfitcentral athletes cc @hybridathletics #Crossfit (Taken with Instagram at CrossFit Central)
