Inspirational Testimonies

Inspirational Testimonies:

FFFA with Cindy regales us with her “Back at the Ranch” experience. Conveniently, also, her first CrossFit competition as a competitor. Those who missed, those new to CrossFit, those virgin competitors need merely read…then sign up for next year.

It was a few weeks before Practice CrossFit’s “Back at the Ranch” event…and I had somehow convinced myself that it would be better if I just volunteered. But in reality I was scared and even after everything I learned about myself over the past few months…I was hiding behind an excuse. And then as I was rolling out before a WOD I overheard a trainer say, “You know once you get there on that morning you are going to be really sorry you did not at least try.” And in that moment something clicked in my head and in my heart…me going out there and trying was the best thing I could ever do…I had not been scared to fall on my face so far so why start now. And so was born, “The Mod Squad”…a team of CrossFitters that might be modified in some areas but completely RXed when it comes to heart…

There are so many things that I will take with me from October 22, 2011…judging a female athlete in the first event and her saying, “I have never done handstand pushups…let alone hand release ones, but I’m just going to try”…people that had never held an ax having to chop wood for time…or the feeling of running over that hill with my team mate by my side and hearing everyone cheering while I tried to hide the tears of pride that were streaming down my face.

But I think that the most important thing I will take from “Back to the Ranch” is this…Life is not about what you can’t do, it is about what you can do…and the one thing that we all can do is TRY. You might not get that hand stand push…but you tried. You might not get that pull up… but you tried. And you might not have finished 1st but at least you tried. You pushed past all the excuses and all the bull sh*t and you tried and for that you won.

Too many times people came up to me that day saying, “after seeing you and your team compete. I should have signed up.” And to them I said, “YES!!! You should have!” If you live in the “could’ve…would’ve…should’ve” moments in life you will get nowhere.

In everyday life and in CrossFit we all have those moments, “I could have pushed myself more…I would have done better if my diet was on track…I should have done more weight.” We aren’t guaranteed to have another chance…we are only given the here and now…live in that moment…So, push yourself more, get your diet on track, and throw more weight on the bar. Don’t let the words “could’ve…would’ve…should’ve” run your life or run your WOD.

“Back at the Ranch” lasted a few hours…but it is an event that will live in my soul for the rest of my days. Too many mothers…sisters…daughters…wives…friends…aunts…girlfriends…have been given a life sentence of breast cancer that is all too short. And I would bet my last dollar they would give anything for one more try and they can’t. So…why can’t you try?

-Cindy Rhodes-Young: www.gopractice.biz

Send this post to all your friends questioning CrossFit. Is it for them? Is it for overweight individuals? Is it truly for everybody? Joel regales us with his CF beginning and I believe answers these questions profoundly and honestly. Thanks Joel, for sending us your trials, your thoughts, and your story. We send back our commitment to your success. October 3rd. It’s 4:24 am. I get out of bed, being sure not to wake up the twins, and turn my alarm off before it goes. Why am I already awake at this insane hour? It’s my first day at PCF, and I’m scared out of my mind.

Let’s back up. Both of my sisters have been going to PCF, Betsy for a couple of years, Shelly for the better part of a year. Betsy was already in what I would consider pretty good shape, and I had noticed through the last year or so that she started looking less like she was “in shape” and more like she “could kick my ass at the drop of a hat.” I knew she was going to PCF and bringing back some incredible stories. Stories about people lifting heavy things, sweat stains in the outline of a person on the floor of her gym. It didn’t sound like my old routine of 30 minutes on the elliptical with a dribble of sweat. It sounded like hell. Shelly had recently been going- aside from the massive changes in how she looks, she had more confidence, more happiness, more life than I had seen her have in years. She said it challenged her, made her want to be a better person. I was skeptical that it would do the same to me.

I had seen Crossfit workouts and been on the website. People actually using those archaic weights that I had seen dumped into the empty corner of the Y (when I still went). People moving fast. People looking different, with some versions of round to the other end of the spectrum- what I would consider pugilist-esque. But there was a commonality. Whenever I saw a picture, I couldn’t help but noticing the intensity in people’s eyes. It didn’t matter what shape the rest of their body was- they all shared this intensity that said, “I can do this.” The reassurance of self in a time of great exertion. And of the occasional post- or pre- WOD picture, the look of people who were simply… alive. I was intimidated, but curious to give it a try.

Back to October 3- I’m not a “morning” person per se. But that morning, I was ready 5 minutes before Shelly came to pick me up. Fear. All that kept running through my head was “you can’t do this.” As she pulled up to my house, the kids still quiet- asleep, all I could think for the next 20 minutes during the trip down was “what are you thinking?” As I walked through the doorway, people greeted me. Before I know it, we’re done with the foam rollers and stretching parts of my body that simply weren’t being used during my busy routine of being fat and watching TV. Sweat began, and then my heart began beating faster. I was doing some of the same movements to warm up that people far more in shape were, and somehow, even though they may have been doing it faster, it drove me to finish, even if I was a bit slower.

As everyone else maxed out their squat cleans, Chas pulled me aside and told me what my workout would be. 10 box squats and 10 sumo deadlift high-pulls, 3 rounds, as fast as I could. I remember that it was the hardest I had worked at anything for at long as I remembered. I vaguely remember other people around me, doing their thing. Weights slamming the ground, furious movement of feet against mats, music so loud that you almost forgot (almost) just how hard and fast your heart was beating. Chas coming over to encourage me and watch my form, pushing me to do it faster, better. It’s over, some 3-odd minutes later, and while I’m feeling more exhausted than ever, I also feel simply… alive.

Cut to today: Though I will not say I don’t feel tired at 4:25 every morning I work out, I honestly cannot wait to get to PCF. It’s been less than a month, and I’m hooked. I never have been this kind of person. But I am really enjoying the challenge of self- the rejection of that voice in my head that tells me I can’t, and I answer it with sweat. Every WOD I complete makes me feel taller, stronger, more free. Elephant in the room (no pun intended): I’m overweight. Massively so- I’m the first to admit. But honestly, I’ve never had that feeling at PCF. So what if I can’t do what everyone else does? I’ve got a 150lb weighted vest that I can’t take off anytime. I have to burn it off. The vibe I get from everyone else is respect. Respect for the fact that I’m so out of shape, and desperately trying to get back. People have corrected my form on a lift, and encouraged me 20 burpees into my own fat boy “filthy fifty” to keep going. Perfect strangers! I have nothing but love for my fellow PCFers. I’ve never felt more apart of a community so quickly. To exceed one’s own expectations of self is an amazing feeling. Anyone who wants to check out of their own habit of doubts and fears and wants to believe in themselves can do this. I aim to continue -Joel Lyman: www.gopractice.biz