Post Games Path of Motivation

I, like many of you was glued to my T.V. this whole weekend, leaderboarding, analyzing, and cheering on the competitors at the Crossfit Games. It was a really exciting year, from the open, to regionals, to the games, a road that I followed more closely than I have in the past. I familiarized myself with a lot of these competitors, understood their training regimen, their background, hell, I even worked out alongside one of the competitors this past year. I can tell you that this is both motivating and defeating at the same time. I came to realize very quickly that 90% of these people aren't just a group of guys or girls that decided one day in their late 20's - 30's to give Crossfit a shot. These are not the people whose last workout was in the High School weight room. These are former Division 1 athletes, Navy Seals, Olympic lifters, Gymnasts...It kind of makes that little glimmer of hope that "maybe I could do that one day" get a little dimmer. And I am not saying that me or anyone I know can have a chance to make it to the Crossfit Games one day, but I know that with the end of the Games comes a lot of new motivation. Motivation can be awesome, and sometimes dangerous. I come away each year after watching the Crossfit Games with a new spark, new goals, etc. This is a great feeling. But, often times I see those that come away with the attitiude of flipping their life around 180 on Monday. Their diet is 100% strict, their training regimen is 6 days a week....and this feverish pace will lead to nothing but dissapoinment, and injury. Now obviously, this blog post is not for everyone. There are some of you reading this that just like to get a good workout, and I can't stress enough how great that is. But for those of you that take Crossfit a little more seriously, let me lend you a little advice. If you were one of the people on the edge of your seat after each Games workout, saying "I want to do that one" or if you were the person, that said "I can't wait til Monday" this is for you.....Keep that spark alive, if you use it correctly, it can lead to great things, but focus on the goal, and understand the looooooong path to get there. You want to train to go to the Games one day? Great, but put it into perspective, watch a video titled "a day in the life of Rich Froning", it is quite eye opening. His job is to workout, he does it 5 times a day.......everyday...he doesn't complain about wall balls, he doesn't skip stretching, he works on weaknesses, he doesn't look in advance at the wod to decide if he is coming. What I am getting at is this, use your Games motivation as a way to eat a little better, use it to learn more about Crossfit, to understand the mechanics of the movements, use it as a way to come on the day that you normally would have skipped, use it as a way to swallow your pride, go down in weight and focus on your form, use it as a way to develop habits, identify and work on weaknesses. I am using it for all of these as well as a way to motiviate me to do better in the Open next year, as well as a big change that is to come. We will see where it goes from there, but I am starting today with new motivation, and I will make sure to use it wisely.

SUNday

As a crossfitter, my fitness regime revolves around the box. Kettlebells, olympic lifts, rowing machines, pullups, etc. One Sunday morning, recently, I began my drive to the gym, a drive I make each and everyday, 7 days a week. Just as I was pulling up to the front doors, I realized, I didn't want to be there. Now don't get me wrong, there are plenty of days I am not feeling like working out, but this was different. On this particular day I didn't want the box that I was so comfortable working out in. I was craving a new landscape, no clocks, no chalk. I called an audible that day, and we ventured to the Barton GreenBelt for some hiking. It felt great to break out of the monotony of our routine. The following Sunday, I did the same....same feeling, new landscape. Stand up Paddle boarding it was.. A beautiful day on Town Lake, Sun, and the Austin skyline made for a wonderful afternoon. I think I might continue this little trend each weekend. Ill take a SUNday if you will....see what I did there.....I encourage you to find time for your own SUNday. It can be as simple as traveling to a neighboring town, parking your car, and running. No direction in particular just explore. I traveled to New Orleans this past week and did exactly that. My wife and I woke up early one morning and ran along the Mississippi River and the sprawling cityscape that made for a great 2 hour adventure. We have access to a beautiful city a mere 30 minutes away filled with tons of things to do that keep you active, and give you new experiences that can be the catalyst for new inspiration, new drive! It's good to switch up the routine, it is sort of a reset button that needs to be pushed every now and then. There is a lot of life out there to taste!