Me determined to get to the top on the sandbag sprint.

This weekend, I had the incredible privilege of competing in the CrossFit World Games in Aromas, CA.  Words could never express this unbelievable experience!  The Games are the olympics of what we do as CrossFitters.  The male and female who took the the first place spots were crowned “The Fittest People in the World!”  Each individual, whether he/she be from the U.S.A., Iceland, Australia, Canada, England, etc.., had to compete at a regional qualifier to get to the games.  Everyone one there deserved to compete!

First off, it was amazing to be in the presence of CrossFit superstars that I have been watching on videos for years.  Tanya Wagner, Jolie Gentry, Gillian Mounsey, OPT, Chris Spealler, Josh Everett…too many to name.  All were awesome and no one seemed confident that they would take home the title…

The first event: A 7K trail run up and down (up and down up and down….) the infamous Aromas ranch site.  This was BY FAR the craziest event in which I have ever participated!  The trail was COVERED in poison oak, so my friend (and manager for the weekend) went out and bought me pink (of course) gardening gloves, so that I could bear crawl up the side of the mountain.  As I approached the first hill, I thought to myself, “it’s the first one, you’ll run the whole thing.”  NOT SO MUCH!  At about half way up, your legs just don’t move anymore…hands on the knees and I trudged up, up, up…Coming down was almost as scary as going up. Several athletes were injured already. This required control of your entire body.  By the third hill, I was in the zone…listening to NWA blare on my ipod, the roar of the crowd, people I didn’t even know screaming my name, I was DETERMINED to finish and not at the bottom of the pack.  I never allowed my legs to stop moving, even when an athlete ahead of me kick me in the chin on the climb upward, or the athletes coming down kicked up PILES of dirt into my mouth.  By far, this was the most memorable event of the weekend.  Lauren Erwin, my training partner from Milford, came in 2nd on this run.

The second event, DEADLIFTS!  Those who know me, know I love to deadlift.  This was a fun event.  Female atheletes went out and started at 185 lbs and every thirty seconds, proceeded to go up 10 lbs until they could no longer lift.  I knew this was my chance to go up in placement.  The only pure strength event in the entire day.  The energy in the crowd was UNREAL.  I went out behind an athlete that said that she was “okay” at deadlifting.  I never asked what my weight was, I just kept following her.  My previous best deadlift was 325 and I did not expect to get close to that after the run from HELL!  But, the girl in front of me kept moving, so I had to do the same.  I got to 315 (unknowingly) and pull the UGLIEST deadlift one could ever see…but I got it.  I failed at 325.  The “okay” girl in front of me got to 355..OKAY??!!!??

After this, the ten lowest athletes were eliminated.  The next event, a 150 meter uphill sprint with a 35 lbs sandbag.  When asking Pat Sherwood of CrossFit HQ to describe this run he said, “It got really bad, really fast.”  HOLY GLUTES!!!   It was the most painful minute and change of the weekend.  Only a select few (2 or three) athletes were able to run the entire way.

For the next event, we had to row 500 m. Then, drive a 3 foot,blunt stake into the ground with a metal mallet. Then, finish with another 500 m row.  If you know me, you know I HATE three things:  Handstand push ups, pigeons, and ROWING!  That, intermingled with an act I had never attempted before cause me to drop a bit in the rankings.  But I pushed along and drove that stake into the ground.

After this, 10 more athletes were cut.  I held my breath…I made it!  My goal was to complete all 5 events on Saturday.  Mission accomplished, or so I thought…I felt my mental strength slipping a bit.  A voice saying, “Lauren, you already worked out FOUR times today…you know you are gonna suck out there.”  Looking at BEASTS like Josh Everett struggle, made me think I would do the same.  I gave myself the Liz Mauro slap in face, put Metallica “Broken, Beat, and Scarred” on my ipod rallied, and headed out.  The workout was, 3 rounds for time of 30 wall balls (at a much higher target than I am used to hitting) and 30 snatches.  On any given day in the gym, I’d kill this WOD (workout of the day), but today was a bit different.  Metallica got me through the first round, but then I slowed.  For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish a workout…the time cap (of which  I was unaware-but, no excuses) was 20 minutes.  At minute 20, I had 4 snatches to go…I was so disappointed in myself.  I went to the warm up area, and finished my last 4 snatches…CrossFitters finish workouts…

The next day, of which I now became a beer drinking spectator, was comprised of three wods…all incredible to watch.  In the end, Tanya Wagner of Pennsylvania and Mikko Salo of Finland were crowned the “Fittest Male and Female on the Planet.”  Congrats to these STELLAR athletes!  There is no doubt in my mind that they deserve the title.

As for me, I will be back next year.  I will work hard on all modalities of fitness until then, but most importantly, I will work on that muscle between my ears…mental fortitude is probably the most critical asset in the sport of CrossFit.  Who from Shoreline CrossFit is in with me??!!

By the way, the family is still growing.  We are at member 19!  Welcome Erica, Kyle, and Don!  We expect all of you to be at the grand opening on August 15th.