Wednesday, January 11, 2012

It's All Relative

It's all relative
The weight on the bar.  The push.  Your drive.  Your determination.  Your work ethic.  It's all relative to who you are and the type of person you are. 
Some people are content in just doing enough.  And that's OK by me, if you are content with that, that's fine.  But don't complain when you could change your situation by putting in some hard work, but it's not worth it to you.
Some people are driven.  I consider myself to be driven.  I want to be better so I push.  I push in every aspect of my life: work, education, relationships, health, CrossFit.  But that's me.  I've never really settled, so it makes sense to me to keep pushing and wanting more. 
My point...Push for a little more.  You may surprise yourself and realize that you've always been able to do more you were just to scared to try.
Good luck this week:)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Power of Semantics

Yet another year has passed.  It was a year of changes and a year of firsts for me.  I ran my first half marathon, competed in my first local CrossFit competition, and had to grow-up a little more than I wanted to a lot faster than I expected.  But all in all it was a pretty good year. 

What does it all mean?
So as 2011 came to an end 2012 began and I started seeing lots of posts about resolutions and goals.  I noticed as I read the posts that the friends using these different words could be grouped into two groups: CrossFitters (Goals) and Non-CrossFitters (Resolutions).

Goals vs. Resolutions
In my humble opinion goals and resolutions are the same thing.  It's all about the semantics and the power of the word.  When I set a goal I usually strive to achieve that goal, however, when I set resolutions I seem to fall by the wayside.  For me goals are more obtainable and more concrete.  Goals are the small steps, whereas, in most cases (for myself) resolutions are the ultimate goal.  So this year like last year I am setting goals instead of making resolutions, but unlike last year I am setting month to month goals in order to stay focused.

My Goals:
1. To improve my kip in order to do pull-ups more consistently in workouts.
2. To clean up my diet as best possible.
3. To improve my hydration practices, drinking at least 32 oz. of water a day.

Accountability
Hopefully, I will be able to obtain these goals by February.  My big goal is to consistently post about my life this year.  I started out so well last year but then fell of the wagon, so I'm going to try at least 4 posts per month.  I'm hoping posting all of this will increase the level of accountability I feel and will help me obtain my goals. 
Accountability is important so if you have goals or resolutions share them with someone who will help you obtain them and keep you on your path.  Good luck in the New Year:)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Jump Ropes, Shoes, and Shirts.....Oh MY!!!

Equipment, equipment, equipment.  It seems like I'm always buying something to try and help me improve my workouts.  So, Again Faster has a new jump rope and guess who wants it.  I do it spins faster than my Buddy Lee rope, but when you miss the double under you pay for it.  I really don't know if it will help improve my times or improve my double under skills, but the point is I want it. 


I recently bought a pair of Newtons to run in.  I'm still adjusting to running in them because of the natural style the shoe employs.  But this has to be the third pair of shoes I've bought in about three months.  I tend to buy shoes for everything.  I buy the shoe to train in, run in, etc.  I almost bought the new Reebok Crossfit shoe at the games and I think I would have had it not been for the simple fact that I just bought a pair of Saucony's a week before I went to California for the games.  I'll probably be buying that shoe once it comes out or asking for it for Christmas.  The beauty of this shoe is that it is a lifting shoe that you can run in.
Oh and did I mention socks.  You have to have the right socks.  The ones that wick away the moisture from your foot but still feel awesome on your feet.  Personal favorites are Balga but recently I bought a pair of Lulu Lemon's and absolutely love them.  I haven't ran in them yet but can't wait to try them out.  And then there are compression sleeves.  I have Skins and really like the results I've gotten from them but I know there are others on the market however I haven't tried them.
Did I mention T-shirts and shorts yet.  Well I should.  I love the new Lulu Lemon Boogey shorts I got.  The only compression type short that I have ever liked on me, so if you've tried and tried compression shorts and you hate the way they look, I totally recommend you try Lulu Lemon http://www.lululemon.com/.  T-shirts, we all have our preferences, I love RokFit.  I think I own almost every one they make.  They feel awesome and look the same way.  I also like Life as RX and several others.
Last thing you need to complete the equipment is a WOD book.  You can buy an app for the phone such as Beyond the Whiteboard or just keep it in notes or buy a journal.  I bought a sports journal at the games and am super excited about it.

Any recommendations on equipment I will gladly take them and if you have any questions about equipment I'll do my best to answer them or direct you to someone who knows.  Happy WODing:)
 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Someone Once Said

I once read somewhere the only thing you can control and change is you.  You can't change the people around you or the weather, but you can change you and your situation.  Instead of harping on the negative think about the positive and if you can't find the positive maybe it's time to move on to something bigger and better.
I know what you're thinking change is difficult and why should I change.  Well if you're unhappy, you need to find you're happiness and the best way to do that is to figure out why you're not happy.  It could be anything a relationship, being sedintary, your job, etc.  But make a change and be happy.  If you're exhausted take a vacation.  If you're angry with someone let them know because holding it in will only effect you.  It's not hurting them at all.   If you're tired of the everyday shake it up. 
So, go out and make a change.  Try something new.  Life is an adventure so go out there and live.

Today's Workout of the Day
400m run
20 ring dips (red band)
20 med ball cleans
20 burpees
200 m run
30 sit-ups
30 pull-ups (red band)
30 air squats
400 m run
Time: 14:48

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Warrior Dash and Bear's First Run

So this weekend marked my second Warrior Dash in Logan, Ohio.  Wow, what a difference a state makes.  This course was all hill and it was tough.  Not any injuries this time but an enjoyable time with great friends.  I definitely recommend trying a race like this one.  Check out http://www.warriordash.com/ for upcoming races and details about obstacles in some of the courses.  There are two coming up close by in Ohio and in Tennessee.

When I returned from the Dash, I took Bear for his first run in Ritter Park.  For those of you who don't know, Bear is our new edition who is full of energy and is going to be my running partner.  He is part sheep dog and a bunch of other stuff.  He did great and 1.5 miles in the morning didn't slow him down at all, so he returned to the park that evening and ran another mile.  He was super tuckered out. 

Since Thursday I have not been to the gym.  I am battling what I am calling allergies, but thinking more of a cold.  However, I will make my return tomorrow and keep you updated on my progress.  A new challenge has started at our gym and I am taking the challenge.  Details to come soon.

Happy Tuesday everyone:)

Thursday, June 2, 2011

A Lot of Catching Up to Do

What can I say?   I fell off the wagon of keeping up with my progress.  I have a lot of excuses but the main one is that I haven't had internet at the house for over a month and blogging from my phone takes way too much time.  So I promise to do a better job now.  So what's gone on.

I obviously posted my half-marathon run in Nashville which was an awesome experience.  I am truly blessed to be able to complete these types of races with an awesome group of people.

Since then I got to go to New York with a great group of girls, but the highlight for me had to be running through Central Park.  It was beautiful and amazing.  I would definitely recommend a run through the park if you are in the City.  It is an experience everyone should have.

Coming up tomorrow I leave for the Warrior Dash in Logan, Ohio.  I'll be sure to post about that on Saturday when I return home:)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Epic Win, Epic Fail

Our lives our composed of successes and failures. We win some and we lose some. But what makes us better. Our successes give us confidence, while our failures give us drive and determination to improve and make our failure a success.

My recent epic win came when I completed my first half marathon in Nashville. I never reached the "runner's high," however, it was a proud moment and I felt awesome. My epic fail came today. I didn't complete my first workout in Crossfit. I hit the wall and Barbara kicked my ass all over the gym. I completed 2 rounds out of 5, and discontinued the workout after that. But I will conquer Barbara mark my words. Her and I have a date real soon.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

More than a year ago...

April 11, 2010
A skeptical globogymer enters a CrossFit gym to be introduced to her first workout.  The workout that is being performed is Coalminer's Daughter, a workout put together in honor of the 29 fallen coalminers of the Upper Big Branch Mine.  She decides to do the workout in honor of these men and her father who was also a coalminer.  She has no idea what she is in for.

After she enters the gym she spots the board and this is what it says:
WOD
Coalminer's Daughter
5 Rounds
400 m run
29 push-ups
29 box jumps
29 floor to overhead (135/95)
29 pull-ups
She reads the board and immediately finds her sister-in-law who has assured her she can do this.  The panic of the workout has set in.  She keeps thinking "I CAN'T"  but all of the people around her keep telling her she can.  She warms-up with the rest of the crazy people and it's time to start the workout.  She modifies the push-ups, does step-ups, uses 65 pounds, and a band on pull-ups.  By the end of the workout she is doing jumping pull-ups.

The coach starts the clock 3-2-1-GOOOOO!!!!  And she is off running 400 m and beginning the workout.  By the end of the workout she is jogging and walking the 400 m.  She can't believe she completed this workout.  But she did.  With all of the encouragement it was hard to quit.  It was unlike anything she had ever done in her life and she felt accomplished.

That globogymer was me and that workout hooked me.  From that point on, after a couple of days rest, I've been doing CrossFit.  It has changed my life in so many ways.  It has given me my health, happiness, and a special family to share my experiences.  Thanks CrossFit:) 

Today's WOD
4 rounds
10 ring dips
10 power cleans 95lbs
100m run
Black band on dips
Time:11:27

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Sorry For The Hiatus....

STRESS....Yes, stress.  That's my excuse for the hiatus I have taken from writing and tracking my workouts via the blog.  I have still been working out but I have neglected to write about any of my experiences or post my results for the past weeks.  I am going to try and do a better job at keeping up with the blog for my own sake. 



Updates...Let's see where to begin.  The CrossFit Open started four weeks ago and I have been competing and doing the workouts.  I am not competing to go to regionals but doing it to have fun and see where I stand as a CrossFitter.  The experience so far has given me a lot to think about, as well as, a lot of notes about what I need to work on to get better. 
Recently, I attended a nutrition lecture at our gym to further my knowledge about the diets and why I should follow the diets.  The lecture was very interesting and helped me refresh my outlook on eating and the importance of eating clean.  Always remember: "Protein, Fat, Carb" (good carbs not processed ones-that means fruits and veggies).  To go along with the lecture I started reading The Paleo Diet for Athletes, by Loren Cordain and Joe Friel, so far the book has made for an interesting read. 
Also, my new cookbook finally came in after weeks of anticipation.  I got my copy of Primal Blueprint: Quick and Easy Meals  by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier, which has some fantastic recipes.  I definitely recommend buying the cookbook.  The recipes that I have tried so far stay true to the concept of quick and easy.    
For now that's all I have to say, but I promise to write tomorrow:)

Today's WOD
Open WOD 3
5 minute AMRAP
110 lbs squat clean and jerk/thruster/press

1 total rep not rounds reps and that's a PR for me on squat clean so I'll take it, however, I did 112.5.  Yes, I was dumb and accidentally put  40lbs on one side and 37.5lbs on the other side of a 35lbs bar.  I will probably attempt this workout again with the correct weight and hopefully PR on my Jerk.

Lamb Meatballs
Note: this recipe comes from the Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals Cookbook by Mark Sisson – a totally rockin’ cookbook, which I highly recommend!

Ingredients:
1 pound ground lamb
1 egg
1/4 c dill or parsley chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 c pine nuts

Mix all ingredients.  Form ground lamb into 12 meatballs.
Warm a tablespoon of oil (I used coconut) in a skillet over medium high heat.  Add meatballs and brown for 2 minutes, then turn and brown the other side for 2 minutes.  Turn the heat down to medium and put a lid on the pan.  Cook 10-12 more minutes, until meatballs are no longer pink in the middle.

Happy Cooking:)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Can't Never Could Do Nothing

"I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed; and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying." Tom Hopkins

I CAN'T.  I really hate those words, yet I hear them all the time and I even use them myself from time to time.  Guess what?  YOU CAN.  That's right I said it you can do it. 

Have you tried to do it?  Yeah, I mean really tried.  Went after it with pure determination or did you submit to defeat before you even started.  When I talk about CrossFit to non-CrossFitters I always get the same justification for not coming and trying the gym and that justification is "I can't do that."  Well maybe you aren't able to do all the movements, but have you tried the movements.  And if you can't do the exact movement that movement can be modified so that you can do it.  Just try it.  I also get that a lot when I talk about the diet.  I can't eat paleo, what would I eat.  Well, if you really wanted to change your diet you could it's just up to you to try.  I'm not saying you have to eat strict all the time and I'm not saying paleo is the answer for everyone, but if you want to change your diet try to change.  Just don't give up on it within the first couple of days.  Changing old habits is hard, trust me I know.  It's still hard to resist the urge to drive down the pasta aisle, but I avoid it.  Continue to try things and you'll get the hang of it.  Your efforts will earn you dividends in the end.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." Beverly Sills

Yesterday's WOD
“Hotsinpiller”






Hotsinpiller, 24 of Bridgeport, had worked for the Marshal’s Service, out of its Clarksburg office, for just more than a year. He is a 2005 graduate of Bridgeport High School and a 2009 graduate of Fairmont State University.
He was killed in the line of duty.

1 Mile Run
3 Rounds Of
  • 16 Squat Clean Thrusters (115/85) Used 75
  • 16 Box Hops
  • 16 Chest To Bar Pull Ups Red band
  • 16 KB Swings (2pood/1.5pood) 1 pood
1 Mile Run

My time: 46:21

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A Renewed Sense of Self

For the past couple of weeks I've been in the duldrums.  Disappointed in myself for anything and everything.  Instead of taking my own advice and creating my own happiness, I've stayed in this state of self-loathing.  Well thank goodness that's over and I've snapped out of it.  All it took was a little push from within to get over the hump.  To look at myself in the mirror and give myself the pep talk the little girl in the YouTube video gives herself (Not really, but you get the point).

There's no point on harping on things you can not change on your own.  But the things you can change you should.  So here's to a renewed sense of self and a renewed sense of spirit. 

Today's WOD
Tried my hand at the Opens WOD #1
10 min AMRAP
30 double unders
15 power snatch (55/75)
My rounds: 3 + 14 double unders
Total reps: 149

Monday, March 14, 2011

It's Not Ever Going To Be Perfect

LIFE. It's messy.  Might as well go ahead and accept that simple fact and realize that your life is never going to be "perfect."  It may come close but there's always going to be something that isn't the exact way you want it.
Get over it.  As my mom always told me, "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.  Your not always going to be a crowd pleaser and not everyone is going to like you or like what you have to say, but don't let them influence the person you are.  If you do they win."
Find an outlet.  Find something that makes you happy and use it as a way to get out your frustrations.  Get over the little things that sometimes seem so huge.  In the end it's probably not that big of a deal.
The sum of our experiences.  Our lives are equivalent to the sum of our experiences while we are here.  Go out and enjoy your day don't just harp on the bad things that are going on.  I guess what I'm getting at is "Don't sweat the small stuff."  Because in the end that's all it was, a small obstacle that you had to overcome.

Today's WOD
Quick Cindy
8 minute AMRAP
3 pull-ups
6 push-ups
9 air squats

Immediately followed by:

Speed Annie
25-20-15-10-5
Double unders
Sit-ups

8 Rd's with 1 pull-up (Rx'd)
6:48 seconds on Speed Annie

Friday, March 11, 2011

Life Is Not A Spectator Sport

Life is not a spectator sport.  Get out there and be a part of your world and make an impact. 
Get off of the sidelines.  Personally, I've been sitting on the sidelines for a while waiting for the perfect opportunity to join the game.  Well, in an epiphany on Wednesday, I realized there's never going to be a perfect time, so if I want to do something I might as well start big.  All of my CrossFit friends know what I'm talking about.  I signed up for the opens.  Just to prove to myself that I can do it, not to win because I know that the athletes out there that have signed up are better than me, but just to join in the fun. 
I'm off of the sidelines and finally a part of the game.  It feels good and I haven't even done the first workout, nor do I know what it is.  The point is that you never know until you try so I'm trying just to finish.



Today's WOD
Makeup day
15 minute AMRAP
10 sit-ups
10 burpees
10 squat cleans (65/95)

My rounds: 5 rounds 8 burpees

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Happiness

*Tonight's blog is written in memory of my grandmother.  You always kept me smiling.  Happy Birthday in Heaven.*

What Makes You Happy?  Truly makes you smile and laugh.  You could be having the worst day and you think about this thing or person and smile.  Think about how you could harness the happiness you feel and use it everyday. 
Keep Smiling...  If you feel a little down in the dumps just try to keep pushing through.  The hard times only make your stronger and you learn a lesson along the way.  These lessons make you better my grandmother always instilled this in me and I thank her for it everyday.

Today's WOD
21-15-9
Sumo deadlift high pulls
Overhead squats (65/95)
my time: 6:45

  

Monday, March 7, 2011

Everyday Is Not Going To Be Your Best

You are not always going to be at your best.  There are going to be days when you don't feel as strong as you really are and days that you feel like you are moving in slow motion.  Push through these days.  Go in do your workout and try not to become overly frustrated.  Keep working and resting the way you should and your efforts will be rewarded.  Watch your diet and be mindful of the choices you make day-in and day-out.  Your choices will make a difference as well.  So here's to making good choices and working through the frustrations.

Today's WOD
1x1x1x1x1 strict press (75lbs)  PR is 80
3x3x3x3 push press (95lbs, missed 105 2x) PR is 100

Annie
50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders
Sit-ups
My time which was a PR: 10:56 (previous PR 14:24)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Fight For It

Anything Worth Having....  Well you know the old adage.  Words that are so true and can be applied to all areas of your life.  Relationships, promotions, PRs, they're all worth putting in the extra effort.



Why Do We Forget This... Well we get lazy and become satisfied with where we are, until one day we wake-up and realize we're not satisfied anymore.  Then its time to get out there and go for what we want.  To venture down the path less traveled and put in the extra effort.

Get Out There...  Get out there and fight for what is important to you.  Things just don't arrive on a silver platter, you have to earn them and fight for them. 

Today's WOD
3 Rounds
5 Deadlifts (185 pounds)
50 Double unders
My time: 8:39

The pics are of me fighting for the completion of the 185 pound deadlift in the last round:)