I've been doing Crossfit for about 3 1/2 months now, and let me tell you...it is still hard. Not hard like going without creamer in your coffee, or having to park your car at the back of the parking lot in the rain. I'm talking HARD. Like nothing that you've ever done in your life has been as hard as this (with few exceptions - fighting cancer and losing a love one come to mind). Hard like you don't think you can go one more second without keeling over and dying, right there in the middle of the gym floor in front of everyone. Hard like you have to talk yourself into just one...more...rep, because quitting is not an option. As is often the case, doing things that are this kind of hard will leave you feeling exhausted, depleted, thoroughly and utterly beat down, and often, in my case, bruised and battered.
This is likely because I have the coordination of a drunk elephant, and Crossfit demands fluid, strong, efficient movements. We are doing Olympic weightlifting moves after all, and you cant just flop around like you don't know what you are doing. Unless of course, you want to end up with legs like mine. Then by all means, keep on flopping!
When I look at this picture though, I don't see clumsiness. I don't see that this particular lift is something I have not mastered (although that is true - cleans are HARD). I don't see failure. I see proof that I don't give up when things get tough...even when those things hurt. I see proof that I am getting stronger and tougher every single day. And I feel proud - proud that I do not quit, proud that I can do things I never imagined I could and proud that I am becoming someone who looks at their bruises, smiles, and picks up the bar for another try. That, to me, is what Crossfit is all about.
This is likely because I have the coordination of a drunk elephant, and Crossfit demands fluid, strong, efficient movements. We are doing Olympic weightlifting moves after all, and you cant just flop around like you don't know what you are doing. Unless of course, you want to end up with legs like mine. Then by all means, keep on flopping!
When I look at this picture though, I don't see clumsiness. I don't see that this particular lift is something I have not mastered (although that is true - cleans are HARD). I don't see failure. I see proof that I don't give up when things get tough...even when those things hurt. I see proof that I am getting stronger and tougher every single day. And I feel proud - proud that I do not quit, proud that I can do things I never imagined I could and proud that I am becoming someone who looks at their bruises, smiles, and picks up the bar for another try. That, to me, is what Crossfit is all about.