Dare to be great.....
For those of you whom are new or looking into CrossFit, this post isn't necessarily about a competition per se, but about the daily struggles we all find within ourselves as we approach the bar, approach the whiteboard and approach our daily workout. You see, we ALL struggle, no matter how long we have been CrossFitting or how new we are to CrossFit. Our challenges are different for each and every one of us. This post is not designed to scare those of you whom are looking at CrossFit away, but rather to inspire you to overcome the challenges you place before yourself each and every day. It is NOT without technique, consisteny and intensity that we can get to where we want to be. it is NOT without effort that we can be the best we want to be. It is NOT without fear, but acting in spite of that fear that creates greatness inside of us. It is NOT without tears sometimes, or pain, or even suffering. But it is these moments in which Are talked about, that we get to the point we want to be. Please enjoy and Share as we begin 2012 in a few days. Go out today, and DARE TO BE GREAT!
The days, the months, the years the hours of countless training, sacrifice and careful planning are about to pay off. It's time. Your moment is coming up. You look around. You see the other athletes, their breath steaming in the air with nervous anticipation. What are they thinking, what are they feeling. Is their gut doing flips, Have they had their "nervous pee" yet? Are they going through the same borage of emotions you went through when you walked into the door and saw the workouts. Are they skilled at something more than you are. What mental challenges are they facing at this very moment.
You know what your demons are... you know deep down your demons have been slain through the hours of countless skill development, coaches yelling at you, constantly correcting you, looking at your form, having you repeat the movement with PVC pipe time after time, seemingly endless moments of effort in which you were slightly off, slightly forward, slightly back. You know you have done your time. Patience has been your best ally in the process of coming down to this moment, this one moment in time in which you are given to inspire greatness within yourself. This is what each and every second has come down to, the effort you are about to throw down.
You stare across the room looking at the equipment, seeing the other athletes warming up, Allowing yourself your moment to feel the energy in the room. You can hear it, feel it, smell it... even taste the energy in the air. the room is full of excitement, nervousness, maybe even some fear. In spite of what you have deep down that wants to give you an even momentary second of "Can I" you know that YOU CAN. You know that within you is a power and desire stronger than anything you have ever felt. It is welling up as you slowly cross the room, looking at the whiteboard, studying the workout, strategizing how you will attack, how you will put your body into motion, what the most efficient movements are and how to organize it so not a second is lost.
You watch a heat or two and it only drives you deeper into that zone in which you get to complete the workout. It helps you clean your mind of all that ails you. It helps you flip the switch, open the trap door, clean the slate so you can go in and push your limits much beyond what even YOU think you are capable of. You watch as each athlete performs the motions smoothly and efficiently. Suddenly you see yourself in that place, moving with ease, efficiently breathing, moving through each movement with careful timing, Your breathing calm and controlled, your body in full range of motion as you push the bar through it's entirety. You see yourself in slow motion and can hear how your heart is beating, transferring all of your energy to the places it is needed the most. You can feel your moment in your head, hear it, see it, smell it. You can feel the sweat start to drip, you can hear the clang of the barbell, the swing of the bell, the grunts of the athletes and then it ALL fades away into the background as your focus becomes solely on your performance.
Your heat is called.... walking to your spot in the box, you look around one more time, seeing the other athletes with the same intent on their face, the same drive, the same determination for success. You know at this moment, they are all like Champion Stallions waiting for the gates to open, they are powerful, skilled, athletic, ready to hit it hard. They have waited for this moment... they have endured pain, suffering and countless hours of training to be here. You feel in your heart of hearts this battle will be fought with courage in spite of all that surrounds each of you. You look into the eyes of each athlete as you shake all of their hands, maybe give some knuckles, and tell them all to kick ass. As you approach your bar, the fleeting thoughts you may have had about ANYTHING seem to disappear into the background.
It is time.....
You hear the coach of the box yelling out you start in 10 seconds. The tension builds, the focus narrows, the adrenaline kicks in. You shake it out, jump in place, rotate your neck, breathe on your hands ready to conquer, ready to challenge, ready to accept nothing less than greatness. Your heart pounds in your ears, every breath radiating through your lungs, your vision narrows to the metal and rubber in front of you. You hear nothing but the sounds of victory ready to be earned. Your mind is empty except for the will to succeed. You are ready to achieve, ready to perform, ready to give everything you have to the challenge that lay ahead. You know nothing but the determination and drive inside of you at this moment. The voices and crowd fade into the background. The other athletes become a blur in your peripheral vision. Your zone becomes so focused as you hear..... 3...... 2.......1...... GOOOOO!!!!!!!!
