Double Unders Suck!

I've always thought that I was pretty good at Double Unders.....I have recently been proven wrong! The third workout at ACO last weekend was a 10 minute AMRAP. Every minute on the minute you did 3 squat cleans and as many double unders as you could with the rest of the minute. Now I just got a brand new rope from RX Jump Rope and it is awesome. I'd practiced with it very briefly before ACO and thought it was all squared away....WRONG! As soon as I got to about round 3, I was clipping my left foot regularly....SO FRUSTRATING! I just attributed it to a small gas-tank...I mean, cardio is my nemesis whereas strength is my power...and double unders are straight cardio right?! Well, today the Advanced Class over at CrossFit Katy tackled the next Again Faster WOD.

WOD #11 is

200 double unders

7000lbs total deadlift

75 thrusters with a 45lb bar

Partition as needed.

I decided to do:

4 Rounds

50 Double Unders

10, 10, 9, 9 Deadlifts @185#

19,19,19,18 Thrusters

Let me tell you....those damn double unders kicked my butt again! The first two rounds went ok but as soon as the I got to that third set of DU's I could not for the life of me get it together! I haven't been that frustrated in a WOD in a long time! I hate making excuses but I think I'm going to order another rope that is one inch longer than my current rope. Maybe then I'll conquer those suckers! So I guess I'm using this post to vent a little. Contrary to what people may think......every CrossFitter gets crushed by a WOD sometimes and today, I was crushed! The important thing to remember is that there is always another WOD.....and next time double unders come up...they will not defeat me!

The 2010 All-Cities Open

It came, it went and I survived! Actually I did more than just survive. I managed to get 11th place overall this weekend and I've got to say, I'm pretty happy about it.

Usually after a tough CrossFit competition, I spend the rest of the weekend ruminating over what I could have done better.....should have done better, how I could have shaved a second here or added a rep there, but all the woulds and shoulds don't change anything and I'm learning to accept my weaknesses and revel in my strengths as far as this year's ACO is concerned. I am definitely looking forward to turning those weaknesses into strengths in the next few months.

The one thing I still can't get over is how connected I feel now to this whole community. It's an incredible feeling knowing that no matter which competition you attend, you will always have someone there cheering you on and many times it's fellow CrossFitters who you've never even met before or only briefly!

This past weekend during the horribly cold and windy run on WOD#4, I got passed up by another girl in my heat. (For anybody that doesn't know, running is my nemesis and I am HORRIBLE at it!) But as she ran past me she slowed just a sec to turn and say "come on Leah". That's what really sets us all apart you know......we elevate each other to perform at our best. Do I go into every competition with the desire to win?? Of course I do, but I will always celebrate my competitors successes. I want to be elevated to do my best because they are doing their best and hopefully my best will be good enough some day.

Again Faster

For the past few weeks, Again Faster has been challenging any and all CrossFitters to compete against the Again Faster Competition Team in their challenge WOD's. The newest set of WOD's is a little bit different. The first two WOD's are task domain WOD's and the third WOD is a time domain WOD but the kicker is that the time for the third WOD depends on how quickly you finish the first two WOD's.

Over at CrossFit Katy, the 7pm Advanced class has decided to rise to the challenge and take on these next three WOD's. They've only posted the first one so far, a 2K row time-trial, and we hit it hard last Thursday! I haven't rowed a 2 K since February and wasn't really expecting much since I haven't been able to train that much with the end of school looming, but I surprised myself and rowed a PR: 8:02. Hopefully I can hang in the next two WOD's. The next one should be posted in two weeks.

AF WOD 10 2k Row from Neal Kay on Vimeo.

Tis the Season!

Wow! I can't believe it's December already! (ACO is just around the corner...Yikes!) Good news is, Hannukah is way early this year (go Jews)! Haha... Ok, ok, so maybe I'm spoiled and get to celebrate both Xmas and Hannukah, but that is besides the point. The point is that for all you Jews and non-Jews alike, the holiday buying season is upon us and I just thought it would be fun to put together a little CrossFit Holiday Wish List. I'm sure most if not all of the people that read this blog are already avid CrossFitters, but just in case you aren't (or if you are and need ideas for your CrossFitting significant others or friends) here's a little list of things that I'm sure would make any CrossFitter happy!

The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf-- If you're a CrossFitter and haven't gotten your hands on a copy of this book, then lean into your computer and I'll cyber-slap you now! :-) Seriously, the most concise and best written book regarding Paleo eating out there....go buy it!

The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson--Some of the recipes in here do utilize dairy and small amounts of sugar but overall it's a great tool in case you're sick of eating steak and veggies every day (though I don't think I could ever get tired of steak)

Pendlay Barbell 2010 Do-Win Weightlifting Shoes- For the Ladies' they have an awesome pink and grey pair (and they actually come in women's sizes) and they just released some sweet neon yellow and neon green men's shoes!

RX Jump Rope- They make custom cable jump ropes. Every one of their ropes is custom sized to meet each individual Crossfitter's needs. Each and every jump rope handle is hand wrapped for maximum comfort and grip and comes in a variety of cable diameter and weight geared toward different work capacities. Every rope comes with a patent-pending swivel axis ball bearing system that is fast, functional, and bullet proof! Ok so I may have stolen this blurb from their website, but trust me these ropes are sweet. Nothing sucks worse than getting schooled in a double under workout because you're rope isn't the right size!

Puma FAAS 300- Ok so I know everybody out there is all about the Innov8 and I'm sure they're awesome, But I just checked these out at my local Luke's Locker and I think they're pretty cool. They're extremely light and have a really flat sole. I've never been a Puma fan before but I might have to give these a try....besides they come in some sweet colors!

Life as RX- This isn't really a specific product because there are too many great products on their website from which to choose. Some of my favorites include the Elliptical Fail tank, the Strong=Sexy tank, and the CrossFit Sri Ram Ashram t-shirt which benefits the CrossFit program at the boys orphanage in India.

Lululemon- Of course I can't forget my absolute favorite store of all time. You can never go wrong with a gift card to Lulu. Some of my favorites for this season include the new Hot Racer Bra, the Stride Jacket*Ruffle, and the Dance Sweat Pants.

Hopefully Santa (or Hannukah Harry....does he even exist or did my parents just make that up when I was a kid?!) reads my list and I hope all ya'lls holiday wishes come true too!