Today is a Milestone

Was at boot camp this morning, pondering all kinds of things in my head to keep my mind off how I really don't enjoy sprawls, and then it occured to me that after I completed today's work out - I can call myself a 3-year veteran of CrossFit Central's Relentless boot camp programs. I joined February programs in 07 - when talked into it by my friend Irene while selling girl scout cookies at a booth in Lakeway. Cookie sales for the 2010 season are well underway in case you haven't been hassled by a Girl Scout yet, as will be the start of my 4th year of working out with CrossFit Central next Monday.

Today also marks a new chapter - I'm leaving my role as business ops manager at CrossFit Central. I might join Jeremy in new adventures yet to have solidified - so don't say bye yet... BUT, if you rely on me for billing issues, or enrollment or other boring paperwork stuff - I'm not your gal any longer. Sad, yet looking forward to next adventures all at the same time.

So as I ponder just a bit more over my coffee and realization of the need of a good hot shower, I think how the last three years have changed my life - my body, and my circle of friends. I'm thankful for the body changes, but so much more for the wonderful circle of friends I'm gathering along the way. My dad told me that I'd be able to only count my number of friends who I could really, really rely on on one hand. Turns out - he was wrong (happens rarely, I know Pop)... Good thing to be wrong about.

Now - on to February 2010 and the Relentless Boot Camp Adventure Challenge - where my pals Vanessa and Jane are going to tear it up!

3M - been there, done that

After a 1 hour chilly and windy delay, the race gun sent me into my third half marathon. It was all of the grind that I expected it to be - taking me FOREVER to finish - but I remind myself I finished (2:48). My wonderful husband and elated girls found me just before mile 9 for kisses, which lifted my step quite a bit. My running pals never cease to amaze me -- and they too gave me the strength I needed to press on because I knew they were waiting on me, and w/out me they couldn't go eat at Iron Cactus yummy Sunday brunch... ha, ha. Mary 1:51:42, Kelly 2:04:49 & Chris 2:08:44 -- Mary's just a rocket, Kelly's personal best and also 3rd half, and Chris a 1st timer! Now you know she has to try for sub 2...

3rd 13.1 Miler

Will run my third (and final?) half marathon tomorrow - 3M along with pals Mary, Kelly and Chris... Advanced Kudos to Chris who will run her very first half -- and it wasn't that hard to even talk her into it! Her CrossFit training which includes 5 days of boot camp, gym or KB will make this a breeze for her. Come and cheer us on!

Starting the New Year with an....

8 round tabata work out!

For a detailed description of the WOD for new years, see Mel's post... For Chris and I it was swings, sprints, sdhp and push press. Lots of fun and as a reward, we hit Torchy's for a yummy, "new year's pat on the back for getting out of bed on this cold day" reward. Cause I have to admit, if Chris had not sent a text to say she was coming to get me (to which I responded with the general, non-exciting, "OK" - well, I might have stayed in my warm bed. Thank you Chris. Thank you Mel for your creativity and drive. Never Cheat. Never Quit. Happy New Year all. It's going to be a great year.

KettleBell Plankin for Christmas

3x/week boot camp, $220

Kettlebell, $45ish

Planking with a KB on your back, hangin out with my buddies for a work out before the Christmas eating madness... PRICELESS.

Happy New Year.

12 Days Of Christmas

A must watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

CFC Christmas Party

Hope to see you all out at the CFC party this Friday evening... be sure to bring a pair of shoes for kids! Great cause! Shoes for Austin

Dreaded Body Comp

It had been about a year since my last body comp. I knew I would be disheartened at the results. My clothes have told me - my work outs have told me. So seemed best to me to avoid Carey when she asked when she pinched me last - duck, dodge and "gotta run". But last Friday, I went to the office, closed the door and let the measuring and pinching begin. Yes, I was unhappy with what I saw. Up 13 lbs, up 19" and up 10% in body fat in one year's time. Two thoughts - one, good thing I stuck with boot camp and some gym, cause those numbers could have been worse. Two, shame on me. Only one word - why? I know why - but in the end, they are all bullshit excuses. No one controls me, but me. I'm done with excuses. I'm back on track. I'm getting back to the zone, food logging and back to Advocare.

All that she intends, all she keeps inside, isn't on the label.

San Antonio Rock & Roll - Been There, Done That

First - my favorite t-shirt quote: "My strategy, start off slow, then pull back". That's about what I did - finishing the half marathon in 2:45 - miserably slow, but I remind myself that I finished. I was truly done at mile 10 - but my music pulled me thru. Fuel's song "Shimmer" told me - "all that she intends, all she keeps inside isn't on the label." That one and a few others gave me the fuel to finish. I have to credit CrossFit for shining thru. I did very little running to prep for this race, and certainly didn't help myself thru nutrition, but I consistenly attended boot camp - and I'm sure that it was a driving factor in helping me accomplish my second half marathon. Austin's on my next agenda...

Second - I'm extremely proud of my man who finished the race in great time - 3:44. His goal was Boston qualifying time of 3:20 - but it was not to be his day - nor one for his running group who had all trained extremely hard toward this very goal. They all finished, but they all missed Boston time, and one ended up in the ER (but she's ok). Again, it was a hot and humid day, and I saw a few while at the finish like waiting for Don who had to be either carried across, or carried off just moments from crossing. Heart wrenching. The human spirit - never ceases to amaze me.

My gal pals who ran - Mary C and Mary Z - both ran the marathon and Kelly and myself who took on the half. Kudos over to Mary Z who ran in 4:11 and Kelly at 2:15. Amazing and completely jealous of them both. I gotta love Mary C.'s attitude - she loved running past all the landmarks including the missions - and I think she even stopped to look around a bit, not at all concerned with with time, but focused on enjoying the ride. I'm jealous of that relaxed outlook, one that Christopher McDougall would tell you is the key to running - enjoy the ride (and maybe throw your shoes off while you are at it).














Don, and his running buddy Jason, both celebrate their fourth marathon - they ran Austin together twice, Don has run NY and Jason San Antonio... Don, I love you and I'm so proud of you.

4 Days and counting till SA Half

Ran 5 yesterday and it didn't completely suck. This is good- a confidence booster for Sunday.

Shout out to my pal Karen, who when chatting yesterday, we realized that we've been boot campin for almost 3 years with CrossFit Central - Relentless Boot Camps, Jeremy, Crystal and Megan. Jeremy has been there the whole way - but as of this month, decided to leave us in the very capable hands of ShowOUT Megan, who rocks our world now MWF at 8:30am in Lake Pointe. now, FOCUS.

I'm in for Half, My Better Half is in for the Full

Yes, I know. I've not posted any new news in almost a month. Well, had not too much to say other than I've been a slug and not at all in the zone. But I have been to boot camp, made rock-star appearances at the Tuesday gym class with Carey, and I have gotten some runs in now and again. Good thing, cause it's the 5 day count down to the Rock & Roll San Antonio race.

For me, the half. For my better half, the full. There's quite a difference in our mind sets. I sometimes wear my Garmin to figure out how far or fast I went (or slow is a better word), or to track my pace by sattelite (surely, this is frying my brain). I'm not following the detailed outline of a training plan that Kelly gave me. Don on the other hand has trained relentlessly, never missing a scheduled run, changed to eating vegan, consistent massage and therapy and calculating all things - down to the number of ounces of water in his average sip and the number of calories to a gummi bear.

His plan for the run is written down, mile by mile. I'm planning to show up. Yes, I live with an engineer - everthing can be labeled and put it it's proper place. (Side note - Must see the sitcom - Big Bang Theory - freaking hilarious). All things can be planned and calculated.

So... another difference is I have a general goal to finish the race and his goal is to qualify for Boston with a 3:20:59 max time.

Wish us good luck - along with Don's running group, Mary Z., Mary C., who will run the full and Kelly, Jeff, Tricia, Libby and several others who take on the half.

Thanks Chris

For being my partner today, and the extra lift on those pesky pull-ups. You are a rock star... how will I ever catch up?

FGB 2009

270. Not my best, not my worst. Reminded myself how I hate wall ball. By the time round #5 started, the weather heated up and I had to cuss out loud after it was all over to release the pressure in my head... my apologies to those in earshot. :-} Must get above 300 and then join Mel in the elite category.









However... I'm crazy proud my girls who also took on the work out. Love it that as I type, a whole day after the event, how they are lamenting about being sore. Asking each other to pick stuff up off the floor. Warriors. Strong girls. That's the goal.

I'm Balboa

On the eve of Fight Gone Bad '09 - I offer out this "hollaaaarrrr" to the CrossFit coaches who changed my life - the ones who make me Balboa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie7YTZsPsH8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FY-FN8CaIA - acoustic version... like this one better - get past dad lab interview....

It's kinda a CrossFit theme song for me, maybe a few others will relate... Check out Cruiserweight - local Austin gems. Brothers and sister. Met Stella at my daughter's Girls Rock summer camp - yes, the one where they got to play at the Parish down town... Does great Journey tributes... so they hit my fav list.

Been lyin on the mat too long
I always thought I was unfit to be strong
And I thought a change would never come
But I could be wrong, wrong, wrong
Slim chance for an underdog
Glued down on my knees
I was a mess back then
I never knew when was when

New coach, you know you brought a FIRE
And smoked me out of my cave
It's a new day for the figher you are making
And my knees shaking from your
REVOLUTIONARY ways of making me strong
And kicing my ass in gear every day
I think like it this way, cause...

I'm balboa, I'm not afraid...
You know you made me this way
I'm finally seizing the day
You know you made me this way
And everying coming in,
Everying thing going out this time
I will not be broken
I'm balboa,
I'm taking names,
I'm not afraid...
You know you made me this way

Blowing my own horn is not what I should do
If I'm dancing in the middle of the street, well,
Please know I know where the credit's due
Cut man in the corner of the ring
Every hook I swing is for you, darling
I am climbing the stairs every morning
New world's coming, I gotta tell you

Look No Further

INSPIRATION

An inspiration to participate in FGB. An inspiration to donate. An inspiration to get up of your arse and get moving. If you don't see it in this video, if you don't see the effort, if you don't see drive, if you don't see perserverance, then maybe you need to watch it again. And again.

CrossFit Kids

Always proud to see my girl be CrossFit tough. The last few UTB events have added a work out for kids - great idea - and thanks to Coaches John Del Peral and Therin Smith for taking on these kids on a Saturday morning!

Another great idea for kids -- a competition added just for kids at FIGHT GONE BAD! I'll be there... my girls will be there... Don will be cheering cause he will have already run some crazy distance at some crazy fast pace that morning - so he'll be there for all his girls... Will you get there? There will be breakfast tacos I hear...

Women's Challenge

It was a rainy Saturday morning... Rain or shine, I knew it would be "on" and boy was it ever... the women's challenge was a kicker - a 2 mile run, that started with 150 team burpies, then included a stop for some KB swings, another stop for med ball tosses and nutritional questions - then off to the finish line. Envision rain and mud too.... I felt like we were in Portland and not Austin Texas! The rain and overcast sky actually made the event pretty freaking fun.

Then off to the gym for part II - a slew of toture:

75 barbell power snatch (45#) - easy brezzy

200 box jumps - no problem

175 ab mat sit ups - flew thru

100 pull ups - Chris, Mary, you rocked these out.

125 duo dead lifts @ 95#s - challenging, knee bruiser

150 jumping ring dips - simple enough

100 duo shoulder press (55#) - I HATE THESE

Run 400 - thank god.

My partners were awesome - I've really not had this much fun (and pain) in a while. Mary, Chris and I tackled the work out - and came in 8th of 20. Not a bad showing - we'd have been higher in the ranks if not for the much underestimated duo deadlift segment. The pink socks, damn we look good. Thank you ladies. Thanks to the awsome CrossFit coaches who were out there to cheer us on and show us that even the "housewives of west travis county" can be kick ass crossfitters.

Team: Housewives of West Travis County

My Women's Challenge team mates, Mary "the bullet" and Chris the "6-pack abs and award winning planker gal" for the Women's Challenge coming up in a couple weeks. Mary is our speed, Chris is our strength and I'm just lucky to have convinced them to join me on this challenge. hey - I do a mean dead hang. :-}

Fight Gone Bad '09

I competed in FGB event last year - was pleased to come in 2nd in the intermediate heat, following my pal Mel. It was pretty cool that us two 40-year old crossfitters took the top two spots, in the "play it safe" division. FGB is coming again - and if you are on the fence about joining - just do it. It's fun - it's rewarding, and I hear there will be breakfast tacos ... maybe. I'll do any CF WOD if there are breakfast tacos to follow. I would even agree to chase the back side of BMJ (again!), on our next run if she'll take me for a Texaco breakfast taco (S. 620 - the best, really). ANYway... If you can't participate, then sponsor a CFC athlete (or me). We are raising money for a great cause, and it's going to be an event you will not want to miss. Not shown in photo above -Zachary yelling at me to hurry up. I sneered at him during the work out, might have even said a few not so nice things - but gave him my "thanks for pushing me like only you can do" hug at the after party. Also not shown and I have no photo-proof, Don rooting for me while eating a large muffin for the duration of round #3. He had of course just finished a run, but still...

NOT Zone Favorable

The 3lb cinnamon role - courtesy of LuLu's cafe in San Antonio. Not zone favorable at all, unless maybe you have a tablespoon-sized bite and then some protien - as I'm sure that that one tablespoon will cover both carbs and fat. I won't rat out who sent me this photo of what it looked like before her family of 5 did their best to devour it... yes, there was some left over. As I look at it, I think of my former eating habits when I'd not hesitate to dive into this. Now I look at it differently - that it would be a very rare treat. I recommitted myself to food logging and following Zone yesterday. I did food log for about a week, but found that I really didn't care what I wrote on it --it was honest, and not a Carey-star worthy diary of the crazy things I ate. Megan is onto me, as is Chris. I will succeed, as I'm running another half marathon in November and I want to feel great and perform to my expectations.