Progress Crossfit Videos

Kateri & I usually go to open gym on Sundays to work on our technique & the things that we can't do & things we can't quite do yet, i.e. pull ups, muscle ups, etc. This time I decided to take some videos so we can see where we're at & eventually the progress that we've made for next time.

Before we started Crossfit, Kateri couldn't do one pull-up. She started with a box, then added a band & now she doesn't use either one:

The last time I tried pull-ups was at Gold's with Dan & I was able to do 4. Crossfit accepts strict pull-ups & "kip" pull-ups which are what Kateri & I do. For some reason my pull-ups have completely gone down hill & my form hasn't been good. I started with a band & took it away once I got the kip down a little more - I still need more practice. I wish I could get the kip that Kateri has, mine is more of a knee/foot kick; Kateri's just goes more smoothly:

 

Doubleunders are a common part of our workout in Crossfit. Before last week, Kateri would have to do single jumps but now she's getting the hang of them; she can almost do 2 full doubleunders!

 

Muscle ups are an advanced workout in Crossfit, in fact, gymnasts use muscle ups as a warm up to their actual workout. They. Are. So. Freakin'. Hard. The ones that can do them make it look so easy. I'm doing a jumping muscle up below followed by 2 ring rows. I wasn't able to do ring rows a few weeks ago, I had to do negatives, so those have improved for me.





 

I decided to practice the first part of the muscle up, so this video is just slightly different from the one above.



. . . practice makes perfect!!! =)

Happy Birthday, Lue!

On November 2nd we celebrated Lue's birthday at our favorite spot, Uncle Julio's. It was a great girls night out & as you can probably tell by the photos below, she had a great time. =)

 

Li's birthday card included this amazing coaster that lit up hot pink when Lue set her drink on it. The coaster actually said, "The birthday girl needs another cocktail." We all loved this.

 We heart each other.

 

Lue opening her gifts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My gifts to Lue:

 Urban Decay makeup & some blinged out stilettos.

 

Lue with her cake pops that Li & I had specially made for her. They were so yummy.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Lue! I hope you had a day that was as wonderful as you are. =)

Capital Crossfit Games

On October 27th, Capital MMA & Elite Fitness hosted the Capital Games at their facility in Alexandria. My coach told me earlier that week that I should come out & see what it was all about, so I woke up early in order to get there just after it started, 8:30 a.m. On my drive there, I was trying to imagine what it was going to be like; the only other crossfit competition that I've seen is on TV. Well, when I arrived it was absolute craziness. The DJ was blaring loud music, the MC was yelling over the mic & the section for spectators was roped off & they were all screaming, yelling & cheering for their team members, family members, etc. that were competing in front of them. The comical part of the competition was that some competitors were dressed in costume since Halloween was so close. There were maids, a few dressed as characters from The Matrix, pumpkins, a Hulk couple, nerds, etc.  For most of the time that I was there I was standing with my eyes wide & my mouth hung open. My experience changed when I recognized a few people from our box (a/k/a gym); they were competing also. I was able to take some photos of them:

 

Jen doing split snatches. She was partnered with her husband, Steve.

 

Lauren & Chris doing their split snatches - they're also married.

 

During this WOD the MC yelled over the mic, "Does anyone need rotator cuffs? Who needs them? 2 for $5." I laughed.

 

The day consisted of 5 WODs & I was there for WODs 2 & 3. The 3rd WOD was moved to the back of the gym where they have their rings, bars, etc. & more room to move. The first WOD was extremely cramped & very little room to move. Each team had their own rectangle of space to do their WOD in. With heavy weights being dropped, jump ropes being flung & having to do burpees, there were several people that got whacked with the rope, weights dropped on them or hands stepped on from other peoples feet while doing the burpees. I told you....craziness.

 

During the 3rd WOD, there were was a lot more running back & forth & moving as a team. As you can see below, one of the moves was a hand stand push up (HSPU); they also did toes to bar (T2B), thrusters (which is a squat followed by a strict press with dumbbells) & a kettlebell hold (KB hold).

 

Before I left to go home, my coach, Jen & Steve asked me what I thought & if I was ready to compete in March 2013. My response, "I've never been more scared." We all had a good laugh. Shortly thereafter I found this quote online: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."

If you're interested in seeing more photos from the Games, click here.