Recently three of CFI’s athletes stepped up to the plate and entered their first CrossFit competition.
We asked each of them to write a post about their experiences leading up to and through the day in hopes that their stories will inspire more of you all to find a competition for you to test your mettle. Here’s Nick’s (incredibly well-written, soon to be a regular guest-poster) story:

What inspired me to compete?

The obvious reason for competing is to challenge yourself. You will find weaknesses and strengths, butt heads against people you haven’t met (and get crushed by the Valley CrossFit girls in my case). But let’s face it, why not compete? What’s the worst that could happen? You come in last? We compete every day in the gym, and this was no different. It feels GREAT to finish, you have some hilarious stories, and you definitely gain some expertise in WOD’ing.

We all work out to be ‘healthy’ and stay ‘fit’ but CrossFit is also about the community (why the hell else would we come back day in and day out to get the s*&% beaten out of us by a ball, a wall and 24 inches of box). The competition really highlights that community. It still kind of gives me the chills to remember powering through the pistols and having the whole gym cheer me on or yelling at Holley and Mike while they pounded through new PR’s. If you can’t think of any reason to compete, do it for those 10 seconds. Seriously. It’s like watching your team win the Superbowl with a breakaway run down the middle but you are the running back.

How did it affect how I trained rested and ate?

First off, I am known to cold turkey things. 10k’s, 24 hour relays, half marathons, etc. I hated training for a specific purpose for more than 3 weeks, but this was different. I felt prepared from all of the months of working out with you guys and gals. All of the intense WODing, training and eating in the past 6 months brought me there.

However, I started powerlifting club last month, so my WODs dropped to about 2/week for the month leading up to the event. This was the single most effective tool for me. I rested enough, got in a few high intensity WODs 2 – 3 times a week where I could give it my 100% effort. I wasn’t sore during the workouts and I was able to spot my weaknesses. I was also rolling for 15 min a day per Emperor Marcus’ instruction (a powerlifting club must-do).

Because I was starting to powerlift, I also upped my protein intake to about 200 grams per day (this was the toughest part!). I was fully recovered for the competition with plenty of fuel in the tank. Holley and I also started using black-out curtains in January, so my sleeping has been better and better since.

Was I Nervous?

Hell yes. I definitely showed why the title of “Most Consistent Bathroom Usage” was given to me. But that’s the nature of competition. In about 2 seconds into each WOD, my nerves flew out the window. Ask Holley, I was crapping my pants (not literally) because of the snatch balances. I haven’t snatched in 2 months. But hey, they came right back when the time called. Whether you know it or not, our trainers have trained us to have instinctually good form. They are that damn good.

The important thing to remember is that we all have the same trainers, the same gym, and the same heart. Go give the next competition a shot, you might just surprise yourself. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? Get passed by a hoard of giant girls in the first 800m of the day only to be beaten in your clean and jerk max by 20 pounds by those same girls? That would never happen….

**Check out Nick’s CJ PR!**

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Tomorrow Jake will be competing in his first Weightlifting Meet at CrossFit Invictus! Sean and Al (CrossFit Inland Valley) will also be competing! Wish them luck and if you happen to be in San Diego, come cheer them on!

Also don’t forget, Becky will be holding her book launch party tomorrow at 5-7pm at the Neptunian Women’s Club in Manhattan Beach (920 Highland Av). Come on by and show your support!

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WOD 02.04.11

Press 3×5

AMRAP 10
4 Front Squats
4 Ring Dips
16 Kayaks