A weekend to remember - CrossFit Regionals

Over Memorial Day weekened, I was given the amazing opportunity to compete in the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games Regional competition. The experience was one I will never forget...

I'm quoting here as it explains exactly how I feel and I can't say it much better:

"I don’t exactly know why this weekend was one of the highlights of my time on this planet.  I realize there are more pressing issues in this world than who can thrust the most amount of weight over his head, there is something profound and soul-defining about displaying your raw, physical vulnerability to a group of people who understand the pain of it all, and are willing to lose their voiceboxes to encourage you along the way.  I can’t describe the cameraderie of this weekend’s CrossFit Games, other than to say that it is life changing.

I watched in the stands as a tiny girl deadlifted more than twice her bodyweight, spurred by the cries of an encouraging crowd.  I watched as Corey  gave his soul to a round of 100 overhead squats.  I screamed as expectations were shattered and women replaced cattiness with hugs and encouragement.  I heard stories about volunteers who stayed up all night to get everything perfectly ready, and I watched dozens of people, judges, athletes and organizers, laying everything they had on the line, expecting nothing in return. I teared up about 500 times.

I am not a Koolaid drinker, I’m certainly not a blind follower, but CrossFit has something special going on here.  I can’t adequately explain it."

It was an amazing time, being able to be out there with insanely fit people, all cheering each other on, pushing ourselves to our limits. It was an honor to be in the same ring with guys who are the most fit people on the planet. The crazy part is that I'm one of them. 

This weekend did not come without disappointments. The first two workouts did not play to my strengths. Handstand pushups are my lease competent movement. I don't lack the strength, but God gave me an arm-span 6 inches longer than I am in stature for whatever reason (6'8"). It lent it self well to basketball, but in CrossFit my arms are my enemy. Either way, I pushed myself on the last workout and finished ALL 30 hspu's. I got on the rower, but time expired, throwing my ranking immediately down on the list. Bummer. 

Workout two was max thrusters. I stalled on 195#s for whatever reason, but one thing I know did not help is I've never done a max thruster in my life. Shame on me. Technique was not good, and I know I can do better. I plan try again in the near future. 

Day one of Regionals went down in the dumps for me and I was very disappointed. I felt as though I let all the people who were rooting for me to do well down. Not to mention, myself. I worked hard to get there and I was clearly in the dumps. My amazing wife kept me in high spirits as always, reminding me that I was one of the elite athletes who qualified to be at Regionals and that no matter how I do, I deserved to be there. Her words were kind to hear and gave me a boost. 

Going into Day 2 of Regionals, I was not sitting well in rankings. Last place I think (ouch to my ego!). I knew I had to redeem and do well on workout three. When I first saw workout three posted by HQ, I got nervous as I know that 45 reps of 315# deadlifts were going to be downright brutal. I don't have a huge deadlift PR but it's respectable. When I started lifting, surprisingly the weight felt lighter than I anticipated. In the warmup area, I only did 2 or 3 lifts at that weight as I knew I need to save my back! Lucky for me as I cruised through the DLs and box jumps (no issue being 30"). It started getting heavy in the later reps, but I cruised through the workout with a time of 5:07, good enough to give me 3rd place in the heat. I was 17th overall. That's more like it!  Video is coming of me doing this.

Workout four was one which tested my drive like no other CrossFit workout had. I was tired and sore from the events this weekend and going into it I knew I had to do well. The pressure was on, but my body was failing me during this workout. 100 pullups I've done many times, but I tore anyway, causing my grip to fail. When I hit kettlebell swings, my grip was shot. I didn't have much left in the tank. And when I hit my overhead squats, I was in pure pain. Nothing could've pushed my body any further. I was done physically and I knew it. I mustered all I could and squatted on, at one point my eyes were rolling to the back of my head. People were chanting "Tyler, Tyler, Tyler" on the last set of 10-13 reps. My body failed me, but I did not quit. You never quit and I proved to myself that I would not...Video coming soon!

As time called, I hit all 100 and completed the workout. Or so I thought. I was told that my last rep did not count!! Bummer, but only a 1 sec. penalty.  After collapsing, I was in pure pain, unable to catch my breath for about 20 minutes. A killer finish to a killer weekend!

Although I did not end up being top 30 (my goal), I placed 33rd out of the 60 competitors that made Regionals. I don't have an official #, I am one of the top 1000 male athletes in the world -- something I can say that I earned with every ounce of breath, sweat, blood, and tears. 

Again as I've said before, I couldn't have done all this without the amazing support of my wife and son. They were my #1 cheerleaders, pushing me on every day, sacrificing time so I could prepare for this. I am so humbled as a husband, a father, and a man to have them in my life. I could not be more lucky. And of course all the support and encouragement from my fellow Bat-Cavers at Cream City CrossFit. Both spent the money, time, and energy to support me in this endeavor. A CrossFit gym is not just a gym -- it's like family. And they are one heck of a group of people. I am very happy to have them as training partners, but most importantly, friends. And of course my immediately family, who all were there in spirit, encouraged me to do well and do my best.  And to all that I missed, thank you so much for the support. 

Until next year...