This CrossFit thing…I hope it continues to be everything I think it might be at this point.
I am jazzed and motivated and enjoying all this learning and growing. I’ve entered this new world where fitness is not just about looking good and doing miserable things to get that way. In fact, that’s far from it. Looking good has become this secondary, maybe even tertiary aspect of the CrossFit that I’m discovering. It’s about trying, testing, and reaching for my best. And doing it alongside other people that are doing the same thing.
And “best” isn’t about appearance. It’s about performance and function. The misery part? There are some rough workouts that really challenge physically and mentally, and could be categorized as “miserable” at least for a few seconds or minutes in the midst of it. But then it’s over so fast. You grit your teach, grunt, yell, heave, and breathe on through it till it’s done. And then the misery is forgotten and the triumph and often euphoria is what is remembered. You hi-five your fellow teammates as they’ve just endured the same test.
That wasn’t some vain, boring, do this miserable move over and over this many times per week for 60 or 90 days to get results. The results are immediate. Maybe not a change in appearance, but that feeling of accomplishment, that you really did something today, growing both mentally and physically. And it doesn’t take long till you’re increasing your reps, decreasing your time, or adding more weight. Those are results. Actually getting stronger, faster, better.
And the part about doing this with others – that used to freak me out. I didn’t want to be critiqued or judged. I didn’t want to be laughed at for not being able to do something right, or just not being able to something at all. I didn’t want to be the last one done. Or the first? What if I just happened to get in a class or group where I was actually one of the more fit? I didn’t want other class members to feel any intimidation or bitterness toward me.
But none of it matters. We’re all in this together. We’re competing against ourselves, and doing it side by side with the support of [new] friends that are in the exact same boat.
I hope this is how it really is and not some sort of honeymoon stage with CrossFit. Maybe I will get bored with it like I have so many other workouts I’ve done. I hope not, since we don’t really ever do the same thing. And the shift in focus from “I’m doing this annoying move to look better” to “I’m learning this functional strength move to make me stronger and help me live life better, alongside some other great people” is a much more motivating way to go about fitness. It’s a lot more fun and a lot more effective.
I hope.
Pulling Up | A Fitness Diary 
