Battle Over Redlands

What a day!  I woke up at 5:30, when my alarm was set for 7:00.  I guess my body was just ready to get up and go compete!  Had a light breakfast and off we went.

I loved the atmosphere of the competition.  Having never attended or been in a CrossFit competition, I was a little nervous.  It actually reminded me a bit of motorcycle races - everyone knows everyone and even though it's a competition, most people are friendly.

I was up for WOD #1 at 9:15 a.m. 

Complete as many reps as possible in 10 minutes of the following:
Pushup to Clean
Snatch
1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, etc.
Score is total reps completed.   
Masters 40-49 (115/73)

I was beyond nervous, to the point of having cotton mouth for the first five minutes of the WOD.  I had to force myself to focus on the bar rather than the fact that I felt like I might literally die of thirst right there in front of God and everybody!  I forced myself to just zone out on the bar, and my lifts felt awesome.  I never felt like I had a bad lift at all, but I just wasn't fast enough.  I took 4th in this event with a score of 52 reps.  Wasn't happy with it, but I felt like I gave 100%.

Looking at some pictures, I can see I did some standing around.  I'm sure it was all in the interest of oxygen to the brain!    I Managed to eat a little bit after this one, and watched some other CFJ people compete.

My heat for WOD #2 was 12:45 p.m.

Complete as many reps as possible in 10 minutes of the following: 
Buy in: Row 1000m
then,
Max rep Thrusters
Masters 40-49 (Dumbbells – 40’s/25’s)

This one was more up my alley.  I had a strategy to not just blow out the row.  Not like I could really blow it out anyway - I'm not a fast rower.  I aimed for about 4:20 and that's just about where I ended up.  Off the rower and took a few seconds to catch my breath before I started in on the thrusters.  I had initially set myself a goal of 60.  I wanted my first set to be 20, but I hit 12 and I was gassed!  It went down from there to sets of 5, 7, 3, etc.  I finished with 55 reps, putting me in second place for the heat, and tied for second overall.


I was completely wiped out after this.  My husband dragged me off the mat, and I sat on the bleachers for a while.  I felt like I was high. (Not that I know what that feels like or anything.  Ha ha.)   It took me a good long while to recover after this.  I ate a little more, rested some, and watched other people compete for a while.

I was up for WOD #3 at 4:15 p.m.

Chest to Abmat Kettlebell Pushup
Suicide Run
Pullups
Suicide Run

21-15-9 reps for time

I was completely exhausted by the time this heat rolled around.  I didn't want do it at all!  But I didn't dedicate my whole Saturday to losing, so I gutted up and got in line.  It felt like a death march going back in to the "arena" if you can call it an arena.

The kettlebell push-ups were tough.  I knew they would slow me down, but I pushed through them as fast as I physically could.  Faster than I thought I could, actually.  I was 4th off the mat to the pull-up bar, but managed to make up considerable time.  My pull-ups are strong, although I lack speed.  I didn't have any "no-rep" calls on my pull-ups and this really saved me.  I didn't finish in the time cap, but I did finish third in this heat which put in Second Place in the final standings.  I was SO overjoyed, I still haven't stopped smiling about it two days later!!

And finally...on the podium and on my way to a reward of beer &Pizza!

Not sure I ever want to compete again.  I'm reserving judgement until after I recover from this one.  It was a stressful experience for me, but I did have a total blast.  I really enjoyed cheering on my friends from CFJ and other gyms.  That was the best part of it, in my opinion.  Well...that and being on the podium at the end!  (Yeah, that part was pretty sweet!)