Thursday, March 20, 2014

14.3 Notes


Last Thursday, I knew that the weekend of 14.3 (because weekends during the CrossFit Games Open are titled by their corresponding workout number) was going to be a special one. Not only did I show the world the #kinneyshuffle, Dave Castro and company announced a workout that suited me well. Upon the 14.3 announcement, I knew that I would put up a good performance. Also, my girl was coming in town, just to add to the awesomeness of the weekend. 

I was as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve! Then, that little demon of doubt in my head started whispering, as he so opportunely does… I started to fear that my back would tighten up because it had earlier in the week. In reality, my back was fine, totally fine. But, the last thing that I wanted to do was disappoint myself and everyone who believes so strongly in me.

Em flew in early on Friday afternoon with plenty of time to get settled before heading to CrossFit Chickasaw for my 14.3. It was wonderful to simply have her there.

14.3 -2-1-Go Time

In front of about 30 of my dearest friends and family at CrossFit Chickasaw, Karen (fellow Honorary Invicti and training partner) and I attacked 14.3.



I planned and stayed unbroken through the 155lb. barbell. My back and the deadlifts felt great, so I kept moving. My pre-game strategy for the 25 reps of 185lb. was to complete it in sets of 12-8-5. To my pleasant surprise, I still felt good, so I did sets of 16 and 9 instead. The 30 reps at 205lb. were tough but I labored through them and was able to get to the 225lb. bar with about 30 seconds remaining. I managed 9 deadlifts at the final bar in sets of 4, 2, 2, and 1.

My goal for this workout had been written down. What was written, you ask?

“225#”

Meaning…

I wanted time on the 225lb. bar.



I met and exceeded that goal. Doing so in my home gym with Em and everyone else there to watch was such an amazing feeling. The weekend proved to be the special one that I had imagined. I am one lucky girl.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

14.1 Notes



The much anticipated start to the 2014 Games season gave us a 2011 Open repeat of snatches and double unders. I distinctly remember that workout. It was the very first ever Open workout and it was rough! My double unders were decent, but I hadn’t developed the ability to relax while completing them. The snatch weight was pretty light then too, about half my 1RM at the time. I buzzed through round one like a boss only to make it halfway into the next round of snatches before slamming into the brick wall. I broke up the snatches from then on. I tripped a couple of times during the double unders but stayed fairly consistent with them. One thing that stands out to me as I reflect back is how elevated my heart rate was throughout the workout. It was a ten minute intense fight, for sure.

Fast forward to 2014, my double unders and snatches have improved tremendously. The snatch weight is now around a third of my 1RM. Yay for progress and strength! My strategy was to stay unbroken (I know, a novel idea) as long as it felt right. I often have the strategy of play-by-feel and I elected to use this strategy for 14.1. After three rounds of power snatches, I switched to a clean and push press hybrid. I felt (operative word) that I could keep the bar moving quickly this way. It seemed to work, so I stuck with it. I had to break the (now) ground-to-overhead in round five. The 55lb. barbell began to feel so heavy. I kept my breaks brief, though, and was able to register 392 reps. I had about 30 people from CrossFit Chickasaw there to watch, cheer for, and support me. When the clock was running down and the yells got louder and louder, you better believe that I wasn’t going to stop. I credit my getting through the last set of double unders and back to the barbell for a couple of reps to my wonderful friends and fans, the #tribe and #kpc at CrossFit Chickasaw.