CF Games Open 2011 WOD #1

After we decided just to use the WOD #1 from the CF Games Open as a challenge, I thought of how marvelous this wod with over 22,000 other athlete's is going to be. My hat goes off to HQ for this opener! Like Brian mentioned, this isn't all that simple. In my opinion it is a very clever wod to fool the masses.

Why? Just look at it.
A 10min amrap of: 30 double unders followed by 15 power snatches using 35kg. May I just say, Sneaky!

Staying extremely focused is the key here. In the beginning, you have to stay relaxed during the double unders while keeping the glutes and abs tight. If not, your shoulders are going to get tight fast. Think efficiency here. Power snatches with 35kg for seasoned CrossFitters are simple enough. Yet combined with the du's and the amrap, this is one tiring wod for the hip flexors, calves and arms.

I did this wod twice. The first time I only had 5 rounds. Depressing. I couldn't believe it. In the first 2,5min the 3rd round was almost finished. What happened with the rest of the time? Did I burn myself out trying to go fast? Who knows??? So being the sport I am , I didn't argue.(;-P) Just had to suck it up and get on with life.

The second time, I followed the same recipe. We just made sure there was a visible chalk line drawn each round to know where I was at. This time turned out to be better. 6rds+30du+1snatch. Am I happy? NO. There is always going to be the desire to do better.

The competition is going to be tough. A whole lot of great athlete's out there. But isn't that how we get better at something?
Enjoy the Games!

CrossFit Games Open 11.1...Take One

What perfect timing. I couldn't think of a better challenge for this week other than the CrossFit Games Open 11.1. A 10-minute AMRAP. Simple, right? Yeah...not quite. This little bugger-of-a-workout mixed in the need to maintain acute focus while testing one's "gut" throughout the entire 10 minutes.

As of this blog post, I am sitting 228th out of 847 for my region. Needless to say, I am not completely satisfied with my current standing. Because of the deadline extension, I will be reattempting this on Friday. This time around, instead of getting it done at a registered affiliate, I will be accomplishing it in my very own garage gym. Kari will be judging and video taping, and Riddic will be there to cheer me on. I couldn't think of any better way to get it done! My intention with going to an affiliate to compete was to be surrounded by the "competitive atmosphere"--however, I should have known that after 3-2-1...Go, everything around me became a blur, and I went deep down into my own little world. This last time (as most are) was a little world of pain. And you're going to do it again, you ask? Absolutely.

Congrats to Rob and every other CrossFitter out there who finished the first of six CrossFit Open WODs.

Brob's #24

Post-WOD bath from Riddic

Half a year: that is how long Rob and I have been doing this challenge. I am fortunate to have such a loyal and true friend. So, I'd first like to say "thank you" Rob for keeping this challenge alive and keeping me honest. Now, on to Brob's #24.

It hasn't really been that long since I left Germany. However, I suppose it has been long enough to forget how the number "1" is written over there in Europe. Long story short: I thought the WOD called for 70 squat snatches and 70 overhead squats at 135lbs. After thinking that, I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that this was going to be a "just gotta finish it, I don't care what my time is" kind of WOD. Luckily enough, Rob and the boys completed the challenge before me--I had the opportunity to read the blog first. Oh...it was 10 reps, not 70...duh!

This challenge definitely targeted some movements I have not done in quite some time. If you watch the video, you'll know what I mean (um...like having to bail out on the first snatch!). My goal, as with most CrossFit WODs, was to just keep moving. The barbell movements were all accomplished at 135lbs--light enough to move relatively quickly, but heavy enough to become burdensome.

The heaviest kettlebell that I own is only 45lbs, so I decided to scale up the reps to 35 instead of 20. I hope this proved to be similar to 20 reps at 32kg.

My time: 12:02