CrossFit: Moving Up, Just To Get Knocked Down Again

I’ve been at this CrossFit thing for about 8 months now, and I’m still improving every day.

My biggest focus lately has been on my biggest weakness: strength. That probably sounds ironic so let me re-phrase that: lifting heavy s***.

Moving On Up

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still one of the weakest guys in the gym (in terms of sheer weight numbers). But I’ve been taking steps in the right direction, and I’m definitely getting stronger.

This newfound strength has opened the door to another new opportunity: using Rx weight. For 6 months I always scaled the weight during the WOD.

Now that I’m getting stronger, and am much more comfortable with some of the movements, I’m able to handle the Rx weight.

I feel like a sophomore in high school eating lunch with the seniors. Look mom! They saved me a seat at the big boy table.

Unfortunately, Rx weight isn’t quite as fulfilling as the senior lunch table. Ironically, just as I was feeling stronger, Rx weight reminds me that I have A LOT of work to do.

Knocked Back Down

Heavy weight wears you out. It wears you out… fast. The double-unders and box jumps and rope climbs I always fly through… are now kicking my butt. The things I used to do unbroken are now taking 2 and 3 sets. And I’m actually still getting better at those movements. It’s just this Rx weight that’s making them that much harder.

I’ve always looked at form as a top priority. There’s no question about it. But now, with Rx weight, good form is not just important to keep me healthy. Without proper form, I flat out won’t be able to finish the workout. Period.

Forget to throw my hips… no rep. Neglect the shoulder shrug… no rep. Don’t drop under the bar fast enough… no rep. And with each no rep, I’m wasting just as much, if not more, energy than a successful rep. And these workouts are hard enough as it is, let alone when you start wasting energy.

Pressing Forward

The workouts are harder now (I questioned whether that was even possible, but now I have my answer). It’s weird when the workouts get harder as you are simultaneously getting stronger. And I’ve been the last one working out a few times over the past couple of weeks. But one thing is for certain: I’m pressing forward.

For me, “pressing forward” means two things:

  • Pressing forward mentally. [I can move this weight.]
  • Pressing forward physically. [I am getting stronger.]

Cheers to getting beat down, and an even bigger cheers to pressing forward, beyond the beatdown.