12 Weeks of Training and I Forgot to Look in a Mirror

It has been a distinct honor and privilege to train with the CrossFit Cedar Park Team for over a year. 12 weeks ago, 33 of us signed up for the CrossFit Sectionals. Some did it for the experience to push themselves to the next level; others were out for blood and grit.

Since qualifying for the Team at Regionals, my bosses have been especially lenient and permit me to take extended lunch breaks to train with my team (this includes our Individual competitor, Carson Thomas). I like to brag that our coach, Bigg Dave Tillman, is the Master WOD Programmer. He knows how to beat our bodies down and make even the easiest movement significantly harder due to the previous day's workout. Trust me, just the other day I was sitting down in the middle of a workout, shaking my head thinking, "I don't remember handstand push-ups being this challenging." I have made it a priority to drive up to Cedar Park at least 4 days a week to join the other members in taking on Dave's latest challenge. I have observed that each of us has gained serious strength, wicked fast speed, definitely leaned out (thanks to Zone/Paleo), and there have been several PRs. (I even got my first REAL, CF Standards with hand-turn-out-and-all, Muscle Up!)

Most importantly, we have become Team CrossFit Cedar Park. This is the type of camaraderie I sought out when I joined the Army (eleven years ago, TODAY). As the military chapter of my life comes to a close, I see a new one opening with the one element I feared I would lose: being part of a team.

Next weekend is the CrossFit South Central Regionals. Our Region boasts some incredible athletes, and it will be an amazing experience competing alongside them with my team.

Another cool thing about all of this is that for the first time in my life, I really don't care about I'm a size 4 or 6, whether I weigh in at 127 or 135. All I care about is being at the top of my game to give it my all. It's a truly great feeling to let go of trying to fit into the skinny jeans and really push for that new PR. Hell, when I get to a 275# dead lift, I'll buy a new pair of jeans as my reward.