Sometimes I worry about myself and sometimes, it’s very easy for me to justify what I put myself through. Yesterday, the CrossFit workout was quick (well, not so much for me as my endurance is about as existent as the Dodo bird) and very painful. I definitely felt that one in my hamstrings today as I awoke. Of course, this could be partly due to me having to sleep in my son’s bed, since he was snoring in my bed when I got home from my bi-weekly bench press and back lift with some friends last night… but I digress.
Today, I was able to rope a co-worker into the workout and I think he’s secretly as deranged as I am. Andrew and I stopped in to CrossFit White Bear for today’s free workout. Oh and how much fun</sarcasm>, it was… actually, I love these workouts because they are exactly what I need.
Today’s Free WoD
500 M Row
then
Three Rounds of
10 Ring Rows
20 Walking Lunge (alternating legs)
30 Sit Ups
My Results
12:43
Now, I could blame yesterday’s results on the first early morning workout in quite a while. Today, the 7:00am class wasn’t available, so the 11:00am was the time for me and the early morning wasn’t a valid excuse. hmmmm, what else could I blame it on?? I’m sure I’ll think of something. Here I sit at the computer, my hamstrings are locking up and I feel an increasing amount of soreness oozing through my body… I thought I was a tough guy, so I started doing the walking lunges with a 45# plate overhead – I even did that same 45# plate on the second round. The third round, however, I thought my arms were going to fall off after the ring rows, so I just went body weight (which didn’t seem all that much easier, for some reason).
This was my first time playing with a row machine… wow! Thanks, Jaco, for starting off the workout with something that seemed to be pretty easy and turned out to totally wipe me out for the rest of it! And I actually mean that sincerely. Now, I will need to make sure to do some stretching tonight (as well as drink plenty of water!) as the final free workout will be tomorrow and I’m definitely not going to miss out on another opportunity to kick my own @$$!
I was scouring the internets yesterday and happened across a Facebook post from CrossFit White Bear regarding a free workout for today. The WOD was one that I had seen before, it was pretty basic – not too fancy (hey, what can you expect for a free workout?) and in order to cover his butt, the owner had to keep it that way. Ball slams and box jumps.
WOD
21-15-9
Ball Slams (30lbs)
Box Jumps (24″)
My Results
7:03
I knew this was going to be a dangerous thing going in – I haven’t done much of anything in terms of working out since September/October or midway through the HS football season. And, as I expected, this kicked my butt! Sure, it all started out great… First set of ball slams went as well as expected, but those 21 box jumps is where the fail began! Second round was similar to the first – ball slams, were okay, but the box jumps required a handful of mini-breaks (which, for a timed workout, is not preferred and will greatly hinder time). I was able to just plow through the 3rd round, mentally telling myself, “it’s not even double digits”.
I absolutely loved having someone else there to push me and the facility is exactly what I am looking for. If you’re near the White Bear area and want a butt-kicking, programmed workout facility, you should definitely check out CFWB. Jaco (the owner) is cool people as is most of the Twin Cities CrossFit facility owners – I met a bunch of them at Warrior Dash last year. I would sign up in a heartbeat, but the membership is a little pricey and with the boys eating more like their daddy, the funds gained at a non-profit seem slimmer and slimmer every day. Maybe someday I’ll be able to workout consistently at a sweet-ass place as CrossFit White Bear.
Cocoa, begging in the kitchen
it is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that i share that Katie and I have made the very difficult decision to put Cocoa down. Last January, she had been given a month – we have been blessed to have 11 since we were given that news. It has been a very up and down roller coaster of a ride with mostly highs throughout, but she has been pretty bad this last week. The kidney issues that she’s always had and been able to handle without showing any signs of problem, has really taken its hold on our four-legged family member. We can’t get her to eat even her favorite foods of waffles, doughnuts or even pizza (or if she will touch it she is unable to keep it down). She’s lost a lot of weight, can barely get up the stairs and can’t get in the bed (I’ve been picking her up so she is able to sleep next to me). We feel that this is the slump she won’t come out of and we want Joseph to remember the good times he has had with her and not have a lasting memory of her end. It has been very difficult watching Cocoa suffer as opposed to being her energetic, happy self.
I am very fortunate and thankful to have been able to take her out pheasant hunting for the Wisconsin opener this year – for the one final hunt. I will never forget the wonderful times we spent together in the field, her dirty looks when I missed (it has been known to happen) and the absolute joy you could see on her face as she bounded in the tall grass after upland game. She kept me company during those long road trips and would nudge my arm to get me to pet her as she sat in the navigation chair (passenger seat) of Sunshine and of course, I would comply.
Thank you to all who have kept our precious Cocoa and the family in your prayers – the myriad of notes from we still get today from KTIS’s prayer request even though Katie put that out there last January.
And to Cocoa, this has been a very difficult decision for us to make. We love you tons and I promise we’ll get some birds when we meet again.
Edit: Cocoa, being the awesome dog that she was, died silently in the back seat on the way to the vet. She was holding on for as long as possible, yet she still went on her own while Katie and I held her with tears in our eyes. So thank you Cocoa, for not making us make that decision. We love and miss you!
