And without an anxiety attack, meltdown, or total disfigurement of self-confidence?
…Huge PR.
Sure, the WODs were tough, the day was long, and the competition was stiff— but, I have to admit— the hardest part of competing was not physically competing. Controlling my thoughts, keeping motivation and positive overall mindset is what I found to be the most difficult. And, not even during the competition, but rather… the week leading up to it.
After hearing 3, 2, 1… everything but the WOD disappeared. For once, I felt alone and focused, without letting my insecurities take over my ability to perform. It was really beautiful.
My fortune cookie at the post-competition dinner… :)
WOD 1:
- 3 rounds for time: 10 overhead squat @ 75lbs, 50 double-unders. 10 min time-cap.
- Neither were a strength of mine and, in fact, wasn’t able to finish under 10 min. But still, somehow, someway… I had a really great time throughout. The OHS felt strong and double-unders not.. err, awful.
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- Completed: 2 full rounds + 5 overhead squats
WOD 2:
- Find 7-rep-max squat clean in 7min, with each attempt done in 40 sec. No re-grip or rest on floor allowed.
- First attempt at 95lb with time to spare; next at 105lb, but ran out of time with 1 rep to go.
- Shoulda coulda woulda hit 105lb as my first attempt, but.. better safe than sorry, right?
WOD 3:
- 20 handstand-pushup buy-in (scaled with 1 abmat and 10lb bumper plate), followed by 3 rounds of: 6 running laps, 20 burpee. 7 min time-cap.
- The handstand pushups were not nearly as bad as I expected (given that it is a “suck” of mine), and was actually able to get 18 unbroken. The last 2, however, took me around 20 sec to finish because I did not strategize appropriately.. (i.e., went to failure).
- Burpees should have been easier. Usually a strength, but was unable to throw myself down as I usually do.
- Time completed: 6:06
WOD 4:
- A chipper of: 20 pullups, 30 24” box jumps, 40 kb swing at 35lbs, 50 toes-to-bar, 40 kb swing at 35lbs, 30 24” box jumps, 20 pullups.
20min time-cap.
- As the final WOD, this truly tested motivation and mental fortitude. Thinking about the total rep count for each movement was intimidating enough.
- Overall, it was my grip strength that held me back. It didn’t even occur to me that swinging a kettlebell, hitting 50 toes-to-bar and 40 pullups would effect my grip. But, let me tell you… it certainly did.
- Time completed: 17:41
