15 weeks and 15 images.
My last post ‘CrossFit Friendship’ was the beginning of this one, “Life and Training in Fifteen”. But it was becoming so long that I broke it up and introduced you to my good friend MG first, who has helped me tremendously during my journey.
During the CrossFit Open this year I decided my next competition goal was the Rocky Mountain State Games — I missed them last year, and was eager to start making progress in my weightlifting again. I told MG of my intentions, happily she decided that she wanted in on the competition this year too. I was thrilled! My favorite coach was now going to be my training partner for a meet! Our plan was to change our programming as soon as we finished competing in the CrossFIt Open.
My score for the last CrossFit open workout…15. But I knew that going in, I did finish the workout though, using jumping pull-ups –It just feels wrong to start a workout and not finish it.
We had fifteen weeks from the end of the CrossFit Open till the week of the Rocky Mountain State games. Neither of us had been making any real progress on our Olympic lifts the past year. So, we decided to hire weightlifting coach Ryan Landis, of Roots Crossfit, for semi-private lessons. Best. Decision. Ever. In the 10 weeks, we trained with Ryan I made tremendous strides improving my form, and I added 10 kilos to this years current totals! Thanks, Ryan!
Coach Landis’ Weightlifting club tee-shirt: Attack Heavy Weights Fearlessly. Hell Ya!
When we started training with Ryan, I began taking videos. My intention was to post my weekly progress. But as I watched the videos I couldn’t really detect very interesting changes to make note on from week to week.
Instead I am going to show you a “before and after” perspective, I think it better shows the progress I made.
30k/66lb –end of the first week.
44k/96.8lb my newest 1 rep max. I am starting to make progress with pulling myself under the bar here.
48k/105.6 This really shows my struggle with keeping an upright chest. Even though this is such a bad lift, I am pleased that I can see myself forcing my shoulders back, even if it was poorly timed –that’s huge progress for me.
120lb/54.4k Newest C&J 1 Rep Max. I PR’d this lift at the CrossFit Roots meet in July. They have a PR bell, and I was really thrilled to be the first person from my flight to get the honor of ringing it!
There is probably nothing more enjoyable for me than training during a summer rainstorm!
I learned a lot getting to watch Ryan coach MG.
Staying on track with my training at the same time I was losing my father was my greatest challenge. When my father unexpectedly ended up in the hospital ICU, in critical condition, I was eight weeks out from the RMSG’s meet. I only needed to add 4 kilos more to my snatch, and another 3 kilos to my C&J to make my goals. I was progressing very well, and had every confidence of meeting those goals.
But sleepless nights, stress, and days of poor eating really took a toll on my progress and my numbers and form. However, mercifully, my training turned into a refuge away from the painful events that were unfolding in my life. I could escape into it and feel normal for a few hours.
MG was able to hit that difficult balance between being tough and helping me push through the suck, and making me laugh. I stuck with it, and only lost seven days of training during the entire 15 weeks. She really hung in there with me, encouraging me on as I struggled to regain my previous numbers. I didn’t make my original goals, but I did regain my lost progress and added 2 more kilos to my total then I had before my turmoil started.
Outside of my own family, MG and her family has been one of my greatest sources of support during this difficult time. One day MG and I were in the gym mobilizing while her husband and daughter hung around chatting. My thoughts drifted off as they talked, after some time lost in my own thoughts, I became aware that they were having the kind of conversation you really only have around your family. It was relaxed and personal, with their family in-jokes. And they were comfortable with me being off in my own mental space, not feeling the need to cater and bend the conversation to include me the way you would a guest.
It all made me laugh as I remembered when after about six months of starting CrossFit at MG’s first gym, I looked at her one day and out of nowhere told her, “I think you’re family.” it was clearly an awkward moment for her at the time, but she let it slide. After I retold the story we had a good chuckle. MG’s daughter says, “Looks as if you made the cut.” and they all agreed.
That was so sweet.
And where’s the video of me kicking ass at the meet, the testimony of my glorious weightlifting brilliance?
Well, maybe this isn’t the one…at least I didn’t press out!
That was my second lift and I was thinking too much rather that focusing on the lift. I remember thinking, “I caught the lift, why squat all the way, no just squat.” then, “Oh Crap! I’m moving forward, and I can’t stop!” The look in the eyes of that front judge was priceless! When I finally stopped I gave her a little “Ta-da!” smile. Everyone had fun!
This is probably the most spectacularly botched performance on stage I have ever had…in my entire life. Yet this video gives me no end of happiness. If you know my struggles with stage fright, you’d know the real victory here. Being able to miss that lift, and then just roll with it was a great feeling!
Even better?
“Darla, came back to make that lift!”
Boom!
We had a great day! MG won a silver in Masters 75k. And I took the gold for Masters 75+
In 2 years I added 17 kilos to my RMSG’s total. (10 of those kilos were added in the last 15 weeks! Again, thanks Ryan!)
My immediate goal is a 46 kilo snatch, and a 100 kilo total, and….a sexy winky face. However, I am quickly approaching my 43rd birthday and I have yet to make a decent sexy winky face in all these years.
Whichever comes first, I plan on meeting a lot of great people and laughing even more along the way!
Thank-you MG, CrossFit, and weightlifting for making all the bad stuff more bearable, and the good stuff more fun!
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