When I first started Crossfit, back in August 2013…I thought I was going to DIE!! I hadn’t really worked out for about a year after having my ACL replaced…and did my body ever revolt! I went in for a free session with the owner of Crossfit Norfolk, Conrad. He is an athletic Man, about my age, works out in jeans and has a great smile! 😀 I wasn’t there for 30 minutes, I didn’t do anything really hard, and I literally thought I might puke! I had to stop, cool myself down, and struggle with breath that didn’t want to come easily to my lungs. When I finally quit…he said come back next week. I went home, passed out on the couch, was SO SORE all weekend that I could barely move my arms and legs…and I LOVED IT!!
When Monday came around, I knew that just going back would help some of the soreness, so I went to my first real class. I was nervous!! I didn’t know anyone there, I was new, and I am older than a lot of the people that frequent crossfit gyms. But NO ONE made me feel like I didn’t belong. Everyone was cheering for everyone else to finish the workout of the day (WOD), the instructor was very good at teaching me the moves I didn’t know, and when I finished…I went home and passed out on the couch and was SO SORE I could barely move my arms and legs…AGAIN!!
This time I waited 2 days to go back and decided to sign up for 1 month, to see if I would stick with it. Well, I am glad to say I did! For several months, I only went twice a week. And NEVER on Friday’s because I didn’t want to be so sore while shooting weddings, that I was crying for reasons other than just the joy of the day! 🙂 But then I got good at 2 days, and it didn’t quite hurt so much…and I started to miss the camaraderie that I felt at the classes…so I started to go 3 days a week. Then I got up to 4…and this week when I walk in the door, I will have made it 5 days in a row!! And believe me, I am hurtin!! My shoulders and thighs are spent…but they have 1 more day left in them.
See, I have learned a LOT about myself in these past few months. I don’t have to be the best, the strongest, the thinnest or the most coordinated…I just have to give 100% and never quit trying. And do I see a difference? You bet I do!! I am stronger, happier, can finish most of the WOD’s and even have scaled up on some of the movements. And I made a ton of great new friends that don’t judge me because I can’t do pull-up’s or burpee’s well… but instead cheer for me to get my chin over the bar with resistance bands straining under my feet. …or get down and jump up, just “1 more time!!” They don’t look at me and think…41-year-old Mom that is past her prime…instead they push me to dig deep inside myself and be the BEST 41-year-old I can be.
My husband says “You joined a cult.” And maybe he is right! But this week, I am attending cult meetings 5 days in a row and I feel GREAT!!!! Thank you all for making me feel welcome, for making me push myself and for cheering for me to never give up. Now where did I put that Motrin?? 🙂
Have a great weekend!
