I know many of you are wondering why we are still posting our athletes thoughts from Regionals some 4 weeks after Regionals. Well honestly it's because I asked them to write them and I didn't want to waste their effort. Also, I want each of you to see that high level Regionals guys always have goals and when they don't meet them they tend to react with a greater level of tenacity.
Here's our longest running athlete, Jason Hoggan:
I’m lucky enough to say that I’ve competed at CrossFit Regionals every year that they've been in existence. A lot has changed in those 7 years, and the growth and improvement of the sport, the community, and the athletes within it continue to blow me away. CrossFit has been my main hobby since I started law school and my daughter was 1 year old. I train and compete because it’s what I love to do. I have incredible coaches and teammates in Power & Grace, and I have the support of an awesome gym, sponsors, friends, and family. CrossFit is not my job at all, but every so often it makes me feel like a professional athlete. I love that.
With that said — it’s hard for me to think about 2015 Regionals without feeling frustrated. In 2012, I treated CrossFit like my job because I was out of the military and wrapping up law school, so I had more time to dedicate (despite studying for the bar). It was the first time Spencer coached me, and I qualified for the Games that year. Falling short of qualifying each year since then has been crushing, because each time I feel like I let myself (and everyone who supports me) down. Still, it drives me to work even harder and smarter the following year, regardless of the time I have to spend on it.
The 2015 season was a rollercoaster experience for me, and I felt the impact of CrossFit’s growth as a professional sport more than ever. The competitiveness of the Open, the Super-Regional format, the professionalism of the Regional events, the skills tested and difficulty of many of the events – everything was at a completely different level. At Regionals, the wide range of my performances gave me confidence that I can still compete at that level, but it also gave me (and my coaches) a very clear picture of my weaknesses and the game plan that we should have to tackle them before 2016. It didn't end how I wanted it to, but that gave me the motivation and knowledge to create a better ending for 2016.
I look forward to seeing what Spencer, Joe, and the entire Power & Grace team has in store for this coming year. I’m expecting great and challenging things, and I wouldn't want it any other way.