Regionals 2015
2015 was my first year with Power and Grace and it also was a dominant factor contributing to my highest Open finish (18th) allowing me to qualify for the South Super Regional. Looking back at the 2015 Open workouts I am surprised I did as well as I did Usually in the open or competitions I have my best performances on heavy workouts or workouts that focus more on your “engine” than testing your muscle capacity. The workouts that I struggle with are tests of muscular endurance where the athlete has to avoid reaching muscle failure. For example my worst Open finish was 15.4 which contained high volume handstand pushups. Even though the Cleans were relatively light and my breathing was well under control there is nothing you can do when your shoulders have reached muscle failure and you are forced to stare at the wall and let them recover causing you to miss valuable reps during your recovery.
Preparing for regionals is a difficult yet fun time for a Crossfit Athlete. It gives you the opportunity to test your fitness with best of the best while also putting you 7 events away from an opportunity to compete at the Crossfit Games. The day to day training will do its ware and tare and the body but it is important to get everything you can out of each training session. One thing that helped me this year that I did not have in years past was a training partner. This year I fortunate enough to be able to train with Jeff Germond which allowed me to experience first hand how important it is to be pushed each day by someone else while also having fun at the same time. One session that comes mind was day that had us complete 30 Squat Clean and Jerks for time at 225#. We did this workout next to each other and since most athletes at this level hate losing it pushed us into another gear. I know I could not have matched my time had I did it by myself. Jeff ended up beating me by a few seconds and I was pissed at myself. ,but I remember thinking that night that is the intensity I need to be bringing If I wont to reach that next level.
Although I felt ready for the South Regional it all comes down to execution. You can be one of the 5 fittest people in your region but can the test is can you finish in the top 5 that weekend. Unfortunately I made many mistakes causing a very disappointing weekend for me. On event 3 I hit near muscle failure on the GHD and then my rope broke in the middle of the double unders. Then I missed my second lift for event 5 which I had hit everytime in practice. Finally I failed my 14th out of 15 muscle ups on the final event. To sum everything up: I made to many mistakes in a competition that requires you to be perfect.
My goals this year are to vastly improve areas that fatigue quickly which for me are my inversions and midline as well become a more consistent lifter. I’m looking forward to working with Power and Grace as I continue my career as an athlete because I truly believe I have yet to reach my potential in this sport.