Happy New Years! 2014 was a phenomenal year for Power and Grace and for the sport of fitness. Here are some highlights. Thanks for being awesome in 2014. Looking forward to 2015.
Top 14 moments of 2014:
14- This Lift. November 16. No other words need be stated. It speaks for itself.
13- Iron Sharpens Iron Training Camps. Charlotte, Denver, and Cincinnati. This was a banner year for Faith Rx’D and these training camps were pivotal for that growth. If you haven’t looked into the camp we have coming up in Tampa. Do it. There are few people and no organizations challenging gyms, owner, and athletes to leverage their position in the Crossfit and fitness world for the glory of God. I am proud to serve with this organization and I am more excited about what the Lord is going to do with it in the years to come.
12- The Supreme Court ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby. June 30. I have never said anything super political. I don’t plan to start. However, this was a HUGE landmark case and regardless of where you land on the ruling. It’s a big moment of 2014. I personally was pretty pleased though. If you have no clue what I am talking about. Read this.
11- The Three Kings (Miami Heat) Losing. June 20th. Don’t hear me wrong. I am a Lebron fan. Who can’t be. He’s talented. But the arrogance/ego James, Wade, and Bosch carry with them onto the court and into the Finals left a bad taste in my mouth. It was something sweet to watch a seasoned, united team of veterans take them down. As a team. What was even better? Watching the almighty “King” take his ball and run home. Literally.
10- Kevin Ogar. Clearly, Kevin’s accident is not the event I am considering here. However, the incredible outpouring of love, support, and activism in his name was unreal to watch. So much so that of all the posts I posted this year, the one about how to pray for him was the most viewed. What’s more is that how Kevin has reacted and handled the accident is the model of embracing what hand is dealt to you and making much of it. When I got to sit down with Kevin just after the accident, his outlook on the prognosis was some of the most encouraging words I have heard this year. His exact phrase was, “God plans to use this for a greater purpose.” For a man like him to see that truth only weeks after the accident is a mindset we can all learn from. Amen Kevin.
9- Sam Briggs and Lindsey Valenzuela among others NOT making the Games in 2014. June 1st. Hear this correctly. I think both of them are phenomenal athletes and both would have made the podium last year. Likely preventing Camille from taking the top spot. That’s just how it goes sometimes though. Why I listed this on my top 14 is not to negate the anger and frustration it probably caused Lindsey and Sam. It does excite me however to see what they will do this year. The chip on their shoulder and the desire in their eyes has to be MASSIVE. With the re-arrangement to Super Regionals, their performance as the season begins will be awesome. My prediction, you see both of them on a podium at the Games this year.
8- This picture. Never thought I’d see this again. Ever. I don’t care if it was Obama, a crisis in the Middle East, or an act by the hand of God. I drive a V-8 F-150. This. Is. Awesome.
7- This Alabama Fan. Yes they have good reason to be a bit crazy. They will probably win the National Championship again this year. But whoa.
6- Moving To Georgia. Jun 21st. I know this is clichรฉ but it’s a coming home for Megan and I. The opportunity to work with high school kids again both in athletics and in the classroom is a dream come true. We miss Dallas but landing where we have in Georgia is a huge answer to prayer.
5- Texas Barbell Taking the National Championship Trophy. July 20th. There are few moments in my weightlifting career that I can point to a real sense of team unity and accomplishment. This is one of them. I think if you asked any of us why we did it or why we fought so hard for it, the answer would be simple; our coach. Ursula deserved it. She is by far the most giving and selfless coach I have ever worked with. We wanted that trophy for her. She really deserved the credit and earned it.
4- Power and Grace Athlete’s Reaching Lifetime Goals. Sarabeth Phillips won the American Open and took silver at the National Championships in 2014. Emily Carothers won her regional by a landslide and took 13th at the Crossfit Games. Her best finish of her career. Jeff Germond, after 5 years of trying and falling short, finally took a podium at the South Central Regionals. What’s more he did it in dramatic fashion. Check that here. Lastly, way back in January, Connor Felstead stepping into his first Junior Nationals and taking gold.
3- Rich Froning. July 27th No, not his fourth win. His retiring. Every male competitor in the sport of Crossfit got a little extra hope that day. You should all be writing him a thank you card. The male end of the sport will finally be worth watching again. Think about it. For the last four years (really three but who’s counting) we have all been asking who is going to get 2nd and 3rd. This year it’s open season again for the top of podium. Who will it be? Kahlipa? (if he doesn’t retire) Fraser? Will Chan make a miraculous comeback? Finally all these questions carry some actual creditability. For the last three years they have just been figments of everyone’s imagination.
2- World University Games. December 5th No the lifting was not ideal BUT the country was unreal. Elephant riding. Legit Pad Thai right off a street vendor. Some of the most beautiful mountains I’ve seen. Interacting with and learning from lifters and coaches from around the world. This trip made the top 5 not because it was my best meet but because of the likely impact it will have on my lifting and my coaching in years to come.
1- March 22nd- Emma Katherine Arnold is born. No words can really express how big of a moment this was for Megan and I. We definitely did not quite grasp what we were getting into that night. Four and a half years ago, Megan and I got married and one of the first things I noticed was how easily it is to be self-focused and self-centered when it’s just you. Having Emma Katherine was one of those experiences again for me 4 years later. Your life changes again. You discard things that don’t really matter to replace them with time spent raising a little human. EK has not only been our biggest blessing this year but in many ways is the work of the Lord to help conform Megan and I into His image. She’s a handful. But a handful that we could not be more proud to hold and raise.