Intentional Athlete

Currently, my fitness includes CrossFit, yoga and running a monthly 5k.  I’m not especially hardcore at any of those.  I do these things because I enjoy them.  Recently, someone referred to me as an “athlete” and that proved to be a game changer.  I’ve always admired athletes, but never thought of myself as one.  So, I looked up the definition, in case they changed it.

Athlete:  A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.*

In sum, athletes have skills and apply them to physical activity and competitive events.  The definition doesn’t say anything about being hardcore or winning, which I guess I have subconsciously assumed. Interesting- I do meet the definition of an athlete!?!?!  Still, I don’t feel like an athlete, because my participation in multiple physical activities was not intentional.  However, with my new mindset of what an athlete is, I have plans of athletic intent:

•  I signed up for the NorCal Tour de FIT Series, which is a series of 10 races.  After you complete the first 5 you get half and medal. When you complete the remaining 5, you get the other interlocking half of the medal.  Race bling!  The Tour de Fit is part of my overall goal to do 13 races in 2013.

• I am a registered competitor in the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games Open.  The Open is 5 workouts, over 5 weeks.  The workouts are announced weekly on Wednesdays and you have til that Sunday to complete them.

     I feel very comfortable and confident with the running goals.  With the Tour de FIT, the races and dates are laid out and I get to pick the length (5k for now, maybe 10k later in the year).  With the CrossFit Open, I have no idea what I am agreeing to do and I am not even sure if I can do them.  The unknown is quite scary, but I am determined to complete all 5 workouts to the best of my current abilities (fingers-crossed there are no pull-ups).

Athletes participate in events that test their skills and themselves.  It is a combination of courage and intent that transforms a person interested in fitness into an “athlete.”  My personal challenge is to endeavor in these competitive events without attachment to outcome.  Defining success as completion rather than “winning”.  Then I can say without hesitation, “I am an athlete.”

NorCal Tour de FIT Series:  http://changeofpace.com/tour-de-fit/

2013 Reebok CrossFit Games Open:  http://games.crossfit.com/article/welcome-2013-season

*http://www.thefreedictionary.com

***This post is dedicated to Nikki M. for calling me the A-word!***

Celebrating Pregnancy at CrossFit

  

  This is a Baby Shower at CrossFit!  Yep- we celebrate pregnancy at CrossFit with a WOD (Workout Of the Day) .  In honor of our expectant mothers, we did the following WOD in teams of 3:

3 Rope Climbs

150 Bench Presses @ 65lbs

150 Front Squats @ 65 lbs

90 Pullups

150 Deadlifts @ 65 lbs

90 Handstand Pushups

400m Sled Pull with 90 Double Unders every 100m

  Upon seeing a very pregnant woman in the middle of the workout people always ask “Is that safe?”  Yes it is.  CrossFit can be modified for any condition, including pregnancy. In fact, there is a website that caters to moms-to-be called CrossFit Mom providing information on each trimester and a daily workout just for the pregnant.

  Since, I started CrossFit someone(s) has always been pregnant.  There have been four healthy babies , these two on the way and I am sure there are more to come at my Box.  These women are redefining pregnancy expectations. It doesn’t have to be a “disability.”  You haven’t experienced humble, until a 8 month pregnant woman runs by and beats you to the finish!  Even the men stand back in awe.  These moms-to-be are truly inspiring to watch. Just another reason why CrossFit is amazing! 

Congratulations to our two Mamas-to-be Tianna and Melissa.

CrossFit Mom Website:  http://crossfitmom.com/

CrossFit Truths (According to Me)

May I present, a collection of my very own CrossFit truths:

1.  If you start the WOD, you finish the WOD.  Either you complete the entire workout or you hit the time cap, but you never quit.  The only exception is injury.

2.  My 3 personal rules for CrossFit are:
    No Crying
    No Passing Out
    No Throwing Up*

3.  CrossFit will bring out your true character. It is impossible to work that hard and still "fake" being a nice person.  Assholes get weeded out quickly.

4.  CrossFit creates community because others see your weakness and they cheer you through it.  Being a good CrossFitter means you are both an athlete and a cheerleader.

5.  CrossFit is hard. If it is easy, you are doing it wrong.

6.  Crazy knees socks are cool and necessary- how else will people know you are serious?

7.  CrossFit changes your ideal body image:  "strong is the new skinny", "performance over apperance", etc

8.  The only person you are in competition with is yourself. It doesn't matter what others are doing.  What matters is that you are doing YOUR best everyday.  This is the hardest truth to accept.

9.  CrossFit is more mental than physical. The most amazing athletes are the ones who don't give up, not necessarily the strongest people.

10.  CrossFitters know people think they are crazy, they don't care!  The Kool-aid taste great and we want to share it with you too...

*I amended this one:  If you are deadlifing 400lbs+, you can throw up all you want as long as you finish the lift. See ah-mazing video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50uWtVBwYrE

Marinara Sauce

Homemade marinara sauce is a tasty thing to have around. I use it to add a little something to meatloaf, chicken or veggies. I know you can easily buy a jar at the store, but try making it yourself and taste the difference- no chemicals or additives or preservatives. It will be like you've never had marinara sauce before!

Ingredients:

1 onion

1 celery

1 carrot

2 cloves of garlic

2 bay leaves

2 28oz can of crushed tomatoes

Any herbs or spices you desire

Tip: Trader Joe's sells a mirepoix mix (onion, carrots and celery) that is a huge time saver- way less chopping!

Preparation:

Saute onion, celery, carrots and garlic in olive oil for about 10 minutes, add salt & pepper

Add in 2 bay leaves and crushed tomatoes

Add in any herbs or spices (i.e. oregano, basil, garlic powder)

Simmer for 1 hour

Remove bay leaves

Puree in food processor

This can be stored 1 week in fridge or 6 months in freezer.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/marinara-sauce-recipe/index.html

Reading Reviews- January 2013

Whew this month gave me a lot of options in book reading! Perfect thing to do on these cold dark winter nights.  Here is the lowdown on what to read and what to skip:

The Primal Connection : Follow your Genetic Blueprint to Heath and Happiness by Mark Sisson
  This was the much awaited follow-up to the Primal Blueprint. Of course, I am biased when it comes to Mark Sisson. I read his blog Mark's Daily Apple and pretty much own all of his books.  He is my favorite writer in the paleo/primal community. So gush gush. Check out his blog and then buys his books!  
Verdict: Highly Recommend.  This is the only book I actually bought this month.

The Dressmaker: A Novel by Kate Alcott
  I liked this book, but glancing over the reviews, I might be the only one?  Apparently, it is full of historical inaccuracies of the sinking of the Titanic. Fortunately for me, my knowledge about that event is pretty much limited to Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCarpio 1997 movie version.  The story is as light or as heavy as you want it to be.  It is about a young woman,who longs to be a fashion designer. Of course, she is also pursued by two men and must figure out who she loves more. Yawn. What I found interesting, is it tells the story of the survivors- how they were put in the media spotlight and judged for not going down with the ship.  It explores the social notions of "what makes a hero?"
Verdict: I borrowed this an eBook from the library, so it was free. Would I have paid for it?  Yes, if I was going to be on a plane or stuck in jury duty all day.   

The Case for God by Karen Armstrong
  I only made it about a third of the way through this book and I couldn't even continue to skim it.  It is laden with detail and historical facts.  For me,  the details buried the interesting question about religion's place in society through out the ages.  It is written a step or two down from an academic paper.  In fact, if you told me this was adapted from the author's thesis paper, I would totally believe you.
Verdict: If you love detail, you will love this book.  

Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes by Tracey Daniels
  This was a free down load from Amazon and I might have just paid for it too! I haven't yet made any of the recipes, but they look good!  I love cooking in a crockpot and the author has recipes for everything: soups, sides, snacks, desserts, etc.
Verdict: I am thinking yum.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
     This book got very good reviews.  The story is well written and it kept me interested, but the ending led me nowhere, except that living in North Korea sucks (and I kinda knew that already).  I get that it is a bold move to write about North Korea in such a unflattering narrative.  However, I found the story disturbing and depressing. I felt sorry for everyone, even the "bad" guys.
Verdict: If you are deadset on reading a downer- go for it!

Write Good or Die: Survival Tips for the 21st Century by Scott Nicholson
     I had a brief moment this month, when I flirted with a career as a writer.  This book is a collection of essays written by various authors about writing and publishing a novel. I found it quite inspiring not just for writing, but for life- if you love something go after it!  I like that the essays were short, so anytime I had and extra 5 minutes, I would read one.
Verdict: If you think you might want to be a writer, this provides insight about the all the things you will need to think about. The devil is in the details.

Catherine The Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
     The author does a good job fashioning facts into a narrative, but I just couldn't get into it. This is a loooong book, so make sure you have time and patience. This story makes being a princess and queen sound not fun! 
Verdict: Meh, but better than the history book version of Catherine the Great.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

I don’t think I can ever get tired of bacon-wrapped dates.  They are so delicious- the sweet and salty layers!  They are also very simple to make:

Lay bacon on baking sheet and put in oven at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 

Let bacon cool.

Wrap pitted dates in bacon and skewer together.

Bake another 10 minutes until bacon crisps.

I love these for breakfast or as a compliment to soup.  If I have a couple let over, they make a perfect snack. Bacon makes everything better J

A Mojo Renaissance

14 Years Ago….

I left my home in Hawaii and flew over 2,000 miles of ocean to start a new adventure in California.

I was fearlessly optimistic.  I wasn’t afraid. People always ask me that? I was so young and inexperienced I had no idea what there was to fear or worry about?

My biggest concern was getting a job?  That’s right, I moved without having any idea how I was going to make a living.  I needed a job, so I knew I would find one.

My second biggest problem was keeping warm.  I went from 80 degree Hawaii weather to California in January- Brrrr!  Someone had to explain to me I needed to turn the heater in my apartment on and I figured out how to dress in layers by accident. Bottom line: I didn’t freeze to death, I adapted.

I called home once a week on land line phone.  I was behind the curve on cell phones and the internet, but that didn’t stop me from keeping in touch with friends and family.

I had no car. I still got to everywhere I needed to go.  I walked, biked or caught the bus. 

I made a risky choice, but it was the right choice.  I had that spark to make things happen, against very unrealistic odds. 

If I could go back and tell myself one thing it would be “thank you” for having the courage to leap.  Reflecting on this has inspired me; reminded me of what I am capable of.  Over the years, convention has crept into every part of my life and I started living in “limits” rather than “possibilities.”  It is time to set a revival in motion.  I have no idea what this actually means…yet. Let the Rani Renaissance unfold.