1400 pounds of Happy

Yup I am happy NOW I am happy but let me be honest I wasn't happy a couple hours ago. I came into CrossFit Costa Mesa at 6pm ready to do 11.5 Games WOD ... What is it you ask well it is 5 100# power cleans, 10 toes to bar, 15 wall balls AMRAP in 20 mins. THIS IS HARD! I came into this workout with a max power clean of 105 that I had just achieved two weeks prior. So I was nervous without a doubt. My dear friend Erica was my judge and I had a crew of supporters watching, which I wasn't sure how I felt about that, among them were Linds, Carrie, Chad, Chris W., Jenelle and Ben. Well the time started and I got the first two cleans off up and then I felt my back I heard my small voice inside me begin the self-doubt. The I can't do this it is to heavy but instead of listening to them. I heard Erica telling me to rest and then get back at the bar, Chris telling me to move those elbows, Ben saying 10 more seconds of rest and then pick it up, Linds telling me how awesome I am Chad telling me I was in a groove ... those were the voices I heard so I picked up the bar three more times completed my first round.

I had a goal in mind I wanted three rounds I am not looking to make it to regionals I am looking to give it my all. So I went into the second round and I pushed and pushed and pushed and got through those five cleans and completed my second round. It was in the third round that I felt like I was going to cry I had so many things running through my mind. I was scared I wouldn't be able to do it I was scared this was it.. I came to the bar and picked it up and got the power clean but for some reason I felt the tears I knew I wasn't going to get my goal of three rounds so I gave it my all ... up to the last seconds and I got three more cleans.

When Erica said time ... I walked straight outside and started to cry I was really upset embarrassed about my performance. I thought I let my gym down my friends down I let myself down. I composed myself Ben said many kind words to me and I walked back into the gym only to let myself cry again infront of everyone. I just remember Chad who I think is amazing saying "Why are you crying? You did amazing!" I was embraced by the gym.

So I came home still upset still angry and talked to Hillary who was so proud of me and spoke to Ron who was super proud as well. He told me I was doing about 95.5% of my max. I sat and thought about what I had done I started to realize one this is about me no one else and two I did awesome. I got that bar up 14 times my max is 105 I did it I never gave up I truly laid it on the line. Then I just kept thinking more and more I did it. I could never have done that a year ago but today I faced that bar with everything I got. I may not be the number one CrossFitter but I am Katie Sandoval in my own right I am lil firebreather coming into my own, learning about myself everyday and developing into a strong women.

So yup I power cleaned 1400 pounds today and I am not ashamed about it I AM SO HAPPY! I have some of the most amazing supporters in my life and I so blessed. So yup I am 1400 pounds of happy!

Out of Sorts

I have been feeling out of sorts lately well this past week. As much as I try to get out of this funk it really hasn't been working. I am sure most of why I have been feeling this way is because I have been sick for the last week and have only been able to workout (which, I really wouldn't be calling it workout, more like dying)but I did the Games Wod on Friday and was so disappointed with my performance. Not only was a I disappointed I was really upset with myself and how I did, upset with my progress in CrossFit, upset with my future .. plain upset.
I am unsure what brought this on but something did, perhaps the fact that I have been so sick that I can barely get out of bed so all I have had time to do is think. I feel like I really don't have control of my life everything is in limbo... I am not a person who likes to be in limbo I like to have plans but I guess I need to just relax let life take it course.
At least tomorrow, will be another day and I am ready to take it on ... Let's see how long it will last!

CrossFit and the 10k

So I know I already posted about my 10k but today my gym asked us "If we had a story you have of a recent use of your fitness that surprised/satisfied you?" So this is my story of how much CrossFit has done for me physically, mentally a whole different ball game. So lets go back to 2009 .....
.... 2009 I wanted to impress my boyfriend so I decided that I would run the Hermosa Beach 5k and right from the start of signing up I was fearful I wasn't in any kind of shape. I was that "skinny fat" girl I had probably been doing CrossFit for lets say 5 months BUT when I say I was doing CrossFit I was like half-assing it not really caring about it just doing it to shut up the boyfriend ... So race day comes I am like ok 3.2 miles can't be that bad WELL I WAS WRONG ... I remember the sounds of the gun and we are off OFF UP A HILL! What a hill I wasn't at all ready for that what was the best part was being passed by women pushing strollers but I made it up the hill and then I started to walk I was so winded yeah I don't think I had even made it to half a mile but I had to finish so I started jogging NOT running jogging and felt ill and sick and wanted to cry so as we ran along the pier and let me be honest I ran one block and walked a block I just couldn't run anymore ... So as I finally finished the race and was so happy it was over and I pretty much vowed that I would never do a race again........ now zipping forward to April 2011
..... Well I clearly didn't keep my vow since I decided to sign up for the Seal Beach 10k. In all honesty I did it because I wanted to see what I was made of. So let me give you a bit of history of me and CrossFit for the past year and half, I have been actively CrossFitting since January of 2010. I recently changed up my routine so that I can compete soon, which means train harder, listen to my body, eat better etc. Therefore, race day came and this is how it went down

THOUGHTS as I ran:

0-1mile: Nice easy jog ran part of the way with Omar and Mer I was not out of breath I was feeling great never stopped, I can do this not to bad nice cool day

1-2 mile: Mer and Omar turn to do the 5k I charge ahead and then I see a slight incline oh god lets not repeat Hermosa head down charge up ... Ok charging feeling good not out of breath passing people ok good good .....

2-3 mile: WATER STATION... alright great they are using McDonalds cups that makes no sense ok lets do this whole run and drink water oh jesus it is going everywhere but my mouth great this man right infront me just threw his water all over me excellent ... ok need to stop for a second to drink this water ... back to running

MILE MARKER 3: OMG I have been running for three miles straight, I did it I freaking can run a 5k no problems alright now here it is just got to push through you can't stop you don't even know where you are RUN katie RUN

4-5 mile: I want to stop I want to stop ... and funny CHRIS WORDEN popped into my head and all I could hear him saying was What kind of character are you made of? Well not the quitting type that is for damn sure JUST KEEP RUNNING ... I hear a lady saying we have been running for over a half hour ... WAIT I have holy shit ... I don't feel like 100% but I feel great I am breathing running I am doing this ...

5-6 mile bridges ... ok I just got to get to the first bridge ... I get to the first bridge SHOOT another bridge I just want this to end I am hungry but I am ok I can run this ..... Just breath man I wish I had music I could use some Rhianna right now bust a move .... RUN RUN RUN

last .4 miles ... I SEE THE FINISH LINE ... my head is telling me to just walk why not NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO YES NOOOOO ... give it a go run run well now I can't stop everyone is watching me cheering me to finish I HAVE TO DO THIS ... Finish line sign is getting bigger run run run I HEAR LINDS I FREAKING DID IT ....

If it wasn't for CrossFit this would have been impossible. After a couple minutes I felt great "elated" on Cloud 9 I was so happy. So I can say that CrossFit has done wonders for me. If it wasn't for the wonderful family I have a CrossFit Costa Mesa I truly believe that I would not have been able to finish the 10k race! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

Sore and Happy

I had two great accomplishments this weekend. The first would be that I did the second games WOD on Friday! It involved deadlifts which was scary because yes I have finally done a heavy deadlift but I haven't done a deadlift workout so I can tell you I was nervous. Nervous that I couldn't sleep the night before and that I had the worse dream that I injured my back again! So, I got up and I started slow at first and I had a goal of six rounds... Ughh I was oh so close to the six rounds two box jumps away! I am still proud my back felt good and I felt that I gave it all I could. So short story yeah I rocked out on the deads and I was so happy... Move to Saturday ... 10k race...

Let me tell you by no means am I a runner. I hate running in workouts I don't like to run in general but I have always wanted to do a 10k and my good friend Linds was doing it and she is a great motivator for me so I decided why not. I also wanted to test out all this CrossFit I have been doing after all I should be able to do just about anything. So I got up and I ran I had a time to come in at, which was an hour and you know what I did it one hour two minutes and I was so proud. I felt really great while I was running I felt good I had a good heartrate, I stopped twice because I don't know how people can drink water from a cup and run at the same time! So I walked to drink the water all in and all I am so happy! My body on the other hand maybe not so much! I am in so much pain now, I hurt to the touch and I can barely walk but it is worth it! I ran my 10k race and I ran hard and fast so on to the next ......