What do you do when life gets tough?
Do you run or pray or meditate?
Do you smoke or fight or drive your car too fast?
There was a time when I could gauge how tough things were in my life (consciously or unconsciously) by the distances I would run. Sometimes I would release the stress into the air along with my sweat and tears, but other times, problems rode piggyback the whole way.
I still love a good 2 to 3 hour run; but Crossfit has been my therapy of choice these past eleven months.
At first I only went twice a week, but a couple of things happened at once: 1) my running trails turned to ankle-deep mud and 2) I realized the box was my safe place.
We all need a safe place to go: a place that is healthy, where people are encouraging, and where you can blow off steam and not think about anything except the next rep.
The only time someone yells is to say, ‘Tighten up!’ or ‘Stolz Sein!’ [Be Proud]; and it’s never derogatory, but it always makes you try harder.
As I was talking with another Crossfitter after class, I realized that many of us come to Crossfit not knowing it will become our safe place–a place we need to keep ourselves sane.
For many of us, our box, with its dripping ceiling and random divots in the floor, feels like home to us–and I wouldn’t change it for anything. A shiny place wouldn’t feel the same.
This is not to say that I’ve forfeited home life for the box. My kids will tell you that I’m a much better, less stressed-out Mama because of Crossfit. They encourage me to go [sometimes vehemently] because with Crossfit, I can be the Mama I’m supposed to be. The one with energy, vitality and an optimistic view of life.
Funny how tangible, iron weights can lift the intangible weight from our minds.
I am thankful for every day I get to go to Crossfit. It’s making me stronger, in many different senses of the word.
November 11th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
I have been incorporating travel WOD’s into my routine at home, but all this Crossfit love has me convinced it’s something that may be worth the investment to try.
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November 12th, 2013 at 4:26 am
You should give it a try!
In my case, I don’t belong to a running club or anything, so I think I’m drawn most to the Crossfit community. It’s more like family and nothing like a ‘gym’ At least, it is where I live.
As a side note–Crossfit has REALLY improved my running. I’ve shaved about a minute per mile off my pre-crossfit days (for long runs). And both of my marathons as a crossfitter were PRs.
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November 11th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Very well written! I can relate so much! And it doesn’t matter what your shape, size or fitness level, you will always find solace at Crossfit as long as you put in the effort!
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November 12th, 2013 at 4:30 am
You are absolutely right!
That’s another thing I love about our box–there are people of all walks of life, all fitness levels there. Everything from my 16 year old son:) to Grandmas.
I used to say I wanted to be the 90 year old ultra marathoner, but now I can add ‘who also deadlifts 115% of her body weight:)
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November 12th, 2013 at 4:36 am
🙂
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