REGIONALS!!!!!

WOW! I can NOT believe that Regionals are only 9 days away! NINE DAYS! I can't decide if I am more scared or excited. This has been an amazing journey for me. I went to the Games last year to support Vic (and check out HOT CF men) and decided that I really wanted to try and put a team together to take to the Games in 2010. So I came home and talked about it with people. I quickly realized that I had a long way to go in my training if I wanted to be on a team. So after doing a few competitions as a team...I knew it was time to get serious.

In November I got really lucky and a great coach and friend decided to help me with my training. This changed every thing for me. I really started learning the lifts. And then came the weight. Within a few months I was upping my maxes anywhere from ten pounds to twenty! It was amazing. I loved it. January started the strict training and diet for Sectionals. I wanted to go and see where I stood next to others. I still wanted to be on the team, but thought this would be a good challenge in getting ready for it. I am not unrealistic, I knew that a lot of the women I would be competing against had been doing Crossfit a lot longer then me...and before that had probably been more active then me. But still..my goal was top thirty. Everyone needs goals...

Sectionals really surprised me. It was a test of mental and physical strength. And it was fun. There were a few complications with the women's scoring that ended up putting me in the last heat of the day on the second day....with the top 25 women. This did not hit me till I started warming up for my heat and looked around at all the incredibly strong, beautiful women around me. Let me tell you that rocked my world. I was so scared. I was the girl in 45th place going up against the best women in our region. My game plan went out the window...and all I kept saying was...the 45th girl will not finish dead last in this heat. And you know what I didn't. Talk about surprised when I ended up finishing that heat somewhere in the top ten of twenty five. I ended up snagging the 30th spot to qualify for Regionals! Yes it was a goal, but I did not really think I was ready for it.

So my plan has changed a little. I am now going to Regionals as an individual. Something I did not think I had in me to do. I was thinking this year team, next year individual. Needless to say I am still scared, but this time I know I can hold my own. I have trained HARD for this. I WANT this. I am going out to Fort Worth with a lot more confidence in myself, and my abilities to give this my all. Even if I come in dead last next weekend, I can still say that I am one of the top 65 CrossFitters in the southern region. And THAT is amazing if you think that a little over a year ago I was a smoking, drinking , inactive person! I read this yesterday in Jessica Sharratt's blog from CrossFit Central.."Its not who you are that holds you back, its who you think your not." This is so true. I will not be thinking this as I go into next weekend. I know who I am, and I know what I can do...and I am going to give it my all next weekend. Am I scared? HELL YEAH! Am I excited? You better believe it. But I am going to go have fun. And no matter what the outcome...I am happy with what I have accomplished.

Thanks Charlie...could not done this without you!

Family!

This is my sister in law Leah working hard at getting back in shape...and that is the ADORABLE little thing that made her need to come see me twice a week. Ilsa is six months old and the love of all of our lives now. But lets face it, she did some damage to Leah's body. BUT...Leah is determined to get back in shape so that she will be a healthy and fit mommy for this little "angle". So every Monday and Wednesday, they drive out to my house for a little one on one with me! Leah works hard and Ilsa screams! I honestly don't know who hates it more... Leah has also made the decision to eat a healthier diet. She is doing a Paleo diet, and we even convinced my brother that he needs to be supportive and eat this way with her. I have to say I am very proud of this little family. My brother for being a supportive husband as his wife gets back into shape. Leah for fighting this fight, to be a healthier more fit mother... and well Bird (Ilsa's nickname) is sloooowwwwlllyy coming around to not being the center of attention for that hour. We will have to see how that goes! Leah told me after her first session that she was sore and in pain...but that she would be my best success story! I have already seen a change in her endurance and strength! And we are only three weeks in! So keep rocking it sister!