blog title musings

There've been topics weaving in and out of my thoughts all year, but by the time I get to my computer, I've lost the bulk of my musings.  So, is that my age or just minimal desire to put my musings down? Hmmm.

This brings me to this question: at what age do I need to change the title of my blog? Is 60 middle age?
It SOUNDS like it's the high end of middle age.
However, it doesn't FEEL middle age to me, so perhaps I can squeak out another couple years with the blog title.
I guess I'll need to rely on the shoulder tap from a friend to let me know it's time to alter my blog title. After all, I may not notice when the eyebrows I draw in and the slightly rosy tinted chapstick that I put on start making me look like Baby Jane! ;)

 

(If you see a heartshaped beauty mark appear on my face, don't tap me, smack me. :) )

In the meantime, I'll keep up my fitness through CrossFit and therefore not need to be of a certain age. I'll just be.

#nevertooold

...so I can do what I love: coach

A few weekends ago I headed to Reebok CF One to revalidate my CF Level 1 coaching certificate. 5 years have passed since my first one. 5 years!
It got me thinking about how fast 5yrs as gone by, and how much I've fit into that time.
While my CF journey began over 5yrs ago (May '10), to have this definitive time frame brings my experiences into perspective. #nevertooold

In 5 years:
I've been very thankful to have been a 2x Games athlete, finishing 2nd and 8th respectively. I met the most amazing people at the Games who continue to inspire me through their FB posts revealing their tenaciousness at continuing to move into they later years with passion...and to move heavy shit and stay healthy in mind and body. Forever grateful for them!!
#nevertooold

Hard work and amazing memories

In 5 years:
Those years of training hard as an athlete definitely transferred over to my coaching outlook and ability. Because of that, during the past 5yrs I continued to increase my knowledge base by getting many more certifications in both CF and other related health & fitness outside the CF community. Love of what you do organically creates the drive to learn more. That hasn't ended because I still love what I do. When it does end, then I'll know it's time to move on. #nevertooold

In 5 years:
Although my desire to compete has ended, my passion for coaching has not. My passion for working specifically with people who are looking for a better quality of life, however that may look for them, is what truly
                                               gets me excited! #nevertooold

We all start somewhere. :)

That is, after all, why I ventured into my first CF gym! I was 54. One of the oldest athletes in the gym, I just wanted to be there for me. My progress was on my own time frame. That's the goal. You may want to venture out of your comfort zone, but you don't need to look past your own body for the drive to live more functionally! #nevertooold



A first triathlon at 58? Sure, why not!

Now knocking on the door of 60, I'm forever thankful that I didn't let the mentality of age get in the way of trying something new. CF, as my blog description states, has taught me more about myself than I ever knew existed within me. It's also opened up a life I never imagined! New directions in this journey are continually appearing and formulating. Linear paths are pretty much impossible if you stay open to options. #nevertooold

One of the biggest joys is that I know I can trust my body, even if it's not always working at capacity at times. I know there is always a way to do what I want to do. I can trust that I can figure that out.
Because of that, as every new year turns over, what my annual intention has become is to try something new. It's pretty amazing what happens when age doesn't take on a primary role in your desire to lead an open life! #nevertooold

i'm not you, i'm me

People with various philosophical and spiritual ideologies like to share the common thought,
~~Find your passion and follow it. Your life will be more meaningful and purposeful.~~
Agreed.
That said, I've had more than one discussion surrounding this thought with people who clearly believe that their passion and path is the most fulfilling one possible.

One common theme is 'travel the world'.
That's great for them.
I'm not you, I'm me.
I have different passions.
Traveling is an interest, not a passion.
I'm not you, I'm me.

My world changes on a daily basis. I don't need to be in a different environment everyday to be challenged. Growth, joy, passion, enlightenment can all show itself in the most seemingly mundane experiences. It's always so wondrous when that happens.
You could say my passion is staying happy in the pursuit to be open to everything.
Certainly, some days I take 'off', and yet those are still days that feed my passion of living in joy.
Certainly, some days I need to travel toward the joy, but thankfully it's a scenic trip!

You travel how you see fit.
I'll travel how I see fit.
I'm not you, I'm me.

re

reboot
reset
rethink
review
redirect
restructure
reconnect
resolve
reenact
reemerge
reawaken every single day

 

A few days ago I read an article on toxic people you should let go of as you head into the new year.

The clear realization as I was reading was that to every one of the toxic personalities mentioned, you can just say "no".
What do we owe people who are toxic to us? Nothing. We can be kindly indifferent by not engaging. This idea that the only way to be nice is to put yourself aside for the sake of someone else is ridiculous. We are not all going to be compatible. Our energies often let us know that long before we are able to kindly and calmly disengage. That is a *you* behavior to change, not a *them* behavior to change.  Because you may not enjoy being around their energy doesn't mean anything other than they feel toxic to you.
Be on your way. Move along.

The truth is it's not up to the other person to change, it's up to you to be true to yourself. Another's personality might be toxic to you but not to someone else. Period. End of story. No big deal.

Learning to say "no" is a sign of self-respect.
You're important to you. You value your beliefs, your outlook, your time. It's not about the other person at all. It's about what feeds you, your life, your soul. I know how hard this can be. I've come a long way, but still struggle with it at times. That's okay.  Like any behavior modification process, the practice of saying "no" becomes easier and more meaningful. Being in practice is better than being stuck!

As we head into the new year, learn to say "no" without self-judgment. Reread my post on friendship (be a friend ) and rid yourself of toxicity even from yourself this new year!
Cheers!!

**I'll share one of my favorite lines related to this (20ish seconds at the beginning of the clip) ...just add "to me" after the judgment in the statement and it's spot on!  "just shoot me" line   I wish I had the balls to say this sometimes! :)**

when new habits become old habits

Congratulations!
You changed your old habits that were getting in your way of good health and happiness.

It's been over 4 years since I've been living my "new" habits.
Better nutrition. Regular and effective workouts. Learning to include 'me' in my prioritization near or at the top of the list, which has been one of the tougher new habits to practice.

I needed to take a few days off from the gym recently. The first day I pretty much sat around and grazed all day. When Laurence got home I told him that and, without skipping a beat, he said, "At least you've been eating good food." 
Hmmm. True. But it was still just mindless grazing.

My new habits have become old habits. 
Too many taro chips are still counterproductive to my overall health despite being a better choice than potato chips. 
Too much snacking later in the day on better choices is still too much snacking later in the day.

When new habits become old habits, it's once again time to shake yourself up. It might mean one little shift here and there, but those little changes keep our bodies and minds awake.

no time...er

My hubster and I took a long walk yesterday and a long drive/short walk today.

No reason.
No training for anything.
No timer.

It's been a long time since we've had made the time to do this.  Our weekends are short, with things to do. Um, okay...so...

Every day because of my job:
I move with intent.
I live training for life.
I depend on the clock.

Laurence and I went biking a few times this summer, but since I'm not a biker and needed to train a little for a sprint triathlon, I would get annoyed we weren't going faster. I had to make the outing count toward training! HA
I finally let that go and knew when we biked, it was just to bike...but I didn't love it...it didn't count.

Cut to this weekend....months later. 
No reason.
No training for anything.
No timer.

This time I loved it.
Thank you Universe shift!

practice the intangible

I practice to become proficient at _______________.

This is easy, right?
To practice something tangible is indeed easy.
You make the time to do it.
CrossFitters do it every time we walk up to a barbell.

To practice something intangible is hard.
You practice breaking through comfort zone patterns.
You practice digging internally to compartmentalize fears and allow the possibilities of your real truths in.
You practice steeling yourself against reactions.
You practice word choices in your head to become proficient at saying  ________________.

Practice the intangible.
Become proficient with your words.
Words are the tools for your truth.

giving notice

Giving notice: as individuals, how we notice things that occur in our lives.

This is not a new idea. Of course we all notice our lives based on our backgrounds. Those shape our view.  The simplicity of the word resonates with me. We complicate things by feeling we need to detail/define/declare everything we talk about. Not true...at least from my perspective. ;)
My father-in-law used to call this unnecessary verbiage "suet".
Truth!

Not all interactions require response. Not all interactions mean there's a connection with each other deep enough to want to respond. That's okay.
It's just beneficial to give notice to how another person notices life.
It's just beneficial to give notice to how you yourself notices life, and how you choose your words to support your life.

A favorite quote from John Demartini:

use the Sunday mug

My father, with whom I had many discussions about financials regarding both real and imaginary dollars, gave me a mug years ago. 

Need I really give any reason why I love this mug?
I mean, come on!
My father and I shared both constructive conversations and laughs...usually the bawdier the better. 

I find myself being so protective of this mug. The 'spinner' with YES/NO/? is on a little metal pin.  Dishwasher? I think not! I'd get a little twisted when I'd see it there. How many times have I quietly removed it to hand wash it...passive/aggressive doesn't work. No one really ever 'hears' you!


I also have a newer mug that I bought for myself a couple years ago.

I call this my Sunday mug.  It has great colors, a good size and the lip of it, as you can see, splays out in a perfect way to cradle my lips as I sip my Sunday coffee.  As for Sunday? It's a one of my favorite mornings. 
The Sunday paper is delivered.
I usually don't have any plans for the day outside the house.
I'm up early enough to enjoy some time alone.
My Sunday mug (clearly connected to my emotional attachment to my relaxed Sunday mornings) is awaiting the first pour from the carafe while I await my first few sips. (I start thinking about it Sat night before I go to bed....sad, I know!)
The paper is mine until Laurence gets up. muahahahaha
After we've both been up for a while I make a big breakfast and as Laurence continues to read through the paper, I work on one of the crossword puzzles over breakfast while sipping on more coffee out of my perfectly 'lipped' mug. 
It's part of the Sunday package.

Until recently.
Now I'm using the Sunday mug on Tuesday and not getting so tweaked when I find my Wall Street mug in the dishwasher.
I mean, WTF?
THINGS...just things. 
My conversations...and jokes...with my father are with me all the time, whenever I want to reference one.
My Sunday mornings are not the only mornings that deserve a relaxed sigh with a special mug.
If anything gets broken and I no longer have it, my memories and my Sunday mornings will still be intact.  Shocking, I know.
So I'm going to keep playing with the 'spinner' on my Wall Street mug while it continues to work and I'm going to use the Sunday mug any day I damn well please.
Just know that if you want any financial advise, you'd better ask before the 'spinner' breaks.

today

Today is where you are.
Today is where you begin anew.
Today is a good day!

I am a human. Yes.
I am a woman. Yes.
I am a CrossFitter. Yes.

CrossFit is all about today. 
It's not 'just' about staying fit and get fitter.
It teaches us that every day is new.
It teaches us that every day is an opportunity to be kind to ourselves by either pushing ourselves beyond where we thought we could go or to be kind to ourselves by modifying a workout to get the most out of what we have today.
It teaches us about who we are through mental strength as well as physical strength.
It teaches us that because every day and every workout is different, we can only do the best we can today.
It teaches us that if we fail today, we can start anew tomorrow.
It teaches us to think about a plan in order to achieve more.
It teaches us to believe in own abilities.
It teaches us to just keep moving forward.

You were an athlete.
You were more active.
You were lighter.
Those are all *so what*s.

Today is where you are.
You have sore shoulders.
You have tight calves.
You have wonky knees.
You broke a bone.
You have a disease.
You have recovery time from surgery.
You have nerve damage from a surgery.
Those are also *so what*s.

We are all the same in that we all have something 'off-kilter' that could be a life blocker or a crutch. The difference is what a person does with those things. 
CrossFit teaches you that nothing has to stop you.
If you pay attention, CrossFit teaches you to pay closer attention to yourself. 
Today is the day on which you base your efforts, whether they be rest, modifications, or all-out effort.  That's it.
It's that simple.
It's also that deep. 
The depths of how CrossFit's lessons permeate the rest of your life is both surprising and profound.
The confidence to get through anything is what's profound. 


Today is where you are.
Today is where you being anew.
Today is a good day!

who would you be?

The Five People You Meet In Heaven
               ~~Mitch Albom~~

I read this long ago and consistently find my mind wandering to its concept. There have been many people who've come in and out of my life, exponentially so since I began CrossFit. That's one of the many perks of CrossFit for which I am grateful. The community of CF is talked about all the time and to those on the 'outside' it may seem phony. To those of us on the 'inside' it's powerfully true. The community is as diverse as the numbers of people in it. By diverse I'm referring to energies.  As with any group, not all energies are rosy and gentle, but the mix of everyone is important. I know I wouldn't be who or where I am now without meeting many of the people I have met through CrossFit.

Sometimes the 'why' of an energy in my life, rosy or blue, is a mystery, but begrudgingly eventually I'll take the time to dig because I'll want to find a balanced place for it within me. Some require heavy work, some just a quick look then a nod of "thank you".

Seconds change minutes that change days that change life directions.
The second I met my husband opened up a life that led to four more amazing people in my life...our daughters.
The second I was encouraged to try CrossFit opened up a life that has me living with my eyes wide open, not just in a foggy haze of growing old.

If you haven't read Albom's quick, interesting book, I recommend it.
If you have, then do you, also, ever think about:
Who would you be if you had never met __________?
Where would you be if you had never met ___________?

 

your yin/yang

Never underestimate the power of stillness. 
Never underestimate the power of quietness.
Never underestimate the power of being alone.

The boisterous, fun, joyous energy experienced at CrossFit Beacon is beyond wonderful.
There is a consistency to the movement and flow that surrounds me at Beacon.
I love being challenged to become a better coach and athlete. What I learn for my job helps me to continue to grow as a person. It's a part of my life I've allowed to evolve. I never imagined.

Having the balance of stillness, quietness and alone time when I'm away from the gym is beyond important, it's necessary. 
It allows the best and worst of every experience to bubble up, to be seen and felt. 
Absorb, listen, feel. Don't shy away from it.  Embrace it.

Never underestimate the need for balance.
Never underestimate the need to be alone.
Never underestimate your yin/yang.

the little things

I bought a few oranges today.
Nothing earth shattering, I know.

 I just felt like having a drink...basically a screwdriver with a little soda water.  But we don't keep orange juice in the house, hence the purchase of a few oranges.


fresh orange juice
plenty of vodka

As I was juicing my oranges a sudden and breathstopping awareness overcame me.
Today is January 5th.
My father crossed over on January 5th, 2005.
January 5th.
Leonard was well into his 88th year.
He died from a massive heart attack which occurred while he was in the process of juicing oranges for his wife's breakfast. In their later years, Leonard juiced fresh oranges for Jane every morning.
He left earth in the middle of a gesture of love. 



Celebrating 50 years of marriage

In the photo ----> , Len and Jane were renewing their vows in the presence of their 6 grown children.  Slight alterations to their clothes, but the same hearts showed up. The same ones present when Len asked Jane to marry him three days after they met.  Their marriage wasn't perfect, but they loved each other and that was enough for them to work hard together and keep loving each other.  They were together for 60 years.

By this picture, my mother had already begun her slide into Alzheimers, but Dad just kept loving her and kept juicing fresh oranges for her every morning. 

It's the little things we do for each other that speak the loudest and mean the most.

On this January 5th, with my vodka laced, freshly juiced oranges I say CHEERS to the most wonderful father who taught me, by example, how to love.



I've never been very serious. Dad didn't mind.
Not sure about my girls. :)



Leonard W. Swett
4/1916-1/2005
 



I can't escape those squinty eyes
and I'm okay with that!







you choose

Today, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a friend posted on FB, "Do I have to have to wait until Thursday to be thankful?"  She was being cheeky.  But her message was true.  No one need wait to be told to be thankful, truly thankful.  It's your choice.

Life is on the move...flowing forward...yin/yang-ish all the time.
My dad would say, "You're always faced with at least two choices. Make the best out of whichever one you choose."  True. Give yourself chances to explore the results of your choice.  Be aware that you can continue to choose again.  I like to add two words to a choice: "...for now."
Those words remind me that nothing is permanent unless you make it so. If it's a choice that works, that's pretty powerful for your energy.  If not, then keep on moving toward another choice!

Thanksgiving is bigger than just one day.
I'm not waiting to be thankful.  I'd burst!!  :)

**just for fun:  ~~I'm pink~~
http://www.quotev.com/quiz/1366538/What-is-Your-True-Color-Aura/

bruises

We all bruise. 
Physically.
Emotionally.

Learn to read your bruises.
They're honest reminders to moments in life.
Well, most of them are. Some are a little trickier to read.  The emotional bruises of the heart fall into that category.  These, however, often manifest themselves with physical visuals: tear stained cheeks; red puffy eyes; forlorn looks.

If you find yourself getting bruised in exactly the same way over and over again, then STOP doing/acting/searching in the same manner!

Change up your outlook/your behavior/your attitude/your assumptions that the world around you owes you anything.  Your own willingness to work at all parts of your life will garner results that meet your efforts.  The bruising may still come, but hopefully in new ways and places. That indicates you've changed something.  That's good.

Learn to read your bruises.
In CrossFit, we bruise. It's a great way to see your technique, your successes, your failures. (Did you really think these mutterings would not turn to CrossFit? :) ) Bruises quietly coach you as you stare at them in the mirror to assess their meaning.
Bruises on my clavicles tell me the catch of my clean is solid.  Any lower and I wasn't getting under the bar low enough. 
Bruises just over my knees tell me I'm not opening up fully before getting under the bar. Wrong place to bruise...too low.
Reading these helps me to change, to work on my technique, so I'll have better results.  Being a visual person, I call up the visual of the bruises to help me as I work on my lifts.

Learn to read your bruises.
They're honest visual reminders to moments in life.
Be willing to change your outlook/your behavior/your attitude/your assumptions that the world around you owes you anything without you putting in some effort.

The bruise on my hip?
Damn table jumped right out in front of me!  
No? Okay, read: I need to stop hurrying out the door. 
damn.

cliff diving

I've been doing a lot of 'cliff diving' lately.
I've also been inspired by seeing some people around me do some 'cliff diving' of their own. 
You know that kind of diving...standing on the edge of challenges, both physical and energetic in nature, mustering up the motivation to take the plunge into self-growth.
Sometimes I just want to stomp my foot, pull the 'pout', and demand that the challenges alter for me instead of me having to alter for them.  Too bad that's not possible!  Womp womp.....

Reality is that I'm thankful for the moments I'm forced to the edge.
I'm thankful for being privy to other peoples' edges.
The edge is the place to be in order to keep feeling truly alive. 
The edge clarifies what's important.
The edge pushes against stagnancy.
The edge is just another opportunity.

There is no denying that CrossFit has shaped the "older" me.
Because CrossFit creates a new 'edge' every day, it's taught me to live a bolder life than I ever thought I would, both physically and energetically.  It's taught me to feel "comfortable being uncomfortable".  This also means, of course, that I'm always aware when I am trying to shore up that edge so I don't have to take the dive into the challenge....enter the foot stomp and subsequent 'pout'. 

There's no hiding from oneself unless you believe in giving up.  And there is no giving up in CrossFit.  You see that damn workout through.  You may dial yourself back a little, you may take a little longer to reach your edge, but if you want the most out of your workout/your life, you continue to muster the motivation to see each challenge through.  Face it down and you have added strength to be open to the next challenge.  Teeter on the edge of it and you're forever stuck in that frustrating place of feeling 'safe' but incomplete. 

Watching others dive off a cliff is a great reminder that some dives are graceful and some are belly flops, but they have mustered the motivation to take the dive.  I may stomp and pout once in a while, but all that does is make the edge crumble so I am forced off the cliff!  Whether a "10" or belly flop, the important thing is to take the dive to feel complete.

bars & plates & math, oh my

September means a new school year begins.
It's been a long time...decades...plural...=10 x too many years...since I've been in school.
It's been a decade...singular...plus or minus a couple years...since my girls have been in school.
I wouldn't think about the new school year at all were it not for the banter of parents with young ones and the teachers in the CrossFit community.

Those flutterings in stomachs that occur with kids and teachers alike on the first day of school are unavoidable.  Some feel the flutters everyday. That's got to be exhausting. And yet kids show up and work their way through whatever they're feeling. Hopefully they have safe places to 'let go' and breathe at the end of the day.

I never understood the whole "3 Rs" thing....reading/'riting/'rithmetic. WTF? Teaching the 3Rs that included 2 words NOT starting with R seemed counterproductive to the learning process. But then, I wasn't the greatest student.  By-The-Book teaching plans and memorization were not my friends.  I was and always have been a visual and hands-on student.  These methods of teaching were not yet invented when I was a kid. 
I was born in between perfect eras for me:
post-stone etching
pre-multi dimensional teaching

I enjoyed reading but was always slow...felt I had to  r e a d   e v e r y   w o r d  for my efforts to count.  I don't have a clue why I thought that! Thankfully I grew to learn that was not the case and enjoy it much more now.

I enjoyed 'riting but always felt my words did not delve deep enough to be of any meaning compared to some of my peers.  Thankfully, I learned to just say 'fuck it' and appreciate the fact that my 'Hallmark-ish' prose are really like any artful venture...for me first.  If you enjoy something and it's not hurting anyone, do it.  If my 'riting "hurts" you (your sensibilities), you won't be reading this anyway! :)

I hated 'rithmetic...sucked at it...except geometry, mercifully visual...and like many kids, never saw the future usefulness of the torture called "math".  I never learned to like it.

Then along came CrossFit with those barbells and plate loads and percentages and rep counts and time configurations.  Damned if I didn't start to appreciate being able to 'do math' in my head.  I was, after all, schooled during pre-calculator times.  We had to learn to 'do math' in our heads...or on our fingers when no one was watching.  Thankfully I have learned over the last three plus years as a CrossFitter to like 'rithmetic. 

Being completely realistic, CrossFit math is the hardest math of all to master.  All of us CFers are effing math geniuses!  We are able to do math even when all the blood has rushed from our brains to shore up our working muscles. Oh sure, sometimes we need four or five of us to figure out how much weight was actually loaded on a bar, or how many reps we could actually add together if one movement was a 4to1 count, or how many rounds of hell we just completed if we forgot to mark them during the WOD, but so what!  Team building is an important practice in life.
Plus, we love to test each other by pretending not to know how much the weight plates add up to so our buddy can solve that equation.  We really are quite good to each other.

true that!

CrossFit:
Flutterings are felt every day at the beginning of a WOD yet you continue to show up.
The CF gym is a safe place to lie in a heap on the floor post-WOD, 'let go' and breathe.
+
The 3 Rs
Reading: one must  r e a d  e v e r y  w o r d  of the daily WOD to get it right (Who knew my early reading method would come in handy!)
'Riting: jotting down results in your log book (I don't have to get all 'deep' when I write things down...especially if I put them on my MyWOD app on my phone :)  )
'Rithmetic: being able to figure out all sorts of equations in your head while staring at the weighted barbell (Thankfully this is a visual process, although I can and often do use my fingers. Being a grown up, I no longer care who sees me counting on them.  I can usually get to this answer by myself, but if I can't, I know I can rely on my fellow genius CrossFitters!)

The moral of this blog:
SCHOOL REALLY IS COOL...be a lifelong learner!

adaptability

adaptable: capable of being or becoming

This word has been showing up in many different ways lately. The fact that is has been showing up multiple times is what caught my full attention and directed my thoughts toward what it really means.

Being free enough to be adaptable....being 'capable' of becoming....is a benchmark of forward progress.
Being open enough to be adaptable when a choice or decision you've made proves to be an inappropriate or wrong choice or decision at the moment is the benchmark of forward progress.
Being relaxed enough to be adaptable in the face of discomfort is the benchmark of a person living intentionally with forward progress in mind.

Never mistake adaptability with being fickle.
Being fickle lends itself to the implication that one keeps choosing changes in order to stay in an emotional/physical state of comfort and order.
Being adaptable implies a person is able to go wherever 'the flow' may take them in order to achieve the ultimate life experience.

Embrace life experience, no matter how messy it can be at times!

it's all Games

CrossFit Games.
The Big Show.
The Effin' HUGE Carrot at the end of another year of training.
Done.

I'm done my second year at the Games.

It was fanfrickintastic!

Last year the Masters Comp went on at the same time as the Individuals and, being my first year, I was pretty star struck by all the elite names in CrossFit walking around everywhere.
This year, 2013, the Masters Comp was before the Individual Comp started, so my focus was more on my fellow competitors. We had time to just hang out a little more, get better acquainted with old friends and meet more new ones. It was awesome. 

My age group, the Masters Women 55-59yrs were having a great time together from the start.  Lots of goofing around while waiting in the 'corral' to be led onto the field, plenty of hugs and high fives, and just a general desire for everyone to do well.  Truly wonderful.

From the qualifying Open in March to the Games in July, I trained hard and was pushed farther by my coach, John McEvoy, than I thought possible.  Yeah, I even cursed him out on more than one occasion.
"WTF, he must think I'm 30 or something.
I'm lifting too heavy.
Too much volume.
Yada yada yada."
I not so secretly loved it all.  :)
I'm 57 and he had me doing WODs with 185# deadlifts.  I mean, I LOVE that!  The confidence I gained in myself as an athlete will stick with me long beyond this year's experience.

The Games WODs were heavier and harder this year.
The excitement and positivity were awesome.
I left for CA and The Games wanting to enjoy the experience, giving all the WODs everything I had, and leave knowing I had done just that.  Mission accomplished!
A little snapshot:
The one heat I won...and of course I'll show you this one :) ... is the link below:
 push-drag-pull: heat 1
Overall, I ended up in 8th place. My goal was top 10, so I'm a happy competitor!

Not only was John with me in CA, but my daughter (and John's wife), Sara McEvoy, was also there. It was great to have them both with me.  If they were nervous for me, they hid it well, which benefited me. :)

Shout out has to go to my gym, CrossFit Beacon. Their continued support and shared joy in this adventure we all call "life" is phenomenal!

Feeling a little antsy after getting home to ME, (it was jokingly said by Chris Spealler, CrossFitter extraordinaire, "what do I do with all this fitness?") I spent almost 5 hours doing yardwork the next day. Mistake. My arms and hands were junk afterward.  Didn't do much of anything the next couple of days. Then today, a little more functional fitness: only 9 holes of golf, but I was exhausted!

 Easing back into everything, but not coming to a dead stop.

Ultimately, the Games are a great venue for the sport side of CrossFit, but even without those to shoot for, there are so many goals to work toward.  I still plan on keeping up my training blog despite having different goals for my training now. It all keeps me moving ahead!
And hell, training to be kickass at life is no small task! :)