The Wall

Yesterday was one of the coolest days of my life. So far. I'm not even 35 just yet and these are the kind of Saturdays I'm having??? Lord have mercy! On my quest to make 2012 even better than 2011, I thought it would be a good idea to do some things I have never done before, so I decided to sign up for a female only Crossfit competition. Ah, excuse me, what was I thinking? I think I was crazy because this stuff is no joke. As the day approached I started to get incredibly nervous and by Wednesday a sore throat was coming on. (it's a full blown crusty cold complete with no voice today, Happy Sunday!) Fast forward to yesterday morning...I wake up, excuse me...my stomach wakes me up at 6am (30 min before the alarm). I lie in bed, then shower, get dressed in a fog, get coffee, and get to the event. The 2nd Annual Heraean Games at the Seminole Casino in Hollywood. Incredibly organized and intimidating from the get-go. And then I saw them...the WALLS.
8 feet to get over.
Oh the parallels and metaphors to draw from this moment...I immediately looked at it and thought, 'Nope, it's not your day to climb a wall Lauren.' Then I thought, 'You have no choice.' I tried it a handful of times before the competition and did not get over it. I even ran eight (significant # here) of my knuckles into the wall on one attempt because I misjudged my footing...dummy. Then I stopped trying and focused on jumping rope until it was time to for my first workout.
WOD#1 - 15 min. cap - 50 double unders, 40 calorie row, 30 box jumps, 20 dead lifts (135lbs), 10 power snatches (55lbs), 10 push ups release, and BOMP BOMP BOMP...the 8 FOOT WALL, sled pull to finish the heat! I just wanted to go already. My Mom and Dad were both there, my Coaches Juan and Stephanie were there, my friends April and Nicole were both competing with me side by side the whole way (until they passed me:) and my friend Teresa was there (kids and all!) along with a bunch of people from our gym. And then the countdown began.
3-2-1...GO!
I just went. 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 10 and then...BOMP, BOMP, BOMP...the WALL!
Attempt #1 - fail (no biggie, I'm exhausted right now, take a deep breath and try again)
Attempt #2 - fail (I don't think I'm getting over this wall)
Attempt #3 - fail (Just keep trying until they call time and make it look good at the very least)
And then it happened. I grabbed the top of the wall and I pulled myself up, and then I just kept pulling and I was finally able to get my right heel over the top of it and I was able to pull myself over it!! I couldn't believe it. I did it! I was so elated I almost started to cry. I basically started to cry until I realized I still had to pull the sled backwards to the end of the finish line.
My time was 14:27 and after 3 workouts I placed 8th out of a field of 18 women. That is better than 50% of the competition! I just couldn't believe I actually made it over that seemingly insurmountable wall. I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it over it when they yelled go, I just knew I couldn't give up trying to get over it. That's really how life is isn't it? It is full of eight foot walls that we can either decide to climb, or at least attempt to climb, or we can walk away saying to ourselves, 'I can't do it so why do I even try?' and give up on them. The key to getting over them is all HEART (thanks Juan). If you got it then you'll get over them. Then you stand on the other side realizing you had the strength all along to get over that wall.
I sit here now on Sunday night still amazed at the entire thing, the whole day...everything. I did something I have never done before in front of a crowd of a couple hundred people and I loved every single minute of it! I even had a personal best of 125 lbs for my overhead squat. All in all it was an amazing experience and I am better for having done it. I will never forget those moments in that day that stood out. It's all about making the most out of every regular day while planning for additional fun stuff for specific future special days (like this for example). I really need a massage right now and I am utterly exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I did not let the fear of the unknown get the better of me this time.

I wonder what wall (literal or figurative) I will have to scale next?