Rest Day
About two years ago I became a runner. I ran on my own and worked up
to my first race, a half marathon. That same year I trained on my own
and ran three marathons in five months, qualifying for the Boston
Marathon on my second race. Never having done much athletically
before, I just kept doing what I was doing and expected to get faster.
But I had stalled and was getting nagging overuse injuries. I ran
fifty miles a week for two months before the Boston Marathon and did
not improve my marathon time. I was hurting more and not getting
faster. I needed to do something different, but was not familiar or
comfortable with fitness communities.
When I
first started coming to Cross Fit East Sacramento in June, I was
absurdly outside my comfort zone. I felt weak and uncoordinated. I
joke that I run because I am too uncoordinated for anything else, but Justin and Travis have kicked, cajoled, and prodded me on to greater
athletic achievement.
first started coming to Cross Fit East Sacramento in June, I was
absurdly outside my comfort zone. I felt weak and uncoordinated. I
joke that I run because I am too uncoordinated for anything else, but Justin and Travis have kicked, cajoled, and prodded me on to greater
athletic achievement.
Every workout is
scary–in the best possible way. The size of the weight, the number of
reps, or the complexity of the movement always leave me asking "Is this
possible for me?" In one way or another the answer keeps coming back,
"Yes."
scary–in the best possible way. The size of the weight, the number of
reps, or the complexity of the movement always leave me asking "Is this
possible for me?" In one way or another the answer keeps coming back,
"Yes."
The level of intensity of the
workouts has allowed me to push past my habit of working out long and
slow. The variety of movements CrossFit requires has allowed me to
use more of my body while running and helped mitigate overuse problems.
The strength training, especially in my core has allowed me to run
stronger longer. The tremendous effort required with some of the
exercises has helped me push past mental blocks I have had in
committing to race goals. Through it all Justin and Travis have
encouraged me and their other members to excel in whatever way they
can. We compete against ourselves and each other in an environment
that is rigorous but supportive. Watching the success of the athletes
around me has been hugely inspiring and made me attempt weights and
skills I never would have before.
workouts has allowed me to push past my habit of working out long and
slow. The variety of movements CrossFit requires has allowed me to
use more of my body while running and helped mitigate overuse problems.
The strength training, especially in my core has allowed me to run
stronger longer. The tremendous effort required with some of the
exercises has helped me push past mental blocks I have had in
committing to race goals. Through it all Justin and Travis have
encouraged me and their other members to excel in whatever way they
can. We compete against ourselves and each other in an environment
that is rigorous but supportive. Watching the success of the athletes
around me has been hugely inspiring and made me attempt weights and
skills I never would have before.
And my
running? Even though I did nowhere near the mileage I did before the
Boston Marathon, even though the weather conditions were far more
difficult that they were the previous year, on December 6 2009 I ran
CIM in 3:40:12–nine minutes off of my previous time on that course.
To put this in perspective, that nine minute reduction allows me to
qualify for the Boston Marathon–even if I were ten years younger than
I am.
running? Even though I did nowhere near the mileage I did before the
Boston Marathon, even though the weather conditions were far more
difficult that they were the previous year, on December 6 2009 I ran
CIM in 3:40:12–nine minutes off of my previous time on that course.
To put this in perspective, that nine minute reduction allows me to
qualify for the Boston Marathon–even if I were ten years younger than
I am.
-Jennifer Reynaga
