Regionals: Coach Christi's View
Strength
HATCH W9D1
1x5 @ 60%
1x3 @ 70%
2x2 @ 80/90
1x5 @ 65%
3x4 @ 75/80/85%
MetCon
6min AMRAP
20 Deadlifts 135/95
15 Hand-Release Push-ups
10 T2B
Coaches Notes
The experience of the CrossFit West Regionals is one I will always remember. It was a long road leading to this event and I can't imagine it turning out any better. I thought I should write a little blog post about it as I always wondered about the process and I thought some of you might too.
We've missed qualifying a team for the last three years and always by less than 4 spots. It just didn't quite work out for us. This year we were the last team to qualify (there's 15 spots and we were 15th). Once we realized we had qualified the process of picking the team became a reality. This created many sleepless nights, mainly for Eric, trying to figure out what mattered most in creating an amazing team and a great experience for everyone. Eric narrowed it down to a team of nine. We all trained together as much as possible. We got up early on weekends and practiced the events once they were released. Practice was a careful balance of doing your best while keeping yourself healthy enough to compete very soon. The excitement mounted. Our members and friends were proud and happy. There were many ups and downs as always in CrossFit as they continued to change the rules and requirements of competing. The names on the team changed many times but were eventually confirmed.
Before you knew it was time to go to Portland. We had a workout plan for every event(from the brains of Eric and Fern), a mental plan, nutrition plan form Bill Tilapaugh and a hundred other plans as to how we were going to get around and do things (then we had team meetings to confirm those things). We used sarcasm and ridiculousness to try to calm our nerves. We quickly named our rental van, Vangina and started in on a game of "What's that Smell?"(with many rule changes here too). There's about one million other examples of inappropriateness I can't write here but the nerves must have been high because it was next level, even for our group (Tim Stockton wins this event).
The day before competition day we arrived at the Moda Center and picked up our swag bag (socks and a tshirt) while they drew numbers all over us (I'm still not sure why?). Once we made it downstairs to the athlete area, it was very confusing. It's basically a labyrinth down there and athletes were all wondering lost. We followed a bunch of people all over the place trying to find our way around. The warmup area was a parkade(which sounds less than ideal but was actually quite good), this is where we got to practice a little running on the TruForm treadmill. Cole Sager gave me a few tips on how to run efficiently and Jane lost her mind. FYI Jane loves CrossFit celebrities. We bought some swag from Reebok and headed back to the hotel to rest up (after being sure to meet about the plan).
The next day was competition day! They marked us again and then we went to an athlete briefing where they tell you the new rules they've come up with. Jane was happy to see Bozman as one of the head judges :-) This took so long we only had about 25 minutes to warmup (15 of this is spent in the corral waiting to go on). We went down and got started. Once we got into the corral, Dave Castro came and fist bumped us all and said good luck.
The best part was always that moment when you walked out into the competition floor. Your heart beats quickly, you can't help but smile and you can feel the energy of all the athletes and spectators. It was cool. Also the nervous energy was high. Most the time by the time the workouts actually happened I felt like I used up my adrenaline just standing around thinking about working out. The energy is very up and down. You feel excited, you feel happy, you feel disappointed, you feel nervous. The emotion side of it was harder than working out. This is the part where I feel those athletes that have been there before have an advantage.
After day 1 we were a bit deflated. Our plan didn't go exactly perfect and we were a tad disappointed but we had some food, regrouped, met about the plan and rallied for the next day. In the morning were were ready to kill it. We moved up to the middle heat which was exciting and we were better off than we thought. We knew the first workout was a good one for us. Fern reviewed the plan for us all and we were ready. We were now used to the coral waiting and starting with some form of cardio is always best for us so we can settle in and relax. We were able to execute our plan to a tee and we were so happy. I believe Eric came through the doors and said "that was the most fun I've ever had doing CrossFit". We didn't care where we placed(13th and 14th) we were just so happy we did what we planned. Fern came down like a proud papa(and almost is) joined in our excitement. We had almost no time to warmup as we basically had to get back into that corral to go on again for the final workout of the day. Deadlifts and burpees.
This workout went as planned except for the toe breaks. Both Eric and Scott had the 420# barbell bounce and land on their foot. This result is a broken toe for them both. They finished the workout like champs and then seeked some medical attention where they taped their toes with Roktape (basically they said don't be a pussy). We headed back to the hotel in Vangina much happier and excited than day one.We were quick to change Scott and Eric's names to Bilbo and Frodo as they hobbled around the hotel.
The last day was bittersweet. We were all tired but still having so much fun we didn't want it to end. We worried a little about the boys feet but since there was nothing we could do we pressed on. The last day flew by. The workouts didn't go exactly as planned but we had some fun and stayed positive. At this point I was trying to remember the moments. Remember the feelings. I looked at all my friends standing waiting for their turn to exercise in front of a stadium of people and was just thankful Thankful it was these people. Thankful I got to experience this. When we went out to the platform for the last time I looked up at our crew all smiling and waving and smiled and waved at them. I've played a lot of sports but I've never felt like people wanted me to do that well before. I just felt how much they cared about us. I cared about them too and about my whole team. I guess I've never been in a competition where I didn't thinking about winning that much. I was just going to do everything I could do in that moment and hope it was enough. It was always enough. Everyone loved you no matter what you did(it was always better for excitement if you could do better heehee). What a great feeling.
In conclusion thank you. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for watching us on your computers at home. Thank-you if you traveled to watch seven people workout as hard as they could. I am thankful for this community of love, support and friendship that has developed over the last few years. I was happy to have an experience like that that will never again be repeated even if we make it back to Regionals. Now I plan to get back to doing some regular exercise, hanging out and hopefully chatting to you all about your exercise endeavors. I am available for post wod beers and weekend hang outs if you invite me. Much love and appreciation to my team and to all of you
xo C
– Eric Barber
