Throwdown recap

my comeback event ...
I'm either frowning, or pooping

It's been a week since I last posted. The lead up to, execution of, and coming down from the Tri-State Throwdown on Saturday was intense,exhausting and exhilarating all at once. 
In the days leading up to the throwdown, I was trying to brush off the negative nerves. I knew that even just showing up and trying was an accomplishment for me and something so out of my comfort zone I never would have dared try before. I even worked in a little self-sabotage, letting my diet slip the day before. I'm such an emotional eater and the stress was getting to me. 
The morning of the competition, my stomach was in knots. I wasn't nervous per se, just anxious to get started, to get there, and get the first WOD under my belt. At least I wouldn't have long to wait. Lucky me, I was in the first heat of competitors.


WOD I: 8 minute ARMAP of 9 box jumps, 6 hand release pushups and 3 65lb front squats
- This was a terrible way to start my day. I thought my problem was going to be the pushups. WRONG. It was the stupid box jumps, or in my case, step-ups. Mine are slow and I have a lot of weight to move on and off that box. I finished with 5 rounds plus 12 movements. Definitely far worse than anyone else I talked to about their results. I was hearing numbers bigger than nine, and I had struggled through five. This was certainly a bad way to start the day.
WOD II: Scaled Grace, 30 clean and jerks (65lb) for time
- As soon as this was announced, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I knew that for this one my endurance would run out before my muscles. A 65lb clean and jerk is pretty easy for me so it was just about getting through the quantity as fast as I could. I ended up finishing somewhere around 2:30. I can't remember the exact time, but I know my hand was shaking so badly I could barely sign my score sheet. I felt good about this one though and glad to have at least one event for the day that I could feel good about. 
WOD III: 6 minutes to establish 1RM continental C&J, 4 min rest, 6 min max meter row
- Seriously?! Another event I can do! We'd done a 1RM continental C&J about two weeks previous to this in a Strongman class so I knew about where to aim for. The six minutes was more about moving around the weights and struggling with the darn clips than being worried about finishing. I put up 75, then 105 and then matched my previous PR of 125. My judge was yelling at me to put on more and I attempted 135. Twice. And wet my pants both time. I just really need to work on getting under the bar. I need split jerk practice. I've never really learned it properly. One more try (and fail) at 130, but I was happy with 125. I knew it was the highest weight in my heat and that felt good. After four minutes of rest came the row. I really underestimated how toasted I was at this point but I didn't know if I wanted to die, or cry or just curl up in the fetal position next to my rower. Thank you to my very supportive and encouraging judge who didn't let me quit and kept cheering for me the entire time. The good news was my 1,355 seemed to be pretty close to the other numbers I heard thrown around. 
WOD IV: 3 rounds - 7x135lb deadlift, 14x air squats, 21 single unders for time.
- Oh thank goodness. I've managed to last the entire day without embarrassing myself with a single burpee. That's actually what was running through my head when they announced this workout. The deadlift was light, my airsquats were slow, and my rope jumping needs practice, but I finished. I have no idea what my time was. I was just so glad to be done and still in one piece and not hurt. 


Some final thoughts:

• I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I'm glad I competed. 
• I did way better than I expected and placed 34 out of 49 in my division. 
• I finished all of the WODs and kept moving even when I wanted to cry and/or die.
• I stepped out of my infamous comfort zone and did something I normally wouldn't.
• I showed myself how far I've come only six weeks into the 90 day challenge. I would not have been able to finish most of those WODs on January 1.
• I got to connect so many faces to names from the ACF/CCP groups and I socialized with so many athletes and tried really hard not to be a shy recluse.
• I am not a pretty Crossfitter. I make so many bizarre faces. Photos are candid and my figure is not perfect by any means. But they are proof that I was there, that I did it and that I was working hard.
• The ACF/CCP staff is incredible. Planning this event, programming the WODs, coordinating volunteers (who are in themselves incredible) and herding athletes ... everything went as smoothly as I could have ever imagined.
• There are amazing athletes around me every day I work out. I was in awe of my fellow competitors, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, giving it their all.
• Not once did I feel someone staring at me, or overhear anyone saying "what does she think she's doing competing in this." All I heard was encouragement, and all I saw was high fives and smiles. Since this was one of my biggest hangups about competing, I was relieved. 
• I will compete again.