“The Road Not Taken”
9-23-2009
1) 5 rounds for time:
10 Wallballs 20/12
10 pushups
Rest 5 min after all rounds done.
2) 5 rounds for time:
10 KB swings 53/36
10 situps
Rest 5 min after all rounds done.
3) 5 rounds for time:
10 Walking lunges
20 Jumping pullups
Score is total time for all 3 WODs.
Some of you (definitely you Travis) might be familiar with this Robert Frost poem about taking the path less traveled in life and how that decision can change you in a dramatic fashion. When I quit my day job and became a partner here at CrossFit Portland, that was a very tough and scary decision for me. However, what I’ve learned and the people I have met in the last two years has changed my life in a completely significant way.
For some, especially women, joining CrossFit can be a tough and scary choice. You see the videos, you look at the workouts, and you’re thinking I’m going to make a fool of myself at this gym! That negative pessimistic internal voice gets louder in your head about how you can’t do this or do that. Soon, you’ll use any reason to validate that negative voice in yourself like its too expensive, too far, or “its only for people already in shape”.
There are many of you at CrossFit Portland who overcame that voice, that self-doubt, and gave it a try. You came and met with Rochelle, Scott, or I for your introduction, you learned more about CrossFit, and you did your first workout, “Baseline”. Now you had another decision to make about joining On Ramp/personal training to prepare for classes or you could just walk away. As Mr. Frost put it, “two roads diverged in a wood, and I — ”
I wanted to pay a small tribute to the women of CrossFit Portland who have chosen the road not often taken. It is our goal to make it all the difference for you!
A tribute to women of CrossFit Portland from CrossFit Portland on Vimeo.
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11 Responses to ““The Road Not Taken””
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XX awesome!That brought tears to my eyes.. I love all of the diligence and determination that everyone obviously puts forth. I cannot even begin to describe the energy that it creates or why, but it works and it is so motivational! Thanks to the very strong, hardworking CFP women for your drive and inspiration to all of us gals!
is my time from this morning still on the board? if so please let me know, i forgot to write it down in my journal, thanks.
I may not be a woman, but this post certainly spoke volumes to me. My goal was, and has been to apply for Army officer candidate school. When I decided that this goal was my destiny in late July after graduating from PSU in June, I knew that I had one hell of a mountain to traverse. The summit felt beyond the horizon; was this goal even possible? weighing in at the most I have ever weighed (302 lbs) on July 26th, and being in the worst shape of my life, the first goals that seeped into my conscience were about as easy of goals as I could formulate. “I can hop on the eliptical for 30 minutes every other day, throw in some pushups and situps, stop smoking (a smaller battle in my personal war), and cut the junk out of my diet and stop drinking.”
For about a week, I did this. I started to feel more confident, lost 2 lbs, but knew that at that rate it would take me a year (at least) to make my weight goal, and pass my initial army PT test (officer candidates must pass the test before you can apply for OCS, unlike just enlisting, where you dont). I was frustrated, and had nobody but myself to blame for my current situation. I chose to eat uncontrollably, I chose to smoke, I chose to drink, I chose to neglect my previous strength, power, and speed (I was a 2nd team all-state defensive end in high school, and a starting defensive end in college) that I worked so hard to attain earlier in life. I had chosen the ‘other’ road.
Now my destiny presented me another fork in the road; an enormous challenge. On the road to my left was complacentcy, laziness and fear of failure. On the right was determination, endurance, strength and a will to succeed at all costs.
This was about the point that a special forces officer that moderates the forums of armyOCS.com told me about crossfit. I did some research, saw some of the workouts…that intimidated the hell out of me – but knew that it was something I could accomplish. I figure that destiny was pointing me in this direction; fleeing from this challenge would be a mistake I would be sure to always regret. Now was the time to push myself to my limits, not on day one of OCS, where I would be setup for failure or injury or both.
So I found the courage to call PDX crossfit, knowing i was tremendously out of shape and obese, knowing that I would get some odd looks on day one from individuals who I envied physically. But I also knew that I would NOT quit. Ever. Period. I did my ‘baseline’ test with rochelle, which took me about 30 min to overcome my faintness and fatigue. But I came back eagerly to Rochelle, and she showed me the way during our one on one’s
almost 2 months later, and I am down 7 inches around my stomach, down to 269 lbs, have legs that feel like they have been cast from iron, definition in places I havent seen in years and a determination that I thought I had lost for good. I am eating 85% paleo and seeing food for what it truly is – fuel. have drank maybe 5 pints of beer in 2 months (comming from someone who still brews every 2 weeks, I think that is rather impressive all on its own) and havent lit up a cigerette since july 23rd. My wife is ecstatic, and I dont have to worry about hearing from my daughter the question she would have eventually asked, “daddy, why are you fat?” (she is only 22 months old now, but childish bluntness would have certainly reared its honest head).
In conclusion – if you have actually read through all of this – if you are hesitant about crossfit; dont be. If you are scared; dont be. Everyone has determination to be successful, but some need to reharness that determination they may have had earlier in life. take the first step down the RIGHT path, all of your other goals will get the hint.
PS. XX, I apologize for hijacking your post, but for some reason I needed to let all of this out.
Hey Eric A. , your courage is amazing and an inspiration to us all. I can’t wait to see you progress on this journey and we’ll be with you every step of the way. Thanks for sharing your story with us at CF PDX!
XX (if that is your real name),
I represent the estate of Robert Frost. I have a court order demanding an immediate halt of this unauthorized and poorly executed imitation.
You should continue to work on your abs, and leave the poetry to the professions.
Harold Skimpole
Awesome video Xi Xia!
will you also send Eric’s time to me so I can get it down in my journal. thanks.
th
Eric,
Thanks for sharing your story – keep up the good work! Slow and steady wins the race, and you are at a good pace. Maybe even picking up speed!
Xia Xi,
Who knew you were such a sentimentalist?
That was a great video -thank you.
I also want to say that CrossFit has been wonderful for me. My heart beats more quickly when I think of sharing this, but it has been great therapy for me of late. My dad was killed over the summer in a cycling accident, and I am still grieving over the loss. I have good days and really emotional days, and I never know which one is coming my way.
CrossFit has been wonderful because I don’t have to think about what I’m going to do, yet provides awesome stress relief while simultaneously challenging me to get stronger and work harder. Additionally, there is some kind of correlation between my physical, emotional, and mental strength. Somehow I just feel like I can cope or handle more when I am pushing my body to the limits. It also helps to have a group of people cheering you on in endeavors you never thought possible!
So, thanks everyone for accepting me -and all the new “CrossFitters” – into the family. It means a lot.
elisa
Wow, Eric, that is such a great and inspiring testimonial!!
Thank you for sharing. I love to hear success stories.
Elisa, thank you for sharing your story as well!
I’m so glad you all have become a part of the Crossfit Portland community!
I. Love. This. Video. Thank you Xi Xia!
Elisa – your physical, emotional, and mental strength is definitely inspiring.
Eric – So glad you took the opportunity to share!
PS-XX, I did it
Ta Dang! See, that wasn’t as hard as the kipping pull up? Looking forward to more of your comments in the future! What goes on in the mind of Jessica A. ???