IIIIIIII’mmmmmm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

July 2nd, 2009, by Zach

Well, well, well! Look who got blogging rights again! You guessed it, that guy with the dirty keyboard. It's been a while since I have last posted and I think it had to do with all the f-bombs I was dropping. Jennie got back and her hair nearly fell out when she read even just a few sentences. I was Court Marshaled by the CrossFit Blogger Committee (Oh yeah, they're out there. And they're watching...). So, needless to say, my blogging license was revoked and I was put on probation. Fear not and stay strong. I will serve my time and I am back once a week (for now). I might be able to work out early parole for good behavior. That's the skinny anyway; let's get down to the fat!!

Lot's has happened in our community since. A well known CrossFit Firebreather, a.k.a. the King of Pop passed away (tear). If you didn't know that then you certainly must have noticed the onslaught of Mikey-hits rockin' the Fort lately, right? No? Well start paying attention! At least you knew he was a CrossFit Firebreather. I mean, everyone knows that. If you didn't you'd just be a...uh...oh God...an idiot. (Whew, that was close. I felt a STRONG urge to drop an f-bomb there. Stay. Strong.) The King O' Pop is dead and you need to start illegally downloading his hits pronto! Let's see, what else happened? Oh, well Bill and Jennie got back from their honeymoon... blah blah blah. That's all boring stuff. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about camaraderie, Baby.

More specifically (dun-dun-dun), let's talk about those last few minutes of a WOD. Those last minutes when only a few CrossFORTers are finishing their kill. They've landed the antelope (Nicki?) and they just have to slice it down the belly to start draining the entrails. We'll assume that point in the WOD as "fourth quarter". They're owning this WOD (antelope) and it's time to finish. So there they are: grinding through a grueling metcon while the rest of you early finishers are wading in your pool of sweat and, possibly, victory (victory if we are talking about the 1:10 ratio between Tom and Garth...). You "early-finishers" are already flipping your antelope filets (low and slow, right Bill?)! Meanwhile some of your fellow CrossFitters, who you STARTED the METCON with, are still busting their asses. Great job by the way guys/gals, way to crush that WOD! That's not the point though. The point is you started together, you finish together.

We don't have to be THIS camaraderie-listic!

Is everyone following the antelope analogy? No? Okay, I'll keep going...

I've seen it before and I saw it again this morning. The ultimate display of affection from one CrossFitter to another.

SCENARIO: CrossFitter-A has finished the WOD. CrossFitter-B is struggling to stop that clock; CFer-A sees it. CFer-A is remembering the pain and how he/she gasped for air with exhausted lungs. So what does CFer-A do? He/she get's shoulder to shoulder with CFer-B; grinds it out with CFer-B to the bitter-sweet end.

Camaraderie; feeling each other’s pain and being there to help one another get through their struggles. Encouragement, plain and simple and I LOVE it.

There is an irreplaceable feeling of community and camaraderie at the Fort. No questions asked; hands down; without a doubt! (Feel free to insert your own cliché here). Can you remember a time when sideline cheering helped you gut it out? When someone's words helped you reach down and finish even just seconds earlier? Perhaps you wish everyone would ignore you as you discretely finish your WOD? Probably not going to happen at CrossFit Fire but tell your thoughts anyway.

Comment about your favorite WOD and the sideline cheering that went with it!

Category: CrossFit

6 Responses to "IIIIIIII’mmmmmm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"

Garth
July 2, 2009, 7:55 am

I like to think of myself as the antelope being chased down by lions. It helps me get thru the WOD faster!

Agreed on the camaraderie. We need to make it a rule that the music is cranked and everyone is focused until the last man (woman) is finished. It's easy to forget after completing the WOD and the feeling of relief and accomplishment that follows but if we make it a rule, there will be no excuses!

Beth
July 2, 2009, 10:06 am

Oh my, THIS comes in with good timing. Although it's early-ish, and I'm rambly, so please bear with me.

I've got to say - the camaraderie, the Teamwork! is such a huge part of what makes the Fort *Fun*. And as Dave said, "This is the saddest part of my day, Garth. The end of our workout, and knowing that we can't come back here for another 23 hours". It really is a bit of a low point, having to leave such a great part of the day behind.

As for myself, when I'm dragging myself through the last few rounds - or last few minutes - well, it's a bit odd. It brings to mind last night. My head might be pounding, the music sounds as though it's coming from down the block... and while sometimes (well, a lot, to be honest) I can't even tell who is saying what - I still hear that extra bit of cheering, yelling, encouragement. The occasional commentary mixed in with "COME ON!!" Knowing someone else is watching the clock for me, knowing they've already been through this and survived, knowing that means I can too.

I'm inordinately proud of each tiny success I've made, every extra rep in the WOD, starting to get double unders, managing burpees. I can't explain that feeling to anyone who hasn't tried this in some form or fashion. I'm sure others have run into a similar issue. Most people just don't "get" the rush that comes from both personal achievement, however difficult, painful or small - combined with the teamwork and cooperation. Everyone at the Fort gives it everything they've got, no matter how much that might be. There's no looking down on anyone else, if one doesn't move quite as quickly as another, or their lifts aren't quite as heavy as they'd like - it's still an all-out effort, and EVERYONE finds that wall and knows what it feels like. It's simply not possible to watch that kind of effort and not feel happy for them, and proud of the work and the place and the people that make it happen, every single day.

Myself, even just the other week - I was finishing rowing up in the loft. I'd already had to scale back a bit and all I wanted was to rest, with only a few more pulls to go. The encouragement and support in the last few moments of any WOD make such a HUGE difference! I didn't even have enough focus left over to see who helped unstrap my feet before I hit the floor, but you'd gone back downstairs before I got my head back up again. I'd wanted to say thank you. And really, that's got to go along with a HUGE "Thank You!!" to each and every person who comes to the Fort, who puts in the time and the effort to be healthier, stronger, faster, better. Everyone here is a huge inspiration, and it's motivating just to be present.

I don't enjoy leaving after a workout, but obligations aside (like picking up the kids... ) I know I need to get home, to work on feeding myself right, resting well, taking care of myself and my family. I need to make sure I'm ready and able to put in another 100% effort tomorrow, y'know. ;D

Matt L
July 2, 2009, 4:49 pm

I second beth's post.....you will not find this much teamwork in any of your other daily activities.....and kudos to you Beth for all the progress you have made in such little time!!! you can be my wingman (team partner) any time....

...and here's to you, brian, for sneaking in one final Top Gun quote before the holiday weekend......Great Balls of CrossFit Fire!!!! ah-haaa

Matt L
July 2, 2009, 4:50 pm

oh, and one more thing.....Zach......

Classic Post!!! Looks like your grammer check in working better...

zach
July 2, 2009, 10:51 pm

Thanks, Elevator! Looks like YOUR grammar check inn't working better...

Bill
July 3, 2009, 4:44 pm

"...grammer..." Love it!