crossfit
Crossfit Regionals, Granite Games and Overcoming My Own Perceptions of My Abilities
3:00 PM
When we went to the Mid Atlantic Crossfit Regionals a few
months ago there was one girl that I really enjoyed watching. While I really
love watching all of the athletes workout because they are absolutely amazing
and inspiring there was one woman in particular that just really spoke to my
soul. As expected, the athletes at regionals are chiseled and cut and they look
the athlete part. They are not the normal mere mortals that do crossfit to live
a healthier lifestyle. No, no, they are the individuals whose lives are
dedicated to trying to become fittest on Earth.
And, this girl who just resonated with me, she was
absolutely amazing and she wasn’t chiseled or cut. Not to say she wasn’t fit; girl
could do legless rope climbs, strict muscle ups and placed top 3rd
on one of the more strenuous workouts of the weekend. And for someone like me,
who isn’t a tiny little princess; who hasn’t figured out the “enjoy food and
workout” balance yet, seeing a more “normal” body kill it was awesome. (Normal,
of course, being a fully relative term)
What I really loved about this girl is that, no doubt, people
would look at this regional athlete and without knowing better would make
judgment calls about her or what they think she would be able to do, or her
skills. And, I feel like because she was a tad bit thicker than your typical
regionals athlete, she really showed me that what you look like, or what you
might be carrying around with you does not dictate your skills or abilities.
Because, if I’m being honest, I think it’s easy to look at
people and pigeonhole them into what they should be able to do depending on how
they look. And, when that happens I feel like it’s a great disservice to that
person. And, so I’m watching this girl, who isn’t shaped like a typical
regional athlete and realizing that although she is FAR and AWAY more fit than
me, there is no reason why I can’t endeavor and succeed with whatever I want to
do, regardless of how I look or am shaped. And there is certainly no reason to
put off trying and working on skills.
So, the past 5 weeks we’ve been doing the Granite Games and
I signed up for the scaled division, because I am 100% a scaled athlete (and
okay with that). And, I feel like my results really highlight the fact that you
cannot look at a person and decide what they are able to do. You cannot write
off someone’s potential. Because, what will happen is this normally shaped
girl, who still struggles with gymnastic moves but refuses to give up on
conquering them, will come in second for the scaled division at her box out of
a great deal of very talented, and competitive athletes. This girl will stay
top 3 on all the workouts except the last, because of those danged gymnastic
moves, and even have a 1st place finish in the workouts for her box.
And while I may not know if I changed anyone's perceptions of my abilities, I certainly know I changed my own.
I may have a long way to go with some skills but I can’t be
pigeonholed into expectations, not even by myself.
