Let the games begin...

I tried something completely out of my comfort zone last weekend. I was scared. Scared of failing. Scared of looking like a fool. Scared of losing. But what I learned? We grow from stepping outside of our comfort zone. We get stronger for doing things that are hard. And guess what? I survived. And thrived. And loved every minute of it.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I started CrossFit just a few months ago. It started as a way to cross train for my running races. As the summer progressed my running turned into a cross train for my Cross Fit classes. Funny how the tables have turned. Anyway, we have several coaches from different CF gyms that come to us at work to train us. A few of them approached us 6 weeks back and urged us to enter a local amateur team competition (read: Junior Varsity level IMO). There were two guys and two of us girls that reluctantly agreed. Scared out of our minds but excited about the opportunity.

Three of us changed our diets (Paleo) to enhance our performance. But all four of us started working out 5 days a week in preparation. We ramped up our weights and intensity and then tapered, similar to marathon training. All of us entered taper madness last week where doubts crept into our minds and the nerves set in. Luckily I work with some amazing people that helped lift my spirits (I'd say about 90% of my division also CFs so they knew what we were in for). Some words of encouragement...

Our teammate is the FL's graphic designer so he created a logo and had tees and tanks printed for us and our friends at work who were coming to spectate.

My best girls (team Perfect Strangers) sent me flowers on Friday that had me in tears...

These girls know exactly when I need them most. They build me up. They are there when I fall. They are my net. They are what true friends are made of.

And this girl? Oh my. Friday night I'm heading to bed and I see this on IG...my best friend sporting my team shirt. And she works out at a different gym than I do...a gym that placed #2 at the competition. Yet she wore my team's shirt. Now that is a best friend.

We had to be downtown at 7am for check-in and a briefing on the day's events. It was called the CrossFit Naptown Bracket Buster and there was a winner's and a loser's bracket. Double elimination style. If you won the loser's bracket you would have had 10 workouts; if you won the winner's bracket you would have had 6 workouts. Our very first workout was for seeding. There were 16 teams. We just didn't want to be seeded last. That was our only goal.

Team CF Finish Line: Kristi, Clint, Marcus and me before our first WOD

WOD (workout of the day) #1: 11 minutes AMRAP (as many reps as possible) of 60 jump-over burpees over partner holding 6" leg lift, then 60 alternating box jumps while partner is holding #25 plate above head.

Results? We killed it. We were seeded 9th out of 16 teams and we were thrilled.

The second WOD was 4 x 800 sprints. Each team member had to run a 1/2 mile then hand off to next partner. We crushed this one; thankfully we've been doing speed workouts all summer. Win #1. We weren't expecting to win any. Score! Our spirits were lifted and we were thrilled with our performance. Our team time for the 2 total miles was 11:50. That's a sub 6:00 mile. Insert tooting horn.

Just as our spirits were lifted we saw our competition for WOD#3 was the #1 seed. Well here we go. Instead of being deflated, we came up with the game plan/mindset that if we knew we were going against the best team there that we shouldn't kill ourselves on this WOD. Rather, take it slow and focus on form. Don't stress about winning or losing because we knew we didn't have a chance. Just treat this as a regular workout. WOD#3 was 2 rounds for time of 20 partner deadlifts of #205 for girls and #295 for guys then 30 hand release push ups. Kristi and I have been practicing our deadlift form and were proud of ourselves for doing the first 20 unbroken. The 2nd 20 weren't so hot but it's baby steps, right?

The guys crushed it. They truly have come a long way since February and I'm so proud of them. Plus, they carried our team in the next WOD so I'm going to praise them for a long time coming!

We had to remove weight from the guys load...

So focused

Kristi is 2 inches taller than I am so instead of shrugging at the top I put on my running shoes for an extra lift. Look at all my weight in my heels...so proud!

So we lost WOD#3 and knew we would. On to WOD#4: 100 #14 wall balls, 100 backwards jump ropes (random?!), 100 kettle bell squats and 100 calorie row. We know the guys are amazing at wall balls and rowing, so our strategy was for Kristi and I to do minimal work at those two. I did a lot of backwards jumping (who knew I had this skill?) and a lot of the squats. But truly, the guys carried us through this one. Even with all of their hard work we still lost. But just by 3 calories (and the team we were against only beat us at the rowing...they had a former Olympic rower on their team...totally fair match-up).

We were bummed we lost but and that we were done competing for the day...that is until we saw WOD#5. Let's just say it  was intense and Kristi and I would not have fared well (read: we saved ourselves some embarrassment). Our team stayed the remainder of the day to watch the entire competition and it was FUN! We saw all of our coaches and many friends throughout the day...I'd say about 15 of our co-workers cheered us on, most of our families and many of our friends.

Meghan and Jaime represented the Perfect Strangers (worlds are colliding and I love it!)

Coach Jared with us after we were done

Mikey brought the girls...and let's just say Izzy loved it! Especially the jump rope portion. There is a program that Cross Fit has for kids and I'd love to see the Littles attempt to learn a burpee. Would be so stinkin' cute!

Hugs from Izzy & Laney after we finished. Meant so much to me to have them there. Izzy told Kristi she much prefers watching mommy at CF versus a marathon. Sister, you're preachin' to the choir!

We left with a long list of skills we need to work on and a renewed excitement for CrossFit. Already the team has written down goals for the next 3 months! We had our first workout back at it today and we're all very sore. But not too sore to keep on keepin' on. Love this about CF vs. marathons; post-marathon I'm burned out ... but post CF competition I am chomping at the bit to get back into the gym and get better, faster, stronger!

IU Sleepover with Natty

Let me preface this posting by saying we have the Best. Nanny. Ever. It's a true story. And here's why...

Yesterday Mike and I met nanny Natalie halfway between Westfield and Bloomington to hand off the girls for a much anticipated sleepover at IU. We had been planning this for a long time and I'm telling you it's an understatement to say the girls were excited.

Natalie sent me all the pictures from their adventures...and I just know one day when the girls decide to go to IU, we'll look back at these pictures and remind them of their first visit. And that we'll have Natalie to thank for our Hoosier daughters

First thing's first...opening birthday presents!

 Natalie had a packed day planned for the girls to see all the famous IU spots. The Sample Gates were a must...

 And of course Wells House

 Visiting mommy's Delta Zeta brick

 Mr. Wells statue

 Dipping their toes in Showalter Fountain

Natalie made these tees for the girls last year...the front reads "GO IU" and the back reads "PU Purdue." Love.

 Light display at the art museum

 After dinner with Natty and her boyfriend Jake (who the girls couldn't stop talking about) they saw a free showing at the Union of Brave. Perfect.

 This morning the girls had breakfast with Natalie's parents Granny Panties (Miss Kay) and Mr. Dave. The girls have missed them!

 Snuggling with GP

 Izzy showing off her 4 silver teeth. This brave little girl went under anesthesia this past week to get 8 cavities filled and/or silver crowned. I'm not devoting a post to this experience as I'm simply glad Izzy did so well and that it's behind us. Phew. (And Izzy has pointed out that the pirate on Peter Pan also has silver teeth. Awesome.)

While the kids were away Mikey and I had a date night with friends at a new restaurant in town. And the best part? We slept in until 7:30...that hasn't happened in ages and felt so good.

We drove down to Bloomington early to have lunch at my favorite IU stomping ground, Nick's! No Sink the Biz was played...sad story. But ate my fave stromboli and relived some memories. Counted the years since I went down to IU as a freshman...17 years ago. Sick.

 Of course we had to take a few pics in front of the Sample Gates

Soon we met Natalie and the girls at her apartment (which is directly across the street from the football stadium). Izzy and Laney were so excited to tell us all of their adventures; what they did, who they saw, and how Izzy wants to go to IU for college. I'm going to go ahead and say Natalie's mission was accomplished!

We are so fortunate to have Natalie in our lives and are still in awe that a college student (a Senior, no less) wanted two toddlers on a Saturday night. Thank you, Natalie, for all you do for the girls. They adore you. We love you. And this weekend will be one none of us will ever forget!

Walk this way...

The weather has definitely taken a turn to Fall (70's instead of 80's) which means we are spending a lot of time in the evenings taking walks around the neighborhood. Exploring. Playing at the park. Walking Katie. Hot air balloon watching. You know, the usual.

 We often times see hot air balloons in a distance but these were just so close and fun to chase!

 And Buggy...ugh, she is just so much fun and I can't get enough of this smile

 She's getting stronger and stronger peddling the trike

 The girls take turns walking Katie...all of a sudden they have an interest in her. Not sure what sparked it...maybe because we used to live on such a busy street that we wouldn't let the girls walk the dog.

 Swingin' at the park

 Punky Brewster's Izzy's turn

 We learned that Buggy is quite the climber. She has mastered all of the ladders, climbers, and poles to get atop the playground.

Saturday morning the girls did a little jumpin' on the bed before we packed up and sent them on a sleepover at IU with their nanny Natalie. More to come on that adventure!

 A few years ago Izzy went to preschool where a teacher made silhouettes of all the kids at the end of the year as a gift. It's been a cherished possession ever since. The girls don't go to this pre-school anymore so I only had the one silhouette of Iz. Well a friend of mine just started as a teacher's aide for this pre-school teacher and she offered to get a coordinating piece made of Laney. I'm over the moon that I have a set of my girls at the same age (3) in silhouette art. Plus, I now know how to create these little gems so watch out! Can you tell which one is Iz and which one is Lane?

 The girls' birthday shirts arrived a few weeks ago and I can't wait to show the girls. This is the year of Disney, after all!

 Our couch finally arrived last week and here's a shot of it in the living room. It's really warmed the space up and we love it.

Stay tuned for a recap of the girls' IU sleepover!