Why do we do CrossFit??

CF LoDo athlete, Young Yang competes in the Colorado State Games-CrossFit

Last week was the Colorado State Games, an event that I have been looking forward to for some time. Personally my experience was not a positive one. In all the wrestling and Ju Jitsu tournaments, of all the 50+ endurance events, of all the MMA fights I have done, I have never had to withdraw from an event. Following the 1st workout of day two I knew that I was not going to be able to continue. Due to a pre existing heart condition I was unable to get much needed blood to my body. An hour after the sub three minute workout my heart rate was still close to 140bpm and my blood pressure was below 90/60. I had no intention of doing the second workout that day. When I came back to support one of the CF LoDo athletes who was competing, my competitive drive silenced my common sense. I did that workout and within the first 2 minutes knew it was a terrible mistake. My heart was not capable of pumping the blood that my body needed. I felt dizzy and watched spots dance around my field of vision for the next 10 minutes. It is a scary thing. I had to sit for several minutes afterwards knowing that there would be no way that I could continue. I have been faced with adversity so many times in competition. I have had my nose completely caved in only to secure a definitive win seconds later in an MMA fight. I have come off of the bike in 1st place in a half ironman just to have my legs completely seize up causing me to walk for most of the 13 mile run course to finish in 12th place. I have had two ribs broken in a wrestling tournament and continued on for three more matches. But this was different, this was my heart, this was my engine and it had no intention of working properly. As I sat there, I asked myself this, "Why do we do CrossFit? Why have you been doing this for nine years?" The only answer that came to mind was, "To be healthy. This is about being healthy!" There is nothing, NOTHING healthy about what I just did! I didn't listen to my body, In fact my body was screaming at me not to push it and I told it to shut up. Stupid arrogant pride. Stupid!
If anyone was offended by my withdraw, I appologize.  No one wants to not finish an event, least of all me.  People need to understand that what we are doing is working out in front of a crowd. 
I took the next three days off. My first set back was simple, 1 squat clean every 30 seconds for 5 minutes. Directly following the last rep everything turned white and when I came to I was on the ground. The only thought in my mind was, get up! get up now! I half crawled to a bench and sat for a few minutes. This is worse than I thought. This may require a visit to the doctor. The diagnosis was exactly what I had expected and it appears that open heart surgery is not just for old people with poor diets! C'est la vie right?!



I did take something very positive from the event. I have commented before about what it is to be a professional coach on this site. That post was met with mixed reviews. What I saw this weekend was the perfect example of what a coach should be.

Our sport is unique in the sense that it is very common for coaches to be competing along side the athletes that they coach. It is common to see coaches cheering for the people they coach right before it is their turn to do the same WOD. What I saw this weekend was above and beyond that. I saw gym owners who drove over 100 miles and spent their weekend supporting their athletes. I witnessed coaches providing not only helpful workout tips but emotional support to their new athletes. A real coach is there when you need them to be, NOT just for the 60 minutes that class is happening.

I saw coaches from CF Stapleton, CF Unbroken, Progressive Fitness CF, and Glenwood springs supporting their athletes every step of the way. I have, in recent months, competed against some of thse same coaches. What I found interesting is that I have never seen some of these guys get that pumped up for their own competitions! They were genuinely more excited for the people they were coaching than they get for their own performance. It was evident that these people have a great deal of pride in what they do. It was clear that these people are "Professional Coaches"

On a side note, I was interviewed for the Gazette shortly after that competition.  The article has since been republished in many other places, including Stars and Stripes.  Here is the link to that article.

http://www.stripes.com/sports/crossfit-athletes-appreciate-each-other-1.183853#loop


Ohhh and just to remain consistant.... There was no shirts at this event....