Take a look at the turnout for last night’s first Firebreather Face-Off. These are the folks who want to compete at CrossFit, battle in local throwdowns, or make the cut for next year’s CrossFit Watertown Affiliate Team that enters the CrossFit Games New England Sectionals.
This is a big moment for us, for all of us. Honestly, we weren’t here a year ago. If we had asked for firebreathers last year, there might have been 3 or 4 people who showed up and two of them might have just gotten the class time wrong. (Raising my hand here.)
But there’s something different going on at CFW lately. Maybe you’ve tasted it, smelled it in the air, sensed the shifting winds. CrossFit is no longer just the goal. Mastery of CrossFit is now the blood in the water. Sharks are circling. Performance is up. Times are down. Everybody’s stepped up their game.
This is what happens when growth is the expectation in life, when outstanding performance is the goal. The experts call this a “growth mind-set” and it can, quite literally, change your world. When you set goals and expect to achieve, anything becomes possible. When you don’t meet those goals, you bounce back. You try again. You try harder. You grab a piece of victory — however small — and you keep on charging.
And, one day, you wake up and find yourself – a teacher, an engineer, a landscape architect — sitting in the middle of a room full of athletes and chomping at the bit to take life’s next opportunity in your hands. You belong here. You’ve earned your shot. Now it’s time to prove what you can do. Win your spot on the team. 3-2-1-Go.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:16 am
BAM!!! Awesome WOD last night at 7:00pm. Great job to everyone last night.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:18 am
The WOD for the 7pm was tough but the support and camaraderie was unreal!
August 6th, 2010 at 11:25 am
I wish I could have done that 7 pm WOD with everyone…..how did everyone do? Were times recorded? I’d love to try that WOD sometime soon, it looked “fun” in that sick CrossFit way. The atmosphere was great just being there for the warm-up. By the way, the “regular” WOD yesterday was also brutal. I did accomplish ONE pistol and congrats to Derek, who did Pistols for the entire WOD. Impressive. I’m also jealous that Dan was able to pound out pistols in his warm-up leading to the Firebreather WOD. Those Gallaghers and their textbook squats!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 11:28 am
That was probably one of the best WOD’s I can remember. It kind of reminded me of the Lumberjack WOD. Also, I was looking closely at the amount of sweat in the second picture and realized that it was taken after the warm-up which in it itself would make a good workout.
PS – sorry about the B.O., I was digging up the backyard right before we left for the gym. It was quite ripe in the car on the way home.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Last night was awesome! Great turn out & group. Rich still needs to dial in his cf acronyms a bit more, but at quick glance mid wod kbs can easily looks like k2e.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:44 am
@Kirk, I think most of the times were between 30 and 40 minutes. I finished in 34:36 (I think) and I can’t say for sure but Matt was well under 30 minutes (He was getting in the ice bath when I was coming back from my last run). I forgot to mention too, I think the best part was the confusion of not seeing the workout or the warmup until the word Go. It was cool watching a dozen people try to figure out what the hell we were supposed to be doing, then adding burpees at the end (I swear those weren’t there when we start) – Top Notch Jen. Oh, and Becky really hated turning off the music.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:49 am
F’in AMAZING!!! That was no doubt one of the best WOD’s I’ve ever participated in. The warm-up was as brutal as many of our daily met-cons. I’m SOO stoked and ready to have the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing athletes I know and to compete with you guys.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Lots of sweat and no contacts.
Dan, you ARE the Pam!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 11:53 am
PAN Dan, PAN
August 6th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
The Warmup was: (two rounds or ten minutes of) run 400 6 renigade rows 6 DB cleans 10 wall squats 5 handstand pushups 10 press ups 30 double unders
The WOD was: 20 box jumps, run 400, 20 KBS, run 400, 20 DB squats, run 400, 20 CTB pullups, run 400, 20 Wallball, run 400, 20 SumoDeadlift High Pulls, 20 Burpees —- and remember each of those runs includes the up and down the stairs!
The music went off around the wallballs and I began to tank – total mental trip – I think if it weren’t for Vivi telling me to keep going that we were almost done – I would have curled up and cried in the fetal position!
August 6th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I did the “easy” 6pm class
– which was interesting in its own special way. My legs and arms/shoulders are feeling more wasted than they have in a long time. Pistols… so close… Plus HSPU’s with my little band assist setup (well, not my setup) worked surprisingly well. Ya know, full ROM and whatnot.
However, I did stay for a good 30 minutes of the 7pm fire breathers wod. Looked INTENSE! And damn fun! Jen was all business and gave some, for lack of a better description, “scared straight” speeches, then she concocted some hella wods, and she tripped only once walking around the gym.
Adding the 20 burpees to the list mid-wod was pretty funny too (from a non-participant point of view of course).
A 7pm class like that is tough for me and my schedule, but I plan to get in there next Thursday! The power of CrossFit compels me! Not necessarily interested in competing (but one never knows), but I am certainly interested in honing my craft, getting stronger, getting faster, and pushing myself.
Great work all!
Carry on.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I’m having a tough time moving today. But I agree with Barry and Rich, GREAT WOD…one of the best I’ve ever done.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I missed a good one! (I was at Barnes and Noble with my young Harry Potters and then a dinner repast. Family time, gotta do it.)
Nate, your write-up was awesome! “Jen was all business and gave some, for lack of a better description, “scared straight” speeches, then she concocted some hella wods, and she tripped only once walking around the gym.”
LOL. Scared straight. I’m still laughing. The implications are quite amusing. And the tripping comment. Nice.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
That was a lot of fun and I am really excited about this trip. We completed our team today! Jordan, Jillian, Rich, Bobby and I are on a team! We are all really excited. We are not sure how the format will be but we plan on switching out the guys as needed or I am going to sit there and drink while they all work.
The trip to Albany is going to be a lot of fun. What hotel is everone staying at? God that place is going to look like a train wreck when we get done with it.
I knew it was going to be hard when Jen told us to drink water after the warmup. I looked over at someone and we both knew she never says that.
I wont be around next Thursday because I am already registered for the Hartford 5k.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
(unrelated to thread, sorry) Lis – nice letter in the TT – appreciate your support.
Rich
August 6th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Thanks, Rich! (aka Gravy) I love Watertown and I’m just trying to do what I can to help. Here’s hoping other parents and townspeople see things the way I do.
August 6th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Last nites WOD was Intense but awesome chaos I must say…physically and mentally…Amazing…
@Beery…I had 3 disgusting levels of nasty ripness in my vehicle so I feel your pain…
I’m totally pumped for this competition & psyched for next thurs’s WOD!!