Watching the CrossFit Games was pretty much phenomenal. One of my favorite parts was the final team event. In a surprising twist the slate was wiped clean for a "winner take all" type of contest. The winning team was CrossFit New England.
I don't know anyone from this gym, nor have I ever been to Massachusetts. But I was quite impressed by this group of people. There were red CFNE shirts everywhere! Lots of fans had flown out to support the team. Their cheers (and CF-NE chants) could be heard throughout the stadium. Not to mention the fact that this video is totally inspiring.
It was obvious that everyone from CFNE was a part of the team. It didn't matter whether they were in the stands or on the stadium floor doing the wods, they all seemed to have a real unity about them. While I know that that unity extends beyond the boundaries of separate crossfit gyms, it was incredible to see a team come together like that. Congrats team CFNE!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Community
If you're my Facebook friend you know I was at the CrossFit Games all day today. It was incredible. The athletes are superhuman - they can carry ridiculously heavy sandbags and walk on their hands and climb ropes. They are chiseled human specimens, I've never seen so many abs in my life! But this isn't why I love CrossFit, or why I had such a great day at the games.
A CrossFit competition is unlike anything I've ever experienced. At a CrossFit competition, athletes cheer on other athletes - their competition - coaching them through heavy lifts, encouraging them to pick up the bar. At a CrossFit competition everyone in the stands shouts encouragements to athletes who are struggling. Only at a CrossFit competition will you find that the LAST athlete to finish the event has everyone up on their feet cheering them on - much louder than anyone cheered for the first place finisher.
Being a CrossFit athlete brings us all together. Everyone at the Home Depot Center understood what it feels like to fail at a lift, and what it feels like to accomplish what seemed impossible. The crowd wanted so badly for those athletes who were struggling to finish the WOD, to complete the lift, to climb the rope. As CrossFitters we all cheer each other on, push each other, challenge each other, and it makes us all better. CrossFit truly is a community, and I'm proud to be a member.
I'm also EXTREMELY proud to say that I have met my blogger idol! Liz from CaveGirlEats was at the games, and was kind enough to pose for a picture with me!
It was a great day, I can't wait for tomorrow - I'm going to be staring at every 135# asian man on the lookout for Fitbomb. That's not creepy, right?
A CrossFit competition is unlike anything I've ever experienced. At a CrossFit competition, athletes cheer on other athletes - their competition - coaching them through heavy lifts, encouraging them to pick up the bar. At a CrossFit competition everyone in the stands shouts encouragements to athletes who are struggling. Only at a CrossFit competition will you find that the LAST athlete to finish the event has everyone up on their feet cheering them on - much louder than anyone cheered for the first place finisher.
Being a CrossFit athlete brings us all together. Everyone at the Home Depot Center understood what it feels like to fail at a lift, and what it feels like to accomplish what seemed impossible. The crowd wanted so badly for those athletes who were struggling to finish the WOD, to complete the lift, to climb the rope. As CrossFitters we all cheer each other on, push each other, challenge each other, and it makes us all better. CrossFit truly is a community, and I'm proud to be a member.
I'm also EXTREMELY proud to say that I have met my blogger idol! Liz from CaveGirlEats was at the games, and was kind enough to pose for a picture with me!
It was a great day, I can't wait for tomorrow - I'm going to be staring at every 135# asian man on the lookout for Fitbomb. That's not creepy, right?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Getting Stronger
First - the food pictures. But hang in there, I have something worthwhile to say today.
So....earlier I went for a 10k bike ride as my triathlon training for the day. Then I looked to see what the crossfit workout was going to be. Turns out, it was Double Fran. One Fran is enough for most people, two is pretty brutal. But I was looking forward to it because it would be my first wod in my new kicks.
Before the workout I was talking with my friend (life coach?) Diane about the fact that after 11 months of crossfit I still can't do a pull up. She said, "You just have to go down in bands. Don't use the blue band anymore." (Side note: from most supportive to least supportive the bands at CFI are: green, blue, red, purple.) My first thought was, "I can't do that! I JUST moved down to the blue band, I need the blue band to do workouts!" Then I considered her challenge. Could I go down in bands already? Could I do the wod without the blue band? She went on to explain that I could have the blue band next to me during the workout just in case I needed it. I thought it sounded fair, and promised to try.
Here is what my pull up station looked like after I finished Double Fran.
That's right, I used the red and purple bands (down from the blue/purple combo) for the whole workout. I didn't need the blue band, and I didn't even consider using it. Turns out I CAN do 90 pull ups without a blue band. The wod took me a long time to finish (Double Fran ain't easy, people), but I did finish. Sometimes it just takes that extra little push (or suggestion, in this case) to prove it to myself that I can do better.
I WILL do a pull up before the end of the year. Hopefully much sooner than that. The moral of the story is that I need to start challenging myself. I need to be more trusting that all of the effort I'm putting in is actually going to pay off. To the blue bands at CFI - it's been fun, but I don't need you anymore. Looks like I'm getting stronger after all.
---------------------------
P.S. My cat watches Big Cat Diaries.
 |
| Yesterday's lunch with homegrown tomatoes from Tom's (Ryan's dad) garden. |
 |
| Part of last night's dinner - caprese salad (made with Tom's tomatoes). |
 |
| The rest of last night's dinner - wild salmon and asparagus. |
 |
| Today's lunch. |
So....earlier I went for a 10k bike ride as my triathlon training for the day. Then I looked to see what the crossfit workout was going to be. Turns out, it was Double Fran. One Fran is enough for most people, two is pretty brutal. But I was looking forward to it because it would be my first wod in my new kicks.
 |
| Cute, huh? |
Before the workout I was talking with my friend (life coach?) Diane about the fact that after 11 months of crossfit I still can't do a pull up. She said, "You just have to go down in bands. Don't use the blue band anymore." (Side note: from most supportive to least supportive the bands at CFI are: green, blue, red, purple.) My first thought was, "I can't do that! I JUST moved down to the blue band, I need the blue band to do workouts!" Then I considered her challenge. Could I go down in bands already? Could I do the wod without the blue band? She went on to explain that I could have the blue band next to me during the workout just in case I needed it. I thought it sounded fair, and promised to try.
Here is what my pull up station looked like after I finished Double Fran.
That's right, I used the red and purple bands (down from the blue/purple combo) for the whole workout. I didn't need the blue band, and I didn't even consider using it. Turns out I CAN do 90 pull ups without a blue band. The wod took me a long time to finish (Double Fran ain't easy, people), but I did finish. Sometimes it just takes that extra little push (or suggestion, in this case) to prove it to myself that I can do better.
I WILL do a pull up before the end of the year. Hopefully much sooner than that. The moral of the story is that I need to start challenging myself. I need to be more trusting that all of the effort I'm putting in is actually going to pay off. To the blue bands at CFI - it's been fun, but I don't need you anymore. Looks like I'm getting stronger after all.
---------------------------
P.S. My cat watches Big Cat Diaries.
 |
| Lily hopes to become a cheetah someday. |
Friday, July 22, 2011
Things I've been eating, and a new Dyla baby.
I haven't been posting lately. Sorry, Mom. Here are some of the things I've been eating.
Nothing especially exciting, but I do need to get back on the 100% paleo wagon soon. Kim has promised to do another 30 day paleo challenge with me in August, so expect updates!
Something exciting happened yesterday: Ryan's new nephew was born!! Ryan's brother Jeremy's wife Amanda delivered baby Mitchell yesterday in the early afternoon and we went to see him today. Feast your eyes on Mitchell Jeremiah Dyla.
Teeny, tiny baby (who we blinded with the flash a whole bunch of times - he took it well).
Proud big sister Addie (who likely didn't really realize that the new little baby was going to be coming home with her) was adorably entertaining too.
What a wonderful new addition to our family :)
 |
| MDA's Salad |
 |
| A veggie and turkey hummus plate. |
 |
| Pork salad, a la Ryan |
 |
| Chicken and blasted broccoli |
Something exciting happened yesterday: Ryan's new nephew was born!! Ryan's brother Jeremy's wife Amanda delivered baby Mitchell yesterday in the early afternoon and we went to see him today. Feast your eyes on Mitchell Jeremiah Dyla.
 |
| Why yes, that is my enormous hand holding the baby. |
 |
| Kim held Mitchell |
 |
| Then I held Mitchell |
 |
| I love her Cinderella shirt! |
 |
| Addie and Aunt Kimmy |
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A non-primal summer day :)
Well, it turns out we're not perfect after all. I know, you're shocked.
Today we took our bikes to Kim and Alex's house in Huntington Beach, and rode from their house (by the HB pier) to Newport Beach - about 6 miles away.
We set up on the beach and even went for a swim in the ocean.
Newport Beach is a place that the Dyla family spent many summer days, so the Dyla kids knew what they wanted for lunch: Annie's burgers.
Ryan enjoyed eating his childhood.
Sadly, we weren't done yet. After we rode our bikes back to HB, we went to main street and got cookie ice cream sandwiches. We got to choose cookie and ice cream flavors to make our own custom ice cream sandwich. Yum.
Overall, it was a delicious and fun day.
Today we took our bikes to Kim and Alex's house in Huntington Beach, and rode from their house (by the HB pier) to Newport Beach - about 6 miles away.
We set up on the beach and even went for a swim in the ocean.
Newport Beach is a place that the Dyla family spent many summer days, so the Dyla kids knew what they wanted for lunch: Annie's burgers.
Ryan enjoyed eating his childhood.
Sadly, we weren't done yet. After we rode our bikes back to HB, we went to main street and got cookie ice cream sandwiches. We got to choose cookie and ice cream flavors to make our own custom ice cream sandwich. Yum.
Overall, it was a delicious and fun day.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Korean BBQ!
Tonight was a scheduled CFI event: Beer and Burpees. Our lovely strong and manly coach John planned for us to visit a local Korean BBQ restaurant called Shik-Do-Rak. Having never eaten Korean BBQ, I didn't know what I was in for.
When we first sat down at our table, there were many different bowls filled with interesting looking food items.
Luckily, coach John explained how this Korean BBQ thing works.
Then a giant plate of meat showed up in front of me.
After our waitress dumped a bunch of meat on the grill, Keith and Shawna (and the rest of us) waited patiently for it to cook.
We kept cooking meat until we ran out, then we ordered more. Yep, that's how crossfitters do.
John and Mark showed off their teamwork skills and cut the steak together.
Mark was a pretty good cook.
When we were finally stuffed full of meat, the boys (who shall remain nameless) played with the remaining food and made a CFI logo.
Overall, it was a great meal in great company :)
When we first sat down at our table, there were many different bowls filled with interesting looking food items.
Luckily, coach John explained how this Korean BBQ thing works.
Then a giant plate of meat showed up in front of me.
After our waitress dumped a bunch of meat on the grill, Keith and Shawna (and the rest of us) waited patiently for it to cook.
We kept cooking meat until we ran out, then we ordered more. Yep, that's how crossfitters do.
John and Mark showed off their teamwork skills and cut the steak together.
Mark was a pretty good cook.
When we were finally stuffed full of meat, the boys (who shall remain nameless) played with the remaining food and made a CFI logo.
Overall, it was a great meal in great company :)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sleepy?
I'm a pretty good sleeper and I always have been. I can nap in the afternoon if I need it (like I did today), and I almost never have trouble falling asleep. My mom says I get this skill (talent?) from my dad. Here is some photographic evidence that the Cozads are good nappers.
Many of my blog idols have been posting about sleep lately, so I've been thinking about it more and more. A particularly fabulous article by FITBOMB was posted just yesterday. Robb Wolf agrees - he ranks sleep before food. Of course, Mark Sisson has something to say about sleep, too.
And the consensus is....we need to sleep at least 8 hours each night! Duh. Still not convinced that sleep is important? Check out the graph below (stolen from fitbomb - he's so cool).
If you use the phrase, "I'll sleep when I'm dead", it looks like you're going to be dead a lot sooner than the rest of us. Go to sleep!
And the consensus is....we need to sleep at least 8 hours each night! Duh. Still not convinced that sleep is important? Check out the graph below (stolen from fitbomb - he's so cool).
Need more reasons to sleep? Check out at all the terrible things that can happen if you don't get enough!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)