Tackling the Brooklyn Bridge wall

We started the day with a bouldering class, where we learned the basics of how to climb the color-coded routes.  For the lower climbs (10-15 feet), you don't wear a harness; you either jump down or climb back down.  (Or fall.)  The floor is thickly padded.  

Amazingly enough, I was able to make it to the top of several of the easiest routes right off the bat.  I really enjoyed being able to use my strength in a different way, and getting to the top of something is pretty gratifying.

I was surprised by how mental climbing walls are.  Each route is like a puzzle, and figuring out your next move before your forearms give out can be pretty challenging.  It was awesome.

After messing around with the lower walls for a while, we got harnesses and tried the auto-belay routes, which were significantly higher.  The rope took some of the strain off because until you start to fall, it tugs you upward a bit.  And zipping back down was very fun.  I didn't make it all the way up on these routes, but that was totally mental.  Even with the harness, the height was somewhat freaky.  Next time, I'm getting all the way up for sure, though!

As the day went on, the gym filled up with people - including lots of little kids.  The kids were amazing.  They quite literally scampered up and down the walls, moving like little spiders, and nailing the harder climbs.  Clearly, human beings were born to climb.  Most of us have just forgotten how.

-Gym Belle-

-Gym Belle-

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• Brooklyn  - Buckcherry
• Honestly - Hot Chelle Rae
• Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jespen
• Brokenhearted - Karmin
• Blackout - Breathe Carolina
• Crank It Up - David Guetta & Akon
• Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
• Drive By - Train
• Automatic - Nicki Minaj
• Repeat - David Guetta & Jessie J
• Domino - Jessie J
• So Good - B.o.B
• Give Me Everything - Pitbull
• Lighters - Bad Meets Evil
• No Sleep Till Brooklyn - Beastie Boys
• Some Nights - Fun.
• Up All Night - One Direction
• Advice - Christina Grimmie
• What Doesn't Kill You - Glee Cast
• We Run The Night - Havana Brown
• Starships - Nicki Minaj
• Pretty Girls - Iyaz
• Wild Ones - Flo Rida
• Night of Your Life - David Guetta & Jennifer Hudson
• Whine Up - Kat DeLuna
• Twist My Hips - Tim James & Nevermind
• Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
• All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled
• Cindarella Man - Eminem
• Me Against the Music - Glee Cast
• She Works Hard For the Money - Donna Summer
• Moves Like Jagger/Jumpin' Jack Flash - Glee Cast
• 'Till I Collapse - Eminem & Nate Dogg
• #1 - Nelly
• I'm a Machine - David Guetta & Crystal Nicole
• Blow - Ke$ha
• Higher - Taio Cruz & Travie McCoy

 -Gym Belle-

When I realized my iPod was dead, I was already in my corral.  I considered leaving, unchecking my bag and grabbing my iPhone.  That would've been a good idea.  But I wasn't certain that I'd be able to re-check my bag at that point, so I stayed put and tried to psych myself up for a silent race.  Other people really like running without music, and I once had to do it for a short race and that was ok.  I tried to convince myself that I barely hear the music during most races anyway, that it's just background noise.  But I couldn't fool myself.  The music is always an integral part of my races.

When I'm on pace and feeling great, I suppose I don't listen as carefully.  But when my thoughts betray me and I have to negotiate each additional exertion, when the physical discomfort grows with every step, I need something external to focus on.  I have to get out of my head.  And my music is always there for me.

Truth be told, the first two or three miles were great.  By six, I had started feeling the heat, and my toes, but I felt pretty good about a sub two hour time.  That feeling didn't last.  Pretty soon, my chest hurt, and my back and shoulders kept seizing up.  I felt weak and lame and unathletic.  And if there had been a way to stop at mile 10, I might have called it a day.  I was miserable.  It was ten times worse than the last six miles of the full.

I finished.  And I actually finished with a smile on my face - not because I was particularly proud of finishing, and not because I was relieved to be done,  but because this random guy next to me crossing the finish line was so exuberantly proud of himself, that I couldn't help but smile with him.

Other than that, I was pretty bummed.  My time was my second worst ever, and so far from what I wanted.  The heartburn got worse before it got better and I felt sick for hours afterwards. 

As much as I want another shot right now, I will probably wait until the fall to try another half.  I am not a warm weather runner.  Staten Island, perhaps? 

-Gym Belle-

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I failed a lift on Sunday.

Let's review the reasons why this not-so-extraordinary fail is still on my mind.  First, I got it on video.  I've spent as much time reviewing that clip as I have stalking the coverage of Azadel Boroumond's regionals performance.  (I'm obsessed - she's amazing.)  This isn't the first time that I've seen myself fail a lift; it's always humbling, though.

Second, I didn't fail because of the weight (100 lbs).  There was no epic struggle.  I failed because my chest collapsed and the weight got out in front of me.  Tip.  Drop.  Game over.  In other words, my form went to hell.  I'm not the strongest woman at the gym by a long shot, so I try extra hard to have good form.  Keeping my chest up on front squats and backsquats as I fatigue can be a struggle.  And it's frustrating because it's really not for lack of effort; my brain is firing the commands, but it's like my torso suddenly speaks Greek. 

Third, I failed on rep two of set three.  I wasn't even halfway done with my workout.  In my head, I could hear Coach B saying, "No missed reps."  Ugh.

But, while days later I clearly haven't let this go, at the time, it didn't break my stride.  It's clear on the video.  I shook my head, took some weight off the bar, cleaned it up to the rack and recalculated.  I did five more sets.  I did the first three sets back at the weight I'd started my working sets at and focused extra hard on form.  Then I added back some weight and did two more sets.  I considered a second attempt at the failed weight, but thought that might be overkill.

I came home and read some Lisbeth Darsh instead.  (I think that's the CrossFit equivalent of calling your mother.)

The fail haunted me during yesterday's backsquats.  I was nervous, and I didn't try for a new PR.   But, with one clean workout under my belt, I think it's time to move on.  

I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-

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The event has two components: bench pressing for reps and running a 5K.  Each rep, up to a cap of 45, earns you 20 seconds off your race time.  The shortest adjusted time wins.  Men 40 and over lifted 115lbs; men under 40 lifted 145lbs.  Women 40 and over lifted 45lbs (lucky ducks!), and those of us under 40 lifted 65lbs.  

Because of the rain, we did the benching inside this year.  (CrossFit Hoboken did an amazing job making this run smoothly.)

Last year, I scored 15 reps.  This year, I managed 17.  It's not a huge bump, but it's something.  I sailed through the first ten or so, but then I slowed down, and the last two I really had to fight for.  I nearly managed an 18th, but I just couldn't press it all the way out.  We don't have a bench at CrossFit Metropolis... I think some regular practice would make a difference.  

I was somewhat less than psyched for the 5K in the rain.  We had to walk about 10 minutes to the start, and then wait around for another 10 or so before the race kicked off.  I was soaked and pretty cold.  On the bright side, my Garmin needed all that time to find satellites!

I could tell you that I shaved 1:12 off my time from last year, but the course was a drop shorter, so I'm not sure that that's entirely fair.  I definitely moved faster, though.  My splits last year were: 7:53, 8:16 and 8:05.  (The course is not a true 5K.)  This year, they were: 7:51, 8:12 and 7:56.  Apparently, I have a pattern of going out hard (~7:14), slowing up, and then gaining some speed back at the end.  Anyway, my average pace was 8:00 minutes/mile, so if it had been a true 5K and I had kept that up I would've finished around 24:52, which would have been a PR.

All in all, it was decent day for me.  Three more reps on the bench press would've really made me happy.  Oh well.  Next year.  Overall, Team Metropolis did great.  Mike C. took third overall, and Angela F. had the fastest 5K time of all the women.  As usual, the best part was spending the day with Team Metropolis.  

Sunshine on 3!

-Gym Belle-