First Posted: 1/12/2015
Is it fair, at this point, to say that girls are better than boys?
If attendance at CrossFit is any indication, then yes, it’s a fair point.
Sarah Haase and Samantha Stanich have entered into week five — alone. Will their encouragement and chastising at work bring back Jeric Foulds and Justin Adam Brown?
Sarah Haase: I’ve been venturing to the 6 a.m. classes solo lately. It’s not as fun heading out at 5:40 a.m. alone, so I look for fun in other forms. The names of the workouts are fun, sometimes, more fun than the workouts. This week, “Dropkick Murphy” was up first. After completing thrusters, the ever-popular weighted bar thrusted upward, came jump-roping double unders and pull-ups. I can complete more double-unders than ever before — I think I maxed out at 4 — and it takes me the entire allotted jump roping time. I don’t have enough strength, nor coordination to complete two in a row without a mess up.
Samantha Stanich: This week started out slow. I was homesick and not feeling the whole working-out thing. On Monday and Tuesday, I was feeling the comfort of my bed instead of seizing the day. I took the first two days of the week off and came back on Wednesday a little more rested but still wishing I was sleeping after work.
Sarah: When it comes to cardio at CrossFit, our options aren’t plentiful, and that’s a good thing. There’s the option of running outside, usually the distance is 200 or 400 meters, depending on the workout. Then there’s the row machine — a guaranteed full body workout.
I hate running.
I hate the rower.
I pretty much hate cardio, but, it’s gotta be done.
So, I check out the white board. I see “row” written down. Eh, it’s better than running. I see “20”, piece of cake; 20 meters on a rower. I’ll be off in no time.
I look closer; 20 calories; not meters. Do you know how long it takes to burn 20 calories!? A lot longer than it takes to consume them, that’s for sure.
So, 20 calorie rows, 40 kettlebell swings, 60 candlesticks, that awful move of laying on our backs, swinging our legs up over our heads.
I counted how many rows it took to burn one calorie — anywhere from 9-13. I closed my eyes, envisioned tropical islands and a body to go with it, and banged out those 20 calories. And the rest of the workout.
Samantha: Coming back to the gym made me feel better the instant I walked through the door. I was happy to see everyone but a little embarrassed to tell them why I missed the first two days. I needed a good workout to get me back into the groove of things and here it was. I saw rowing and groaned. I am the worst at rowing.
I swear I can start a full minute ahead of people and once they’re on the machine, in two pulls, we’re even. I blame my short legs and arms. Rowing was the worst part of the workout because it slows me down. It takes what would have been a great time, crumples it into a little ball and throws it in the corner.
My toes to bar started as toes to rings, which I was pretty proud of. I couldn’t keep the pace and opted for candlesticks for the remaining reps. I finished in 13:33. I was happy with my workout.
Ed Mcgrath, another athlete, finished the RX workout, a harder workout, and he looked beat. Mcgrath never looks exhausted. He always looks happy doing hundreds of chin-ups and deadlifts. He put the challenge on the table and I responded with “if someone stays and does it with me.” Soon I was doing a second workout. The RX was 84 kettlebell swings and burpees. I finished in four minutes and 30 seconds, gasping for air. I wasn’t sure why I decided to push my body but after the two rest days, I was happy I did.
Samantha: Since my two workout day, I was determined for no more rest days until the weekend. I was still hurting from the extra four minutes of work I forced upon myself. This workout included squats with your bar and weights on your back and up/downs, a form of burpees without having to go all the way to the ground. This is my favorite kind of workout because it forces me do a certain number of each exercise and doesn’t leave me to my own devices. I like having a definite number to work towards.
Sarah: “Chupacabra,” the elusive Puerto Rican monster, resembles the workout named in its honor. A total of 110 kettlebell snatches, mixed with 55 ring dips. It’s a workout that piques interest with the facade of being OK, easy almost. But then you start, and it isn’t long before arms are aching and shoulders are sore. But, unlike the ferocious, mythical chupacabra, CrossFit athletes are fierce and determined. And we’re real.
Samantha: I went to a earlier class and realized I missed my six o’clock workout buddies. The workout included the kettlebell which I dislike and ring dips, which I thought I could but couldn’t. I scaled the ring dips to bench dips. It didn’t feel like much of a scale because by the last ten dips I wanted to dip out of the class. The kettlebell snatches were not as bad as I thought which led me to believe I was forming muscles. This is still up for debate but I’ll continue to think otherwise.
