I’m a nerd. Always have been, always will be. In high school I was more interested in reading than sports; my extracurricular “sports” were academic competitions. Believe it or not, I lettered in Whiz Quiz after competing at the state level. (Yes, I have the jacket to prove you can letter in academics.) =)
So, imagine the surprise of my friends and family when I told them I was starting Crossfit just weeks after turning 30. Reactions ran from, “What are you thinking?” to “You’re not really…ahem…athletic!” to “Do you see what they do with those weights?!? You’ll kill yourself.” How it happened is simple really—I made my roommate skydive with me, she made me try Crossfit with her. Our first WOD was 3 rounds of 10 pushups, 15 sit ups, and 20 lunges. No big deal right?
About halfway through I wanted to die and swore at my roommate who reminded me if she was jumping out of a perfectly good plane, I could make it through some sit ups. Even though it sounds easy, it was probably the hardest thing I had done in years. When I finished, I stood up, noticed the world swimming, and got right back on the floor. Lying there, somewhere between the heaving breaths and watching the barbells swim before my eyes, I realized I had been challenged and I had succeeded. And that feeling…well, I was hooked.
I know I’m not the best athlete in our box, nor am I the fastest. Frankly, I’m usually last, but it makes me laugh to think of myself as being one step up from WOD roadkill…at least I survive! But…even when I finish last, I finish. Even if I only lift 5 pounds more than I did the last time, I get PRs. I meet the challenges that I set for myself. And for me, that’s the important part.
So why am I blogging about Crossfit and challenges? Now that we’ve officially started the Paleo Challenge, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what constitutes a real challenge.
(Warning: I’m about to release my inner nerd.)
Webster’s defines challenge (noun) as “a stimulating task.” Personally, if you’ve ever tried to give up chocolate for a month, I’d argue it’s much more – something akin to a trial ((noun) “a test of faith, patience, and stamina through subjection to suffering and temptation.”) Now, THAT’s more like it!
Going Paleo for a month isn’t easy…but it’s not impossible. Even a trial is only a test and tests are made to be overcome. Every day we walk into the box we complete and excel at stimulating tasks that test our faith and stamina. Every day we stomp on challenges and trials. This should be no different.
As teammates and friends, we are entering a contest ((noun) “a struggle for superiority or victory”) together. In other words, entering into this contest together, together we struggle for superiority and victory. Through supporting and encouraging each other, we have great strength ((noun) “power to resist”). It might seem silly, but knowing we’re all in this together, each one of us giving our all like we do in the WODs, makes it a bit easier for me to skip that brownie in the break room.
Keeping that in mind, I challenge ((verb) to confront or defy boldly) you to give the Paleo Challenge your very best. I challenge ((verb) to invite into competition) us to kick this competition’s butt. And I encourage ((noun) to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope) you to remember this great quote by Stephen R. Covey:
“Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition—such as lifting weights—we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.”
Written by Heather Nice