Sep 4, 2011
Posted by Mel
[NOTE: I love that the first line of the warmup above looks like it says "lap around the pork." That would be an awesome way to start a WOD.]
Friday was D-Day, and it was pretty kickass. I had my proverbial socks appropriately rocked off by Mr. Kid Rock and The Twisted Brown Trucker Band, stayed up late, ate paleo snacks in the car, enjoyed half a cherry-and-cheese kolache, went swimming in the hotel...
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Aug 2, 2011
Posted by Mel
To aid in the quest for superhero body composition, many people I trust recommend occasional sprints, in addition to lifting heavy things and met-cons (and rest/recovery!) Dave and I kinda halfway pinky-swore to do sprints every other Saturday, and this week was our first time. New goal: begun!
We hit Eilers Park here in Austin, the location where I first started my CrossFit adventures at bootcamp. I have...
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Dec 19, 2010
Posted by Mel
Nothing says ‘holidays’ like a punny workout! Last year, Dave and I brought you a silly chipper: The 12 Days of CrossFit Christmas Workout – and just to show we’re not Scrooge-y, we did it ourselves (in a silly costume, even!)
This year, the workout is more functional – just what you need to keep up with Santa’s reindeer or totally take down an elf that’s getting to big...
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Nov 23, 2010
Posted by Mel
photo from Flickr
Here’s something you probably don’t know about me: Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I’m sure you’re thinking it’s because of the food. And yes, it’s partially because of the food. But it’s mostly because I associate T-Giving with a laid-back attitude that’s all about togetherness and love. (And food. Which is love. If you do it...
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Oct 9, 2010
Posted by Mel
I told Dave it was going to be fun. I didn’t intend for that to be a lie. But you know how it is: sometimes the WODs that look the most fun on paper are the toughest in reality.
Or maybe it was just my dumpling backlash.
Whatever it was, this morning’s Saturday morning outdoor play time was fun only in that “Man! This hurts, but I know I’ll feel good when it’s over.”...
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Aug 23, 2010
Posted by Mel
Bonita and I have been throwing around the idea of a swimming WOD for months. And since it’s been over 100 degrees in Austin for more than a week, now seemed like the ideal time to jump into Deep Eddy and swap running the track for swimming laps.
I dug up a workout from an old CrossFit Journal article, put my own spin on it (i.e., shortened the swimming intervals because most of us hadn’t swum...
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Jul 17, 2010
Posted by Mel
You know what rules? On Saturdays, I kinda get to be the boss.
During the week, I submit 100% to my CrossFit Austin coaches. They tell me to do negative pullups again; I do them. Again. They yell, “Sprint! No jogging.” and I sprint. They sentence me to six burpees for being late, I crank out six burpees.
But on Saturdays, I perceive the prescribed WOD as filled with suggestions that I can...
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Jul 11, 2010
Posted by Mel
At one point in 2008, I declared 2009 to be the “Year of the Pullup,” fully intending to learn to do a kipping pullup during that year. Surely, I thought, if I have a whole year I can learn to do it. Everyone else can do it…
Then the Frankenneck happened and last summer I managed a deadhang chinup from a box and felt all kinds of optimistic about my kipping possibilities… then...
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Jul 3, 2010
Posted by Mel
Today is Murph Day at CrossFit Austin. Held in honor of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, it’s a fundraiser for the Naval Special Warfare Foundation and is a kickass way for us nutty CrossFitters to bond over a ridiculously challenging workout.
In case you’re not familiar with the man behind the Murph, here’s his Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of...
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May 30, 2010
Posted by Mel
I’ve written about my love for Muhammad Ali and my love-hate for double-unders before, here and here. My goal today was to tackle a slightly modified CrossFit Central workout that incorporated hill running, double-unders (or, more accurately, double-under attempts), and overhead presses. In my head, I called it the “Ali Tribute Workout” because his legendary training camp...
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May 27, 2010
Posted by Mel
I flew to PA on Thursday to visit my parents. Sadly, my flight did not look like this:
But it was uneventful and I managed a 2-hour nap. At the receiving end, my parents – with their hugs and their hot tub, four days of cooking together, no barbells in sight , and a welcome home dinner at Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia.
We’ve been cooking up a dino-chow storm (recipes and photos to come next...
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