Tag Team Throwdown

When I started at CrossFit O'Fallon back in July 2011, it never entered my mind that I would someday enter in to a CrossFit competition.  In fact, I didn't even know that CF competitions, throwdowns, Garage Games, or CrossFit Games even existed.  I had never heard of any of them.

Over the past 17 months, though, I have grown to love CrossFit and it has become a part of my life that I don't even question anymore.  It's not something that I do, it is something that I am . . .as corny as that might sound.

When my CF coach, Josh, mentioned that he was going to be hosting a Tag Team competition back in September, the thought actually entered my mind, "That might be fun to try." Even back then I had no lofty ideas of winning, placing, or even finishing in the top 10 or 20.  I just thought it would be fun to compete and to be around other people who love this stuff as much as I do.  I ended up pairing up with an awesome firecracker, Jesse, and we set out to go in and do the best that we could do.

Fast forward until the day before Thanksgiving, 1 1/2 weeks before the competition, and I ended up falling down my stairs at home.  In this fall, I re-injured an old tailbone fracture and it caused my lower back muscles to really contract and inflame.  I was so upset not only for myself but also because I had a partner who was depending on me.  For the past week I have taken more Ibuprofen than I have in my entire life, stayed off my feet, sat on a donut, and kept going back to my chiropractor, Dr. Matt.  We made the decision on Wednesday that I could compete, knowing that I wouldn't be 100%, but at least there was no danger of hurting myself any farther.  It would be painful but I could make it through.

So, that's exactly what I did.  I must say that I am paying the price for it today but the experience was amazing.  It was so inspiring to see so many people giving it everything they had in them.  People of all shapes, sizes who, just like me, had no expectations of winning but just wanted to be a part of it. 

The Tag Team Throwdown was held at the St. Louis Rams Training facility.

My partner, Jesse, is awesome!  Our team name was "Meet Me at the Bar"  (you can order shirts from my friend, Rob, HERE)

The day consisted of 3 WODs (Workout of the Day).  The first was strictly strength and the last two were strength and cardio combined.  I'm not going to lie, it was hard especially since I hadn't worked out in a week and a half.  We had such a great time, though.

WOD 1

12 Minutes for 1 partner to establish a 1 rep max snatch and 1 partner to establish a 1 rep max clean and jerk

WOD 2

13 Minutes to complete the following:

-Partner 1 rows 800 meters

-100 35lbs kettle bell swings to be divided up any way you want, does not have to be 50/50 per partner

-100 over-the-boxes (20 inches) to be divided up any way you want.  While one partner works, the other partner holds the 35lb kettle bell.  If the KB touches the ground, the team will be assessed a 5 burpee penalty.

-Partner 2 rows 800 meters

WOD 3

15 minutes to complete the following:

Teams can break up the work any way they choose.

-50 115lb dead lift, 20 pull-ups, 15 over-the-bar burpees

-50 85lb power snatches, 20 pull-ups, 15 over-the-bar burpees

-50 65lb snatches, 20 pull-ups, 15 over-the bar burpees

Here are some pics of me snatching.  I ended up snatching 80lbs, no new PR but still glad to have it that.

Jesse hit a new PR with a 115lb clean and jerk!  (sorry for the blurriness)

Jesse rowing out that 800 meters.

35lbs kettle bell swings

Over the box

 

Because of the whole tailbone issue, I was "dying" on the 800 meter row.  I just closed my eyes and tried to get through it.  Oh, how I wished that I could have taped my donut to that seat.

Overall, I'm happy with how we did.  We ended up finishing 27 out 42 scaled teams.  I would have loved to have made it in to the top 20 but there were a lot of strong women's teams and by the third WOD, I was in serious pain.

I will definitely compete in another competition.  Of course, I want to do better. . . isn't that the point?    I can't say enough, though, about the sense of community in CrossFit.  Even though we were in competition with each other, if you weren't busy with the WOD then you were cheering on other teams.  It is one of the strangest but yet best aspects of this CrossFit world . . .yes, I want to beat you but I also want you to do the best that you possibly can do. 

Now . . .on to more Ibuprofen, a hot bath, and rest!