Wednesday Wins – Mike and Lyndsey!
This week we celebrate Lyndey and Mike, not as just two amazing Cove coaches, but as OG CrossFitters that happen to be some of the nicest people out there. And my, how far they’ve come.Many of you saw Mike’s post last week about this milestone, but both he and Lyndsey just celebrated their FIVE YEAR CrossFit anniversary. Sticking with something for five years is a feat in itself, but how they have approached their journey (and continue to do so) is something we can all learn from.
You look at them now and the hashtags write themselves. #crossfitcouple #fitfam #reIationshipgoals. But if we had to write ONE for them it would be #fitforlife. For them, CrossFit IS a way of life. Having a healthy outlet has become such a core part of who they are and serves more than just the physical for them. “Yes, it’s become a way of life for us. And we’re also training for life–which is something Mike subtly reminds me of when I get frustrated or down on my progress or lack thereof (less than ideal number on the whiteboard, missing a PR, etc). We love to be in the gym together and sweat together–it’s a shared experience and often a shared suffering! Once we walk in the doors, we’re able to set aside the stressors of every day life and just be for that next hour. It’s always surprising how much that hour is able to decrease stress and reset the mind”
They were initally drawn to CrossFit for the challenge and for the interesting mix of modalities at play (author’s note: in 2011 this must’ve seemed like some weird experiment back then!). As Mike noted, “CrossFit wasn’t well known at the time and we certainly didn’t have any of the fun amenities like we do at Cove (cold lavender towels what?!?). But the big kicker was the fact that we could go to the gym, get an ass-kicking workout, and not have to think about what we were going to do to make ourselves healthier. It was just “come in, do work, see improvements”. Five years later, we are still not been bored “
“Aside from the obvious physical strength and weight loss that comes along with CrossFit, we love the way it’s able to empower people to do things that they would have never imagined possible. Being a part of the CrossFit community breeds and unveils a self-confidence and strength (both mental and physical) that many people never even know they have.” And it’s not just talk for these two. “I credit CrossFit for where I’m at today, personally and professionally, and I wouldn’t have tried half of the things without it. I literally never saw myself as being a coach someday but I realized that I wanted everyone who came from those doors to have the exact same experience that I did and step outside their comfort zone.”
And even more impressive, is here is Lyndsey’s “before the before”. She made a commitment to herself long ago. Losing weight got her started, but getting FIT is what keeps her going…
“And we love seeing the transformation of new members–when they reach that aha! light-bulb moment and suddenly stand taller and walk with a renewed sense of self! It’s seriously the BEST!! It’s exponentially more important for women who are told (from the earliest any of us can remember) to be polite…and quiet…to take up less space…that they’re either too tall or too short, overweight, or not pretty enough…that they should have a more “feminine” physique…etc., etc., etc. The power of the barbell to build strength and self-confidence is unmatched to anything else we’ve ever seen. And Lyndsey notes, “As a sidebar, I love to follow and learn from like-minded women across the globe–Steph Gaudreau and Neghar Fonooni are two physically and mentally strong women who spread awesome messages of empowerment on social media (and are pretty mean with a barbell or a pull-up bar in hand).”
Five years means the “CrossFit honeymoon” is long over, but it’s a ride they have loved; even with its ups & downs. Lyndsey says, “Over the years I’ve realized that I’m never going to be the BEST in the gym or atop the leaderboard all the time. Recently I’ve come to peace with that–if I’m not continually learning and working to better myself, then I’m doing a disservice to the process as a whole. I love having better, stronger, and more well-rounded women athletes at Cove to train with–you guys make me better every day!”
Visiting other boxes around the country has quickly become one of our mainstays when we travel. It’s always refreshing to get a new perspective and to see the way different gyms adopt the CrossFit methodology and adapt it to their individual communities. As coaches, we’re able to gain new perspective and add new tips, tricks, and cues to better our athletes back at the Cove. More importantly, we’re subjected to some pretty cruel and grueling warm-ups that we ultimately pass on to the Covies. For the record, I’m by and far not the only coach who routinely utilizes burpee warm-ups…muahahahaha! We’ve also found drop-ins to be a unique way to explore a city–Mike and I don’t normally do traditional touristy things while traveling. When we visit another box, we get a feel for the people of the city and often walk away with lots of insider information on the hot local spots to grab a beer and a bite to eat! If nothing else, its always easier to unapologetically down a juicy burger and fries after a good sweat session. Mike has even scored some hard to find craft beer by befriending a fellow CrossFitter! CrossFit has made us more adventurous and open to trying new things while traveling (hiking, biking, climbing, etc.) which has allowed us to see some really cool things across this gorgeous country!
Last words of advice from team Condon: “Many of you have realized that this isn’t a quick fix but rather a lifelong change for a healthier life. Never stop having fun. We’re excited to see where the next 5 years takes us. Now, it’s time for a beer (and a laCroix for Lyndsey).
STRENGTH WOD
Take 12 minutes to find a heavy load in this complex
Hanging Power Snatch + Overhead Squat
WOD
21 Box Jump Over
18 Hanging Power Snatch
1 minute on Assault Bike (see below for a goal of Watts to maintain)
Rest 2 minutes
x 3
Fitness: (200/300) 75/55
Performance: (250/350) 95/65
Open: (350/400) 95/65 (15 Hanging Squat Snatch)
Coach’s Tip: We tested twice this week so today we dial it back a little. The wattage goal on the bike should not be terribly hard to maintain, but if it is, just scale back! Focus more on technique and pacing than a score.