100314 Sunday Discussion
In my years of coaching I’ve encountered many personalities, paradigms, and belief systems. I consider myself an open, honest person; one who works to comprehend and accept many view points. The only attitude that I despise is one that uses others’ success as their failure.
This selfish attitude looks at the accomplishment of others as a fault in themselves. ”That person got a raise before I did.” ”So and so ruined the curve on the physics test.” ”Mrs. Smith has a heavier deadlift than me and she started AFTER I did!?!” When looking at the accomplishment of others they see nothing more than their own failures. How could one be selfish enough to detract from someone’s success as a reason for pity?
An elite attitude is one who can feel good for someone else succeeding. I believe we must first be able to celebrate the success of others, only then can we honestly celebrate our own success. Elite is the person who sees someone successful and says “I can do that”.
The mom who wakes up before dawn bettering herself to be strong for her family is elite. The man who battles a lifetime of negativity to finally get himself healthy is elite. The 60 yr old who was “never an athlete” who develops a jump-rope skill and can jump on a 12 inch box is f-ing Elite.
They saw someone’s success and said, “Me, too”.
Elite is you.
Corey, a really great piece of coaching, thanks.
Awesome post. Its so easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others.
I can definitely do that. Good post.
Thanks, coach.
That’s some food for thought for sure.
I love this. I had zero confidence when I started CrossFit. I watched the videos and thought “I will never be able to do that.” But, then I started seeing other girls doing those things in person at the gym. I remember seeing Elin and Lauren swinging the 35 lb kettlebell and Katie knocking out a ton of unassisted pullups and lots of people doing pushups from their toes…and I thought, wow, that is f-ing cool…I want to do that too. I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of negativity, and I appreciate the fact that there is always someone rocking it out to inspire me.
Reporting for Brian AKA Sparkles AKA Dr. C (and yes, J$, we’re working on the gym name):
3/13/10
On Ramp WOD
Day 1 – 11:18(?), 9 unassisted pullups and the remaining 27 with the red and purple band together
Day 12 – 10:24, 18 unassisted pullups and the remaining 18 with the purple band
3/14/10
Our friend was talking smack the other night at dinner saying how an 11:00 workout can’t be that hard. Brian invited him to do a WOD. This morning, they did a WOD that Shanna had posted in November on a Saturday when the gym was closed. It was a mile run with 20 squats every 2 minutes. They ended up making it a 2000m run because of how the boardwalk was. Brian did it with Dan and his wife, Rocio.
WOD:
2000m run, 20 squats every 2 minutes
Brian 9:54
Dan 11:41
Rocio 11:43
Dan did not think this was easy when it was done. He said it got “painful,” and he was a little worried about being able to walk tomorrow. They are checking out their local CF affiliate this week. So, Sparkles may have his first converts, bwahahaha.
I like what you are saying Corey, but I would also like to add to it as part of the discussion.
I know at times, I have hit frustration points or stumbling blocks in my progress. I think we all do. For example, I am still working towards my unassisted pull-up. The fact that this is something I have been working towards for well over a year will make that success all the sweeter when I do get that unassisted pull-up. Does it sting a little when other achieve this goal? Honestly, maybe. Do I still simultaneously think “Wow that is so awesome, I can’t wait till I can do that.”? Hell yes.
I try to continually remind myself of 2 things in the gym. #1- We all have areas of strength and weakness. While I have been called “freakishly stong” nobody calls me “lightning fast”. I celebrate my successes because I know there is other stuff I still suck at. I remind myself that we ALL have areas of strengths and weakness and areas we are still trying to improve. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t come to the gym.
Which brings me to the second thing I try to remind myself of – This is my journey. The biggest competitor or advisary I ever face is myself. I am on my own path and that may not be the super highway of others and that is OK. I often feel like the tortoise from the Tortoise and the Hare. My gains are sometimes on and off, but that’s OK because so is my life. Sometimes, I live to be in the gym and can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s WOD is. Sometimes, I am doing well just to get in the gym 3, ok 2, times a week. Life happens. Injuries happen. Getting my unasssited pull-up is not always the most important thing. But I know, when life and injuries settle back down and I am ready to fire it up again, there will be my coaches screaming “Hell yeah!” And I know that I will keep grabbing that bar with whatever color band I need that day until I don’t need one at all.
J$
wow…that was amazing, J$.
J$: Thank you for that contribution. You captured it well. It’s been more than a pleasure to spend the last year around you. You will get that pull-up.
Check Shanna out on the Main Page!!!!!!