Good morning Tribe,
As many of you know I competed this weekend at Crossfit Petroglyph’s Turkey Takedown. This is something not particularly new to anyone in our community, but this was my first “Fire Breather” competition!
In local CrossFit competitions you most often have 3-4 divisions or levels. It usually is as follows, scaled, masters, RX and fire breather. With each increase in level the requirements for skill and weight tend to increase. I have competed in RX division about 6-8 times, some competitions in team and some individual. I’ve stood on the podium with more than half of my entries. I told myself if I stood on the podium 3x in RX I had to start competing in Fire Breather. So with Turkey Takedown I took my first step into what ever lessons came with my first entry in competition as a “Fire Breather.”
Yes, I love competing, and I love that all the hard work and training I do pays off. I have always pushed myself to my limits. It makes me feel alive. It also transcends into many other aspects of my life. Put in the work and get what’s due. Hard work does pay off, no matter what you’re doing.
Here is how the weekend of anxiety and emotion went for me.
Day one, event one:
1RM Clean in 3minutes
Rest 1min
20 Cleans for time 155lb.
My score:
250lb! 15 pound PR for me!
1:10 for the second part.
This put me in last place, competing against guys with a 275-350lb(!) clean. Crazy, but I knew lifting super heavy wasn’t my strong suite. I was okay with the outcome and ecstatic for my PR! It was gratifying no matter what.
Event two: I tied for first on this event. I now moved up one slot. 5th place.
After day one yes, it was difficult to know exactly how the rest of the weekend would go. But no matter the outcome, I was giving every event my whole heart.
Day two I continued to climb the ladder, 1st then 2nd place in the events, solidifying myself in 2nd overall and advancing to the finals.
Final event had sumo dead lift high pulls at 135lb! This is a movement I never train, but I went in and put all my might intoevery rep. I scored 3rd overall in the last event. It was tough, especially battling against boys 30+ pounds heavier then me.
To end this I wanted to share that every event I was terrified. I had never put myself against the elite. I was worried I wouldn’t be strong enough. But I told myself before every event, Lorenzo you have this, get up and never give up. And I did. All the events hurt and I wanted to not do another rep. But I had the most supporting group of friends, community members and the loudest and most proud of me girlfriend. It’s tough competing, but having the support of you all made my first experience as a “fire breather” amazing. Thank you for all that you guys do in my life!!
-Lorenzo
Workout of the Day
Sumo Deadlift
Find your 1 rep max.
5-3-2-1-1-1 to find 1RM
then
50 Bird pickers
Banded Side bends
3×30 each
then
24-18-12
Power clean 115/75
Burpee
Post your scores to the Whiteboard.