160803 - CrossFit | Last Wednesdays with Hannah P. post :(

The Level of Perfection

Something I realized recently is that there is no invisible line of time or effort that differentiates beginner athletes from intermediate athletes from advanced athletes. Sure, there are general time frames that can give you a rough estimate of approximately what skill/strength/speed level you might be at after a certain period of time dedicated to CrossFit. We are all so individual and there are so many other factors at play- how often do you CrossFit, what do you do on your non-CrossFit days, what is your background in fitness, what is your lifestyle like?

This non-existent line between levels of athlete ability doesn’t differentiate who can do a strict pull-up from who can’t. It doesn’t show who can run a X:00 mile. It doesn’t determine who can do a handstand and who can’t. It doesn’t determine who can deadlift X pounds and who can’t. There are so many different skills involved in CrossFit. Some athletes can run a X:00 mile and do a strict pull-up, but can’t deadlift X pounds or can’t do a handstand. Others can do all of those things. Some athletes may have been CrossFitting consistently for years and still haven’t mastered a skill an athlete with less time spent CrossFitting is accomplishing.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of looking at other athletes and judging them and their fitness based on a particular workout, or a particular skill you may see them performing, or even their body type or muscle definition. Just like thin doesn’t mean healthy, a particular ability doesn’t equate to fitness either. 

Give yourself credit for what you can do, and for what you can do now that you couldn’t when you first started. You are your only standard. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t do every single WOD Rx’ed, or if you can’t do a particular skill that you feel like you “should” be able to. Don’t “should” on yourself.

WOD
AMRAP 14:
Dumbbell/Barbell complex 35/95 25/65
6 deadlift
6 bent over rows
6 hang power cleans
6 push press
then down and back bear crawl

Post workout HSPU progression