March 6, 2011
by bbehring
From the first day I started CrossFit over 3 years ago, I have honestly never contemplated or asked myself why I do CrossFit? Even after a long grueling Hero type WOD, I have always seen the big picture for myself that CrossFit offered. I have simply continued CrossFit because I absolutely fell in love with people, the format and the overall concept. The high intensity, functional movements and variance of the program has always kept me coming back, hungry for more. While I’ve lagged in my workouts from time to time and in the past doubted my training, “why I’m doing this to myself” has honestly never crossed my mind, not even during the most grueling of WODs. I ran across this article a couple of days back, and it got me to thinking for the first time… “why do I do this to myself?” My conclusion… well it’s more complicated, that just saying I do this to myself because I love the prople or I love CrossFit! What I found, after asking myself the question, is, there really is no single reason that I can put my finger on. There are many reasons that are intertwined together that make CrossFit what it is… my passion and my life!
While I think I’m not alone in this thought process, I can see many people struggling with this question, especially in the middle of a grueling WOD or beat down. For those who need to find a why or two, I offer this great article from CrossFit MoMMy Maybe her insight will help you find your inner peace with your own “why do I do this to myself “? I do know, that after reading this article, that I need search deeper within my self and find a ”why”! I know that during the next TNT or grueling WOD, when that question crosses my mind, and I know it will now, I will have a mental response from myself! Enjoy the read and work on the why’s for yourself while I continue to search for mine!
CrossFit MoMMy, Where the Workout of the Day is a break from the rest of the day!
After a particularly hard work out, a dear friend wondered aloud, “Why do we do this to ourselves?”
Usually I’d have some pithy answer handy, that would make us both laugh, but I had nothing. I felt tired, sore and broken…both mentally and physically. I gave her a half-hearted smile and said, “Because it is better than the alternative?” (The alternative meant feeling old, unhealthy and stagnant.) I’d lived the alternative most of my life and had no plans to go back, but at that moment, I was beginning to question my future with CrossFit.
“Why was I doing this to myself?”
I thought on this question long and hard and it took me several weeks to find the answer. I made a list of pros and cons and in the end; I had to strip my experience of both to see what was left. For me the “bad” was my ego and that inner-voice telling me I suck, it was the whiteboard, the scrapes, rips and bruises, and the “good” was a great group of CrossFit friends and a stronger, healthier body.
But what if I removed the “good”, would I still want to participate?
In the end the simplified answer was, “Yes, because I enjoy it.” Plain and simple, I enjoy the challenge and being fit helps me enjoy the rest of my life more. But I won’t lie, having people around who support me makes the experience a helluva lot better. In fact, some days it is all that gets me through the door.
I’ve also made a point to track my progress better and set attainable goals. And let me tell ya, there is nothing better than reaching a goal you have worked your tail off to achieve. It took me nearly 16 months of ring rows, jumping pull-ups, big bands, small bands and one teeny, tiny band to get my unassisted pull-ups. But when it happened, I was so proud I jumped around the gym like a fool!
However, after my initial joy, I got a little quiet, a little embarrassed even. I mean it took me 16 months to do something others were doing in 4 months.
What did I have to be so proud of?
The next time I was in the gym, I grabbed the pull-up bar with silent excitement and did another pull-up. I was doing the happy dance in my mind and then something nice happened, a small sort of kindness that finally cleared my head. Someone I’d been working out with for months, someone I looked up to, she noticed too…she knew I’d been working on pull-ups forever and she let me know how happy she was for me. That small act of kindness lifted my spirits and nearly broke my heart at the same time. It was just what I needed.
So, to finally answer your question, my dear friend, “Why do we do this to ourselves?”
Because it IS better than the alternative and if you look at your experience honestly, you already know the answer. When the workout kicks your behind and you feel like you want to quit, you won’t and I will be happy for you and in that crazy, scary, wonderful CrossFit sort of way, you enjoy the challenge too.
Going strong and I am not done yet,
MM
