What I Learned From My First Competition

 

From completing my first online qualifiers, and having the first workout with skills I haven't figured out yet (double unders), I was  left in 73rd place. This meant I missed out on qualifying for Battle of Britain. But 5 days before the event I was called... I had a place! Fear struck, but so did the excitement. 

 

 

The WODs were slowly announced on the lead up to the competition, and my nerves were increasing.

On the day, registration was at 7:30, followed by an athlete briefing to go through movement standards. Masters females were first up followed by female RX. Men's (20kg) bars were used in all workouts 

 

The Event

Here's a summary of the day from the event organiser, Ryan Wells (CrossFit Coventry):

 

So the first WOD was 'Rapid Fire'. This was the speed Snatch ladder.

The reps were 6-5-4-3-2-1, with ascending weight on each bar.

There was a 4 minute call on this workout, so you had to really move to finish it in time. That's if you could even lift the heaver weights at the end of the ladder. 

 

2nd WOD was 'Get a Grip'. This was a classic chipper WOD:

50 double unders

20 deadlifts 

20 box jumps

20 Swings

20 toes to bar

20 swings

20 box jumps

20 deadlifts

50 double unders

 

The time cap on this was 8 minutes - and it was a good mix of different movements. There was something for the heavy lifters, but also something a bit more gassy for the gymnastic and double under ninjas. 

 

WOD 3 was 'Hard Target'

This was reps of 12-9-6:

C2B pull ups,

STOs and ,

Burpee D-Balls. 

 

The burpee D balls are something we came up with to include an uncommon movement that would catch people off guard - but wasn't too out there, and silly like you sometimes see at comps.

It's basically the strongman movement of throwing a soft atlas stone over the shoulder but you have to hit the deck with your chest before lifting the ball each time. 

We designed the layout of the WODs using the venue in a way that the crowd could always see who was leading by having them move along the arena positioning the kit at different stations separated by a short run.

 

What I Learned From My First Competition

 

1. It's ok to step outside of your comfort zone.

I have a long way to go, but it's ok, I'll get there in the end. The most important part is in the short duration I have been taking part in the sport, I have come a long way. A few months ago a couldn't snatch 50kg for 1 and now I completed it in a snatch ladder for 4 reps!

 

2. It's all about the community.

Heading to the competition knowing only a few people (Coach; Shane Williams and training partner Jennifer Swallow), it is humbling to know that everyone competing is there to support you.

We don't compete 'against' one another, we compete 'with' each other (and against ourselves), side by side... Cheering the last competitor on as the finish their final few reps. 

 

3. Competition vibes push to you to limits that you never even knew existed.

You put your heart and soul into every workout. At the end you're floored, rolling around gasping for air whilst trying to sign your name on the WOD form. Always interesting! Skills that's I still haven't quite mastered came through on the day, due to pure determination (double unders).

 

4. Competitions are a great way to meet new people.

I for one, am a chatterbox and will chat to anyone in the warm up area. Making friends is great.

 

5. Nothing motivates you more than watching the talent.

Eating nutritious food, training hard and showing the results on the arena floor. Massively inspiring!