I continue to grow from my journey and hope to pass on lessons of life to my precious daughter. May she find happiness in all her days and continued to be surprised in so many wonderful ways!
Open your heart and LOVE BIG!!
Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.
– Ann Landers
Weekend Games Training, Paleo recipe swaps, supplement training, speciality Olympic lifting sessions, getting the WOD in no matter – it is what made up much of my time … well outside being Mommy of course! Since before the New Year I was in “gettin’ ready” mode and had specific timed goals and had to show up and make it work. The competitive CrossFit session was in full swing, CF Texas represented well at Sectionals and went right back into training for Regionals in May.
My last two post tell the story of an awesome weekend experiencing the cumulation of all my training. I was able to stand proud of the work I had done and knew I had left it all on the playing field. I also walked away with weaknesses …. opportunities to improve! We often are shown weaknesses in ourselves in our daily life, but when do we get excited about training specifically to overcome them? This is one of the many things in the CrossFit world that translates straight into the life OUTSIDE the CROSSFIT BOX!
So what to do now….. The weekend after Regionals I had the chance to attend a CrossFit Movement and Mobility Specialty Certification. with Kelly Starrett. It was a day filled with PAIN and a lacrosse ball… haha. Well, a day of how to prepare your body for the work you demand of it. I have seen great changes in friends and clients using some of the techniques we learned. Improving your range of motion will only do great things for you in your WODs and also in the daily grind. It’s amazing how we beat our bodies up just by going to work everyday. Preventative maintenance is the best medicine!
CF Texas Coach Mary, Kelly Starrett, and Coach Shannon
June 4th was another little milestone for me. I turned 35! What a great place to be! Thank goodness I’m not 20 something anymore, I didn’t know half of the mistakes I would make and had no clue what blessing were coming my way! Everywhere I THOUGHT I would be I’m not… and that is OK! There are moments in your life that are meant to make you a stronger, smarter, more passionate, more loving and happier person. I’ll be the first to admit that those moments aren’t always fun, but doing a Tabata anything isn’t “fun”, but it makes you stronger and faster. So, hard work to handle each of these moments life or a WOD throws at us is what we have to do if you don’t want to get beat. 
My summer has been filled with a new light on life, literally. I have been an ICU nurse for 8 years and have worked the 7pm-7am shift the entire time. Working nights will put a toll on you and you end up living opposite of the rest of society. Just prior to Regionals I switched to day shift……………. WHOA — what are all these people doing up and about during the day??? I was determined to make my daughter’s life as normal as possible. No more sleeping over at family’s houses while Mommy worked. Now we get every night together. What more could I ask for. I miss being in the box as much as I was before, and it was challenging trying to find time to train before Regionals on this new schedule.
In July I attended my very first AdvoCare Success School. It was awesome seeing so many people’s life changing stories being told in front of me. The community that is seeking to help others just continues to unfold in front of me. I realized that it’s time to start dreaming again! I had forgotten that it was important to have those dreams… not just goals but TRUE DREAMS! I have an amazing support team that is right there with me for the ride!
THE NEXT STEP
A little break away from the Crossfit hustle and bustle gave me some time to reevaluate my goals. I had been training for performance and had a specific goal. I decided to make a change in my routine. I struggled with not really having one. Then life took over and has recently reminded me what is important. FAMILY. Mekenzie and I were blessed to take a quick vacation to the coast with my Dad and Step Mother. Nothing is more fun for a kiddo than digging in the sand and splashing in the waves for a few days. Mekenzie was able to visit my Mamaw (her Great Grandmother) and the two of them had some special memory making moments. I just sat back and watched the joy in each of their eyes as the two of them read a book, played ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ on the organ, and sat in a calm peace. My life is pretty darn great! I am working every day to share the joy my daughter brings me back with her, show my family how important they are and most importantly I’m learning how to forgive. I look forward to the rest of the summer and many more days with those I care about most.
*turn your speakers on
I don’t have a huge moving topic to write about today. I have been racking my brain lately about things to blog and “what would help my clients, newcomers, firebreathers, myself” in this CrossFit world I devote myself to? I have my ongoing list of the “need to research” tid bits and random things about my training that always flood my head, but honestly it’s not really important right now. As I was brainstorming today my little girl, Mekenzie, was joyfully running around the house singing and dancing at the top of her lungs. Not a clue that I was listening and ultimately sneaking around the corner to watch, she had ZERO self-doubt, ZERO worry that she sounded silly or looked silly. Actually she loved it more the louder she got and the more wiggle she could pull out of that 3-year-old tush.
I sat there and had an overwhelming feeling of JOY! I wanted what she had… NO WORRIES. So as she saw me I was then summoned to participate. For the rest of the day it was all about having fun. Somehow my chores still managed to get done between Princess Dance Class, cupcake baking, Barbie adventures and a nap. YEAH NAPS!!!
One of the coolest things about being able to Coach and train at CrossFit Texas is that I get to have Mekenzie with me much of the time. She has been around CrossFit over a year now and even though she is only 3 yrs old, she is a little Firebreather herself. She won’t let me get away from the warmup run and will actually take off for the 400m jaunt. I can usually coax her back into the box with the friendly faces of Mary, Amie and Alice in the mornings. So the little sponges that they are at this age only sets up for her to pick up CF moves/lifts etc. One night I looked around the box as we circled up for a technique focus and review and right in the middle of the circle was MK with her 5ft PVC pipe ready to learn. The other night we had been working on snatches, I must have said a few things that stuck. At home a few nights later MK grabs her little play broom and precedes to break down the snatch… HAHAHAHA. Ok so maybe it was somewhere between and Clean and a Snatch but it was close. Then when I asked her what she was doing she announced, “My workout Mommy, I(‘m) doing SNAPS..” I could not help but laugh out loud.
I know many other parents who have there kiddos around the gym experience similar things, but I wanted to share my little JOY and how COOL it is that I get to be Mekenzie’s Mommy! Here are a few pieces of entertainment from my little redhead. MK and her “snaps” in a tutu OF COURSE!!
Thursday was a full day at CrossFit Texas. The 9am group pushed through a rough WOD with soreness still lingering from the thrusters the day before but nailed it as they always do. 4Rounds of 400m run, 30 wall balls (20#/14#, 10ft/12ft), 30 situps.
Then I had the pleasure to train a great group of women in their small group Personal Training session. These women show up twice a week eager and ready to hit it hard! Today was all about the overhead squat! In just 2 weeks I have seen them get stronger! Their pushups are hitting full range of motion and their squats lower and lower. My favorite quote from one of my clients was:
“Wow! My body feels like I was run over by a freight train this morning! I think every muscle in my body is hurting and probably in shock! LOL! Can’t wait though for thurs. See you at 8am.”
This says it all!!! That’s what CrossFit is about. Show up – work hard – and results will happen! Keep up the good work guys, you all are doing an awesome job!
One of the greatest things about CrossFit Texas and the wonderful community is that I am able to bring my daughter Mekenzie with me when I coach and workout. The other day we walked in for my 9am class and she just does her thang’. She doesn’t even flinch – she walks around like she owns the place. 🙂 Usually I hear “let’s go run!” as she wants to take off after the group in their warm-up runs. I had to laugh when she walked over to the lifting racks and said ” Mommy, I need this bar higher for my pullups”, while she dives her little hands into a bucket full of chalk. As class is in progress I look over to see Mekenzie has programmed her own WOD for the day. She jumps up and swings on the safety bar of the lifting rack for her pullup then steps away and drops for a burpee. I realized she was doing it over and over with much intent. She is always copying things we do in class but I loved that she took it upon herself to get creative. This is one of the things I think all parents wish for, that their children will feel confident in themselves to explore and try new things. I wonder some days if I bring her too much – there is that parental self-doubt … AM I DOING THIS ALL WRONG? WHAT IS BEST? HOW DO I KNOW?…. and then you see them look at you with that little sparkle in their eye and big tooth grin and you just know! If Mekenzie grows up with the influence that fitness and wellness as a “norm” then I think I have tackled one HUGE battle. Now it’s all about keeping it fun.
So, now it’s Mommy’s turn to get a workout in. On the whiteboard for me today… “Lynne”. I have never braved this benchmark. YIKES … bodyweight bench press. Well, lets just say I CAN NOT bench my body weight. Bouncing around 128-132lbs, my 1Rm bench is only around 100-105lbs. So I decided to work off a weight that I can do 7-8 times. Not a timed wod it’s all about how many reps you can knock out without breaking. 5 rounds of BW bench press, and max pullups (without dropping from the bar). I was able to hit 5-8 reps in each bench rounds, then straight to the pullups. I was experimenting with pullups today. I have worked on improving all types of my pullups and today was the day of the butterfly. Thanks to the guys in the box Brannon, Rob and Howard and their great tips and coaching, I have been able to get closer and closer to my CrossFit goals. Thank you Mark for all the support and great injections of happiness.
I have been counting my blessing these last few days and was busting at the seams. I know my blog is primarily about CrossFit and my CrossFit family, but I wouldn’t have that if I didn’t have the wonderful support from MY family. I share a look inside my family and the people who mean so much to me. My world revolves around my little girl, Mekenzie. Surrounding us this Holiday season are my parents and my grandmother. I had to add a picture of my younger brother, Brett. He was stuck up at Grad school and couldn’t make it home. So thank you for allowing me to share my blessings with all of you.
The Holiday season is in full swing. I have been asked “so what do YOU want for Christmas this year.” My first answer is always, “I’d rather you spend that money towards Mekenzie.” or “I don’t need anything”. This week my daughter and I have sat down and written more than one letter to Santa for her to walk down to the mailbox. So I was thinking, why not write down my very own “wish list” for Santa….. just for fun. So I sat down and went cyber window shopping for fun.
Lululemon has some of the best workout gear out there! A gift card would please any crossfitters wardrobe!
http://shop.lululemon.com/gift_guide.html
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CrossFit Gear. and Certifications.. Never can have too much or too many!
Dear Santa…. I would LOVE a little help getting to a CrossFit Cert… here are a few that caught my eye.
February 27th – 28th
CrossFit Gymnastics Certification
CrossFit Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
March 6th – 7th
CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certification
CrossFit Strong
Dallas, TX
ok… so I’ll also take a Nutrition cert… a Powerlifting cert….. I mean since I’m making a WISH list… 🙂
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CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OF COURSE!
Paleo Treats have a great sweet treat for all those “gotta have it” moments
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and at the end of the day I would just like to wiggle my nose, wave my wand and bibbiddy bobbiddy Boop…. I may have listed all material things on my wish list, but the REAL things on my wish list will stay tucked away. I am BLESSED to have a healthy, beautiful, energetic daughter. She is my gift that keeps giving. Being her Mommy is the best gift I have ever received.
Shannon Isbell 