Getting through my first active year seeking adventure through exercise

When I thought about joining Crossfit just before thanksgiving 2011, it was originally just an idea to get in shape, I had gained about 30 pounds 2 years prior from being sick, and had been working for a year, and was not able to drop more than about 10 pounds, and I needed something different than just going to the gym and trying to figure out what to do there, and running on a treadmill for 30 minutes thinking that was a workout, and never getting any results and being unhappy and frustrated with the thought of even going.  

Being that my only prior true exercise was surfing for fun on the weekends, and about ½ hour – hour at the globogym by my house, and running for about 25 minutes around my neighborhood about 3 times a week, and about five 5k fun runs, the Saturday introduction class was a real butt kicker, exhausting, but I felt good after.  After Zach had taken me through my paces with the other members of the introduction class, I felt that this is what I needed, and would sign up for the foundation techniques program that week.

Over the next few months working with the coaches at Crossfit Newport Beach (CFNB), I was able to start getting into a better shape.

I also had a desire to want to be a decent runner, though having no real running experience other than running for fun, or PE class in high school.  I started working on getting on my feet more, to run a little more.  Crossfit Newport Beach had started to develop a run club/team, and had try outs in the beginning of February, slightly over 2 months from the point I started at CFNB. I went out, and ran a 27:26 on the standard designated course.   But seeing the speed and shape of the other runners, plus not qualifying for Run Team really gave me a thirst to increase my speed and ability, and I felt a thirsty nature for improvement start to waken within me.

From there, I continued to do the regular workouts but started adding in the Run workouts on top of that, mainly running on the weekends.  I had also committed myself to the Camp Pendleton Mud run in June, which was to be the longest distance I had ever run in a single go, so I needed to be able to get there.

I then started hearing about other mud runs and how people had run Tough Mudder and how fun and challenging it was, but that was 10+ miles, about 3 times farther than I had ever run in my life.  I signed up for a 5K mud run in March, and worked on the plan of regular workouts and run workouts.

As I continued through that plan, another thing started to happen, I started to see improvement in myself, in more than just physical shape, my mental shape and wellbeing, my spirit, were also improving, and I was starting to get to know my CFNB teammates and coaches, and drew upon them for inspiration and strength to continue to grow from getting to know them, hearing their own stories and backgrounds.  I felt a sense of honor and awe to be among them and wanted to show I deserved to be there too. 

I was able to finish my first mud run, with an acceptable time to me, but still a long way from being ready for a 10K version, but learning that I actually like the obstacles thrown in with the running, the obstacles were fun, and seemed easier for me than others, so it introduced me to something that I liked and saw I may have an affinity for. 

I continued to work hard for the next 3 months, over a stressful and busy tax season, to be able to finish the Pendleton Mud Run, and joined fellow CFNB friends for training runs, and the actual run itself. Having fun with a good group of people, as well as running made that one of the best runs I had ever had.   I then had so much fun, I talked myself into stretching it and signing up for Tough Mudder at Snow Valley ski resort the following month.

I went to Tough Mudder nervous and unsure if I would even finish, but I surprised myself, by not only finishing, but having a lot of fun, and a feeling of accomplishment.  For some people that may even be their peak or goal to reach that achievement, but after learning that, not only did I finish, and felt good, I actually finished high enough that I qualified for their penultimate event, World’s Toughest Mudder, In November in New Jersey, a 24 hour nonstop mud run, a true step beyond fun mud runs, and into the world of endurance racing. 

I took the plunge and committed myself to making it there, since I qualified, why not, plus urging from Carl, that since I qualified, why not give it a shot, it was an honor to qualify, how could I turn that down.

I then started working closely with Carl on a plan for training, and prepping for what this would entail.  With guidance and direction from Carl and Todd, I was introduced to endurance racing, training, planning, strategy, and prep for not only training, but for the actual race itself, and what to truly expect.

I worked hard over the next 4 months, combining that training, with training for another Challenge that would soon follow the World’s Toughest Mudder, the GoRuck Challenge, a 10-12 hour 15-20 mile rucksack weighted teamwork and teambuilding exercise built off the mentality of special ops military training. About 10 of us, from CFNB had signed up for the challenge together to participate as a team together, we would team up for exercise sessions and hiking sessions designed by Carl and Mel at CFNB, and our teammates to build our endurance and ability to help us complete the challenge.

I also started participating in the CFNB endurance classes in the mornings, before work. It was  completely worth the gains I had in learning proper running technique from Carl, in not only increasing my endurance, but my speed as well.  In my training, not only did I learn how to increase my endurance, but I also increased my run speed by over 15%.

I went to World’s Toughest Mudder with a game plan, and confidence in not being lost on such an event that, if asked 1 year ago, if I would have been there, I would have laughed in your face to think I would ever be in such a place as a participant. I hung on, and finished 4 laps for 40 miles, and completed a combined 160+ obstacles. 

I now have plans to revisit next year, and exceed my prior year’s accomplishment, and I know that Carl, and the recently introduced endurance plan will help me achieve that goal, and hopefully have some CFNB teammates join me this time as well. I learned that at CFNB the impossible can become possible.