Work Load For The Past Week

For the past few weeks I have change my work out routine, I have been focused on longer WODs, running, and rucking. This past week I started following SealFit, I have always heard of it and watched the videos on CrossFit.com. Let me just say some of the days are crazy, a big work load. So this past week I did 2 full days of SealFit, and still ran and rucked. Then Friday was"Murph" on CF.com so of course I had to do it, 39:19 with vest. Was not my best, the first mile was slow, I kept moving through the pull ups, push ups, and squats. The 2nd mile felt a lot better.
I have been having a lot of pain on the top part of my right foot. So I talked to Matt Arnold (Airrosti) about it and he was telling me to roll out my Tibialis Anterior, it has helped out a lot but still bugging. So now I am taking a couple days off from the pounding of my feet, roll it and ice it.
I have enjoyed this past weeks of long WOD's, I'm not going to lie I do miss the 5-8 min metcons. But that is no longer in my life right now.

On another note, we are working on Levels for the box. Not Leveled classes but a test out. We are using some of the bench marks From Crossfit. The game plan is a quarterly test out of skills and on some levels there are WOD's. I am pumped about this, because I feel like people get stuck in their everyday life and in their workouts. If we can give them something to shoot for, it will help keep them motivated and striving for more. Charlie and I are working through the details and will be putting out more info soon.

The WOD for today is coming off of Sealfit.com,
1 Mile Run
50 Burpees
2000 M Row
50 Burpees
1 Mile Run
with 20lb vest

Can't wait.

Coaches WOD

The WOD was:

1000 M Run (40lb/30lb vest)
10 Deadlifts (315/205)
Sled Push
10 Push Jerks (185/115)
30 Sit Ups
3rds For Time
Most wear vest during Run, Deadlifts, and Sled Push

It was a good WOD, the deadlifts where rough after the run and the Push Jerks where more of a push press, you just had to man up so you did not have to rack it after 2 reps. The first round I did 3,3,2,2,. Then round 2 and 3 I did 5 and 5. My goal was not to slow down on the run and keep a good pace for all the 3 rounds. On the sled we pushed from the top bar for two rounds and low bar for one round. All and all it was a good WOD.

Kris
Charlie
Shelby
Vic
Katie
Andrew
Ashley

Blue Cure Foundation

I was introduced to Gabe Canales yesterday by Sofie Van Der Dys. I was inspired by his story and what he has gone through in the last two years. As he talked about Blue Cure I was truly inspired. For y'all that have never heard of the Blue Cure Foundation’s their mission is to save lives through raising awareness of prostate cancer among all adult men. Gabe was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 35, and now he has committed to raise awarness on prostate cancer. This hit home with me, my mom's grandfather died because of it, her cousin was diagnosed with it, and my uncle is fighting with it now. I did a little research and found this:

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The latest American Cancer Society estimates for prostate cancer in the United States are for 2011:

• About 240,890 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed
• About 33,720 men will die of prostate cancer

About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. More than 2 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 36 will die of prostate cancer.

Last Medical Review: 11/22/2010
Last Revised: 10/12/2011
from cancer.org

Here is Gabe Canales

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer this year at age 35. I thought it was supposed to be an older man's cancer. That's all I knew of this disease -- and that's part of the problem.

This year in America, over 32,000 fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and friends of all ages will lose their battle with prostate cancer. And the National Cancer Institute says 217,230 new cases will be diagnosed.

Prostate cancer is real, and all men -- of all ages and ethnic groups -- need to know about it.
I knew almost nothing upon hearing the words "You have cancer," then went through disbelief, sadness, depression and many questions. After all, I hadn't had any symptoms, and it was only during a checkup when a box was accidentally checked for a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test that I learned of the abnormality.

I knew nothing about the function of the prostate, much less prostate cancer. I didn't know whether it could kill me -- it can -- how to treat it -- we can, in many ways -- and what it meant. Surprisingly -- or perhaps not surprisingly -- few of my friends in their mid-20s to mid-40s knew much about prostate cancer either.

Men under 50 aren't urged to have annual prostate exams, and there's debate on how old they should be before such cancer screenings. I often hear 40 for African Americans and 50 for all others.

The National Cancer Institute defines prostate cancer as a "cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum)." Many older men get this cancer, but it's slow-moving for them and they often die from other causes before prostate cancer takes them.

In my case, the cancer was caught early, which is good. But treatment options can be tough. So far I've been told either to remove my prostate now or go under a program of "active surveillance" or "watchful waiting" and remove it later. I've been encouraged by many survivors and those who have lost loved ones to remove it before it metastasizes. But that's the last thing I want to do.

I'm still reeling from the biopsy, which was awful. I was awake and given a local anesthetic but the pain was unbearable, with needles poking my prostate through my rectum to take 12 pieces from the prostate. Post-biopsy, there was blood in my urine and stool. I was disturbed for weeks to see bright red streams of blood shoot out of me. So you can imagine my fear of the effects of having my prostate removed, especially when you add the risks of incontinence and impotence.

Perhaps it's my avoidance of enduring another biopsy or having my prostate removed that has me more interested in alternative methods at this time. As a result, I've met with great doctors in Houston and in New York City.

At New York Columbia-Presbyterian I recently met Dr. Aaron Katz, Professor of Clinical Urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Founder and Director of the Center for Holistic Urology. He and his team conduct clinical trials which investigate the role of natural therapies within urology. He believes in traditional medicine but practices an integrative approach: allopathic and holistic.

Perplexed by having prostate cancer at such a young age, I asked Dr. Katz point-blank: Are all the hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in our foods contributing to rising cancer rates? His answer was an emphatic "Yes."

Another doctor told me to remove stress factors in my life. Said stress also can spur cancer.
Thus, I've radically changed my lifestyle. I eat five small meals a day, three of which are vegetarian. I eat mostly organic, and nothing fried. My main source of protein is usually a fatty fish like salmon, and I'm on a regimen of high-grade supplements of herbs, mushrooms and antioxidants. I also make a point to sleep more than the four to five hours I used to sleep, and I've slowed down.

Any results? Yes. In 12 weeks my PSA has decreased. I'll have another PSA at the end of this quarter and then the next. The doctors and I hope to see my PSA continue to drop. But this isn't all about me. It's about a threat to all men, young and old.

As a young man, I encourage other young men to:

• Know your body, understand your body and protect your body.
• Think about what you're eating and its long-term affects to your body. Try to eat organic.
• Think about your environment and to what you're exposing your body.
• Consider getting a PSA or DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) as young as 30-years-old.

• Go to ZeroCancer.org and PCF.org, great non-profits that research, advocate and lobby. Their websites are very informative and educational.
• Distance yourself from stressful people and situations and find time to be alone to reflect, meditate or pray.

I also just returned from Washington, D.C., where I attended the 2010 Zero Summit to End Prostate Cancer. Also in attendance were advocates, researchers and others who are making a difference in this vital battle. I was encouraged to see in person support by Speaker Pelosi, Senator Kerry, Senator Sessions, Congressman Cummings and Congressman Neugebauer. And I was moved to meet husbands, dads, sons and brothers afflicted with this cancer and hear their stories. Let's also not forget the wives, daughters, sisters and moms affected by loved ones dealing with this dreadful disease.

Among them I was touched by Sherry Galloway, who told of her son Jeremy. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 34 and gave the fight his all, but lost at age 36. I never met Jeremy, but I met his mother and she described him as a loving, passionate man who was loved by many and wanted to make a difference. He did. In fact, Jeremy donated his body for cancer research.

Now I too am inspired and motivated, and I pledge to make a difference. I pledge to raise awareness. I pledge to be an advocate. I pledge to lobby Congress for more money to study and fight prostate cancer. I also pledge to keep fighting my own prostate cancer. That fight came too early in my young life, but now I'm determined to see it through.

Follow Gabe Canales on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BlueCureGabe

Go to Blue Cure and read more, buy a Blue Cure Shirt and all proceeds go the Blue Cure Foundation

It Could Change Your Life

I debate with people all the time about Paleo and how it can change their life. I have talked to clients about their experience with Paleo and them changing their eating habits. I have gotten some crazy feed back. I have heard of Family's telling them they need to quit eating that way its unhealthy or they are already to skinny. I even heard a doctor tell them they need to eat more junk food to gain weight. Stuff like that blows my mind.
The other night I was at Pin Up CF talking to Erica, and we started talking about Paleo and the Paleo Challenge. She started to tell me about her friend Julia and how she developed

Rheumatoid Arthritis, and how she had started to eat Paleo and it changed her life. So of course I wanted to share her story with as many people as possible. I ask Erika to ask if she would send me her story. And here it is, and I forgot to say she is a CrossFiter now too.

My Paleo/Crossfit Journey

　

Hello, my name is Julia, I live in Ireland and I am a Crossfitter.

I was asked to share my story, it’s an ordinary story but it’s one that has turned this formerly sick, pain ridden individual into the super kick ass cave girl that I am today, so I’m very happy to share it with you and, if it makes you smile or encourages you to start or stay on your own journey, then I’ve done a good thing and your journey in some way will become part of my journey.

About 10 years ago within the space of 6 weeks I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis, going from healthy to not able to dress, walk, shower or use the bathroom facilities on my own. To say Arthritis threw my world into complete chaos is to understate the impact of the illness on me. I can remember talking to a lady in the hospital, who was trying to be helpful when she told me I’d soon get used to only wearing running shoes. There and then I vowed I would wear heels every single day for the rest of my life…

Over the course of the next 10 years at times it was impossible to work, my relationship ended and looking back, I‘m sure that the illness had a lot to do with the break up. Over the years I’ve been on too many different drugs treatments to mention, all of which helped keep my symptoms at bay - at least for a short period of time then it was back to the Doctors to try another combination of drugs. Eventually my regime included taking medications to counteract the effects of my Rheumatoid medications it felt like my life had become a constant battle to just contain my condition while also trying to live a normal life that had at least some quality to it -that was tough for me to achieve. In honesty I never really succeeded in that goal…

Throughout this time the hardest part was not being able to do simple things like raising a coffee cup to my lips, or to put my own underwear on, not being able to do these things wear you down in the end.

Jumping forward to 2010, one day it occurred to me that I hadn’t worked out in such a long time, 9 years to be exact; in turn I wondered if I could actually complete a workout? Would I keel over after 10 minutes? What would be the arthritic effect on my body? That sounds like a challenge right? Enthused by the thought of the challenge I choose to take a Kettle bell class, now I have to be honest with you it took me about 4 weeks to build up the courage to go to a class, I’d almost go in the doors only to back out at the last minute. Eventually I did make it into the class and almost instantly loved it, loved that it was tough on me but from somewhere, I’ve got no idea where, I found the balls to not give up, to keep going no matter how hard I found it. After about 4 months of kettle bell classes, I came across Paleo…

I bought the Paleo Diet Solution and took Robb Wolf at his word when he said give it 30 days. If it doesn’t change your life, what have you lost? (I’m paraphrasing here!). Paleo wasn’t easy at first, I think it took my body about 4 or 5 weeks to begin to feel real again, by that I mean my body started to feel healthy for the first time in probably 15 years. By the time I got to week 7 of Paleo I woke up one morning knowing that I wasn’t going to continue taking my injections and the other 10 drugs that I was taking on a daily basis… That was 10^th October 2010, I have not taken any of the drugs since that day. I have lived pain free since the same date.

Shortly after taking the huge step of stopping treatment, I started to believe. I mean really truly believe that I can achieve anything I put my mind to, so with that in mind I realized I needed a new challenge, you probably know where I’m going now, yes I found Crossfit…

Crossfit was tough, I can honestly say I hated Fundamentals (sorry Coach) there was stuff I wasn’t able to do, it hurt, and often I wondered why I was putting myself through this crap. But I wasn’t about to give up just because it wasn’t easy. I graduated fundamentals and did my first ’big girl’ WOD the very next day. What can I tell you? If Paleo is the tool that allows my body to function at a level that someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis would never expect Crossfit is the thing that makes me glad to be alive, really, really alive - what a feeling, you can‘t buy that. I’ve done Murph just once so far, we all know how tough that WOD is my high was so great following it that I walked to my office with happy, emotional tears in my eyes - one of the best emotional feelings I’ve experienced - ever. So no matter how hard the WOD, despite the blood (ya gotta love those rips on your hands), the sweat and the tears of frustration, I can tell you that I truly love each and every single second of it.

I am so very excited by life, and life is exciting because I am living, hand standing, jumping, skipping, climbing, running, lifting proof of the fact that this stuff really does works.

Am I slightly obsessed by Crossfit? Yes of course I am, better that than being obsessed by what drug regime might give me a better chance of being able to get out of bed unassisted right?

If any of this rings a bell for you, if you’re trying Paleo and finding it hard, going through Fundamentals and wondering the hell why you’re doing it, I’d urge you to stay on this path, you are going to gain so much from the journey I promise you that, So now go get some, go on I dare you!!

Julia xx

Games Training

This past Tuesday night Andy and the Team went out to Genesis-AP. It's ran by David Claiborne. Him and his crew treated us right, in other words they kicked our ass. We had a great time with it. He programmed some skills that we do not use here, so it was great exposure to their world. We will be going out to train with them again in a week.

Saturday we will be going to CrossFit CenTex to train with Chad and Ursula. Brush up on our Oly skills.

For any of y'all that did .com yesterday
1 L sit Rope Climb
5 HSPU on Paralletts
10 Pistols with a 45 lb bar
5X
I did it RX and it took me 21: and change. That was a tough, challenging, but yet fun WOD.




Charlie flipping Cody caring the keg

Andy

me and Jane

me and thick bar

Katie caring

Belize and Rest

Me and Katie

John flipping a coco tree

BCCF!!

7 Days in Belize, great time. Ate good, drank a lot, had great company. Broke a couple golf carts, swam with sharks, sting rays , and a lot of fish. The wind blew almost all the time, which I think was a blessing in disguise, with out it it would of been a little hot.
I worked out the first three days, and on the 3rd while doing sprints my back just tighten up, and started having neck pain and a headache. I took the remaining days off from working out. I wish I would of taken all 7 days off. With the type of workouts we do , I truly believe you need rest. Not just a day off here and there, but sometimes you need 2 to 3 days off. Every so often you need a week off. We push our bodies to the red line often. You must take care of your body. Specially with little injuries, I am the worst at that. If you do not rest the injury will not get better. Your muscles will not recover and grow. So the bottom line is listen to your body. Enjoy your vacation and its ok not to workout more then 2 days in a row.

South Central

1st Place in the South Central Region.

What a weekend. What a Hot Weekend. I have to say its one of my favorite times of the year. I get to see a lot of friends, I get to compete against them, I get to cheer for them, and I get to make new friends.
The Sport of CrossFit is growing and evolving each year. I'm just lucky I have been able to be a part of it for the last 3 years. We had a great venue, hot as hell, but a great spectator venue. Its some of the best judging that I have seen. There where a few bad calls, but you will always have that. All and all the best judging. All the staff was great, Matt and Pam did a amazing job. Thank y'all, every one that helped.
My big thank you goes to the Bayou City CF Community, all I can say is it was amazing to be on the floor hearing y'all scream for us. Its the loudest I have ever heard. I love y'all.

To our team, y'all did amazing. I am pumped to be going to The Games with y'all. Like I said its not about you its about the team, Train for the Team.

The Regionals

So its here 2011 Regionals. A lot has changed, the venue is in Tomball, everyone knows the WOD's, and I am competing on our Team.

The issue with knowing the WOD's for me is, all I have done in the last month and a half is specific training, specific movements. I believe my GPP is down. For the first time in a while I did a solo WOD and it kicked my ass. That's no ones fault but my own. Everyone has said "what about the unknown, that's CrossFit". I agree with that statement. I know last year a lot of people where crying about our Regional WOD's where harder or not hard enough. I guess this was a way to say everyone is doing the same across the world. I see the reasons, I just don't like them. You can't make everyone happy. Adapt and overcome.

Tomball, TX, Damn its going to be hot. I love it. I told Charlie G. the other day I drive around with my window's down to get use to the heat. He laughed at me and said I was crazy. I was in Oklahoma last weekend, and you can feel the difference. I was out in the sun all day, no sun burn. If your out in the sun here, you will be cooked well done. Take a knee, drink water.

This year I am going team. I have a couple reasons for that. One is I want this to be a start for Bayou City CrossFit in the Team comp. Our team has been training hard. We meet up 4 to 5 times a week, either as the group or WOD partner. We had a Team dinner last night, and all I can say is we are ready. All I can promise is we will be out there giving it 100%.

Good Luck to all competitors.
Lets Go Team, Game Day.

The Team

The Bayou City CF Team.
The way we made up our team this year was the top scores from the Sectional WOD's.
Our Team is:
The Women (in order): Katie Russell, Susie Tannery, Jane Shin, and Monica Wonzer
The Men (in order): Vic Zachary, Charlie G., Cody Sanders, and Kristian Montoya

I have to say I am excited about this, this year is the year we make a name for Bayou City's Team. This is week two of our training and its been great. We are dedicated to each other and the Box. We expect all of y'all cheering us on in Tomball for Regionals.


Monica

Kristian

Katie

Vic

Charlie

Susie

Cody


Jane

Scottsdale AZ

I just got back from a nice 4 day Reilly vacation to Scottsdale AZ. Its was a well needed trip. We stopped by Cactus CrossFit and did a WOD with Kevin, Great place. We hung out by the pool, hiked up Camelback, and ate some great food.
I was lucky enough to hang out with my cousin Valerie and her husband David. I don't get to see them enough.
It was great to be able to hang out with Lori and John outside of the Box. Can't wait for the next vacation.

on top of Camleback Mountain, with my 2POOD shirt

Lori and John representing on the Mountain

Lori with a little climbing

Katie all smiles

Sectional WOD 2

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 15 minutes of:
155 pound Deadlift, 9 reps
12 Push-ups
15 Box jumps, 24" box

Another fun AMRAP I did a little better than last week. I ended up with 12 rounds, 9 Deadlifts, 12 Push Ups, and 3 Box Jumps. We will see what tonight brings, another AMRAP?



Lori

Val

Katie

Cody

CrossFit Open/ My WOD's

So The CrossFit Open has started, first WOD 30 Double Unders and 15 Power Snacth, 10 min AMRAP. Good first WOD for the killer Double Unders. I completed 6 full rounds and 30 DU's and 14 Snatch's. Not Bad, could of pushed it a little more for the last Snatch and a few more points on Double Unders. It is what it is. As of now I'm not going to do it again. I'm just ready for the 2nd WOD to come out.

For Me the feeling of the CrossFit Games is a lot different then the last two years. The ramp up has been different. Maybe its not having a Big Sectionals, maybe its my mind set, what ever it is The Games are not going to wait for me. So my big question is do I compete on the Team or go for individual? I will answer that after the Open. There are a few other events in my life that may play a fact on which rout I go.

So my workout today was: a 10k road march with a 55lb ruck. I was at 5 miles at an hour and completed it in 1hr and 13 Min's, not bad.
Then this afternoon it was: 3 Push Jerks at 195, 20 sit ups on GHD, 10 Dips, 20 Push ups, then farmers carry (2 2pood's) 100 meters, 3x not for time.

6 SOLES

Race Across the Sky

Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run

August 20-21, 2011

Soul
The spiritual nature of humans, the breath of life, the vital core, regarded as immortal.

Sole
The part on which something else rests.


"If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely."

Author

March 1

U.S. Army Sergeant Jason "Mick" McCluskey, 26, of McAlester, Oklahoma, assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was killed on November 4, 2010, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Zarghun Shahr, Mohammad Agha district, Afghanistan. He is survived by his son Landen, and his mother Delores Olivares

"McCluskey"

Three rounds of:
9 Muscle-ups
15 Burpee pull-ups
21 Pull-ups
Run 800 meters
with a 20lb vest

We where able to have a good coaches WOD today, It was Katie, Shelby, Andrew, Neal Cf Katy, Gabe, Kirk, and myself.







This was Neal's max Muscle Ups in a WOD, and he killed it. Great Job Bro




So last year going to the Games I did a WOD with Charlie. The WOD had MU with a weighted vest, and I could not even do one. Then of course my nasty performance In WOD 1 at the Games. So when I completed all my MU with a 20lb vest I was pumped. It was a great WOD for me to build my confidence.

Today we are heading to Yoga One for some Yoga. I'm going to get me butt kicked.

Fittest Games Austin TX

225 Bear Complex

This past weekend I competed in the Fittest Games in Austin. It was put on by CrossFit Central. They did an amazing job running an Elite Male/Female, Elite Men 40+, Intermediate Men/Women, Intermediate Men/Women 40+, and Team.
There was structure and control through all the WOD's. It was a great event.
For some video coverage SICFIT.

As for me, I ended up 4th. Not bad, its actually where I wanted to be. Coming off the Marathon, I was not sure if it would hurt me for the comp. I feel like it did not have a big impact on the comp. Of course I would of rather been working out and lifting, then resting for and after the Marathon. Now I feel better about where I'm at. For y'all that don't know I did not finish very well at ACO (All City's Open Comp). I hurt my back a little, and was not able to truly place myself in the Texas Competition field. For the scores of the Fittest Games Click Here.
Now all that is in the Past, so I can focus on the present to do what I can to better myself.

In other news I have my first endorsement, 2POOD. I was able to meet Baker (one of the owners) this past weekend, they are a stand up group. I look forward to work with them.

Toe to Bar


Running back first WOD, crazy hair

Snacth's 135

This afternoon the WOD is Eva, Nasty! Can't Wait.

The Houston Marathon

The Marathon has come and gone, Looking back on my training for it or what some would say lack of training. I would not have changed anything. Yea I didn't have a fast time but I feel great two days later. The longest run I had leading up to it was 9 miles, I did nothing but Crossfit.com WOD's, and a few 3/6 milers. I did cut down on my Olympic lifting, just because I did not want to gain any extra weight.
The great thing is I have no blisters and no pain.

Post Marathon WOD, Me and Kris. I got it from CrossFit Endurance.

12 Pull ups

12 Push ups

12 Sit ups GHD

12 Hip Ex GHD

12 KB Swings

3x NOT FOR TIME

And some foam rolling. It was a little tough to get started, but afterwards we felt a lot better.

Day after I had a little knee pain and a little foot/ankle pain, not to bad. Today, 2 days after and I feel good, I'm going to do today's CF.com wod, nothing crazy, not worried about time, just want to get the muscles moving.

I want to say a Big thank you to all the supporters that came out to support the Marathoners. It was a great event. To the LuLu peps and the Bayou City/Pin Up crew y'all are AWSOME!

Also a big THANK YOU to Chris for running with me those 4 miles and to Katie for running the last 2 miles with me.