Still Determined

I am still determined. Wow, I have been so busy training and living life that I have not posted for quite a while. So much has happened that has been positive in the last several months. By now I do not even feel like I am in remission from brain cancer. The only things I notice is that my incision hurts every once in a while, I have a scar, my hair is shorter on the front of the left side of my head, and my occasional severe migraine. Thankfully, I think my planter fasciitis that I have been dealing with since last fall has calmed down in my R foot so that I can start running and being active. I started a new job last week as a nurse at one of the best retirement living communities around. Recently I discovered a miracle juice called XanGo that helps fight cancer and reduces inflammation. It’s effects are currently being studied by Mayo Clinic. I hope it works to calm down my migraines and incisional pains from my brain cancer treatment. I already feel better with only a few days on the juice. You can contact me for more information and to order this amazing juice.

I have started working with a personal trainer and dietician to get my weight down and work on my diet. This is the biggest challenge for me. I know what I need to eat and avoid but actually doing it has been a challenge. My diet is slowly improving although I have yet to lose any weight.

After several months off from CrossFit, I decided to sign up for this year’s CrossFit Open. I am excited because they will have scaled options this year. After not posting a score for the last workout of the 2014 Open. This year, I want to post scores for all workouts. The scaling options should help. I had originally signed up to compete as a member of a new CrossFit gym in town but just changed my plans to compete with my former gym. This open will be exciting because they are making it big with an event called “Friday Night Lights.” Stay tuned for new and exciting posts.

 

When Your Best is Not Good Enough: CrossFit Games Open recap

My best in the CrossFit Open competition was not good enough. The WOD’s this year just did not support my strengths and skills. Along with great coaching, and the support of my box I was able to get on the board and put in my best effort less than three months after finishing treatment for brain cancer.

WOD 14.1
Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
30 double-unders
55-lb. power snatches, 15 reps
-started with double unders, something I gave up working on long ago. I may be fast at single jump rope but stink at double unders. My score was 7 for the WOD.

Almost to the top

WOD 14.2
From 0:00-3:00
2 rounds of:
10 overhead squats at 65#
10 chest-to-bar pull-ups
From 3:00-6:00
2 rounds of:
12 overhead squats
12 chest-to-bar pull-ups
From 6:00-9:00
2 rounds of:
14 overhead squats
14 chest-to-bar pull-ups
Etc., following same pattern until you fail to complete both rounds

-can’t do pull-up so got score of 10 for the overhead squats at 65 pounds, which was challenging enough

 

Box Jumps

WOD 14.3
Complete as many reps as possible in 8 minutes of:
95-lb. deadlifts, 10 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
135-lb. deadlifts, 15 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
155-lb. deadlifts, 20 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
185-lb. deadlifts, 25 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
205-lb. deadlifts, 30 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
225-lb. deadlifts, 35 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
-I was able to get 97 reps. My best WOD of the open and the best WOD for my middle distance athletic type. I made a major mistake. I did not think I would get to 185 so I had to run to the racks to get the weights than load them. Probably would have gotten a few more reps if I had not made the mistake.

WOD 14.4
Complete as many rounds and repetitions as possible in 14 minutes of:
60-calorie row
50 toes-to-bars
40 wall-ball shots, 14 lb. to 9-foot target
30 cleans, 95 lb.
20 muscle-ups
-Rowing is one of my best sports and I was unsure about getting any toes-to-bar going into the WOD. Took it easy because of the weightlifting meet the next day but got 73, including 13 toes to bar.
WOD 14.5
21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps for time of:
65-lb. thrusters
Burpees

– My box had a 20 minute cap but I still wanted to do the whole workout. When it took me about 15 minutes to get though a few rounds a dropped my rx’d weight and followed the 20 minute cap. The workout was doable but it would have taken me 45 minutes with all the rest I needed. Burpees are not my thing and jumping over a barbell with weights makes it more challenging. Took me several days to recover from this workout (well the 1.25 hour strength indoor bike workout the next day did not help my recovery either). DNF

I hope my best is better next year. I know it will because I belong to a great CrossFit community in Rochester, MN at CrossFit Progression.
~dmj

Survivorship and the CrossFit Games Open

Survivorship and the CrossFit Games Open

This post talks about my experience in the first two weeks of the CrossFit Games Open, recent MRI results, training, the weather, and competition plans for 2014.

 

My MRI last Friday, March 7 confirmed that I continue in survivorship. The MRI appeared better than the last one and to celebrate I completed WOD 14.2 of the CrossFit Games Open with a score of 10 reps overhead squats at 65#. Double-under jump rope got me on the first WOD of the open, 14.1. Double-unders involve two rotations of the jump rope under your feet for each jump. I only got 7reps, but going into the workout I thought, will I get at least 1, will my Open be over in the first WOD? I gave up on double- unders last  Fall. Here is the link to my CrossFit Games Open Profile http://games.crossfit.com/athlete/68416

Almost to the top

CF OPEN WOD 14.2

Maybe a pull-up?

My training continues to improve despite the awful weather and road conditions. Yes, the cold weather and snow have made it difficult to get to the gym to get any training done. Yes it may look beautiful, but it is darn cold and I am not going to slip on the ice with only screws and plates holding a piece of my skull in place.

Nice Winter’s Day Walk Cascade Creek 2014

In addition, I have decided on a tentative competition schedule for 2014. On March 1, I competed in the Minnesota Power Pull and got 1^st place (well out of 2) in the Women’s Masters Division. My time, although not a post 30 y/o PR, was in the upper percentile of all female competitors even with little specific rowing training.

MN Powerpull 1st place medal

My next big competition is the Minnesota Local Weightlifting Club Championship on March 22. Even though I have been weightlifting about twice a week, I think I have hit a plateau and my weights have not increased for several months. Although despite not increasing weights, my form is improving with continued training. It does get upsetting when everyone else improves except you. Yes, they work hard to improve but I do too. I will take a hiatus from CrossFit at the end of March to train for endurance events like my marathon and triathlons. The only thing that is improving is my running. I am running faster and longer.  I cannot wait to get outside and go running along Cascade Creek on the bike trail just a few blocks from my house. This were I spent much of my time in the early 2000’s.

Other bits of life include finishing my soccer refereeing, working on my naturopathic degrees, trying to apply to PhD school, applying to other better jobs, coaching swimming, volunteering at the hospital, working at my nursing job, and getting my wellness business, Winning Wellness Solutions, on track.  Overall, I am keeping busy and keeping a positive outlook. I am going to just keep moving ahead and not look back.

~dmj