Skip to main content

Give in, Give up OR Give it all I got

#abetterversionofme2018
I'll be honest – at this moment, as I am writing this post, I am feeling physically, emotionally and mentally drained.

Over the last few weeks, I've had days when I've struggled to eat, nights when I've struggled to sleep and several moments when I've just wanted to break down crying. 

When I agreed to sign up for my very first Crossfit competition (well, actually, competitionS - with an S) a few months ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

I knew I had some things to work on in order to get ready, but I totally underestimated the amount of time and work I'd truly have to put in. 

After registering for the competition, I initially chose to work with a weightlifting coach for 5 weeks to focus on more technical aspects of my Olympic lifts. Of course, while I was on vacation in Canada, spending 2 hours at the gym 6 days a week was totally reasonable.

Since returning to Vietnam however, training has been propelled to a whole new level. I've been spending anywhere between 2 and 4 hours a day at the gym, approximately 5 days a week. That of course is on top of working long days at school, coaching U11 girls soccer, putting in a few shifts coaching /assisting at the gym and trying to commit to a bit of running and soccer every so often.

Day after day, week after week, I am being pushed to new heights. My sleep, my diet, my focus, my emotions, my mindset, my body...EVERYTHING is being tested.

Do I feel a difference? Absolutely! Is it all worth it? I'm not sure yet…

I often question why I put myself through all the "torture", but in some weird way, I guess I kind of like it. I could give in and I could give up, but...that's just not who I am. My competitive nature won’t let me stop...not yet anyways!

In the heat of the moment, I may say I hate the workouts (or even my coaches hahaha), but the truth is, I'm so grateful for the time and energy everyone has put in to helping me improve and prepare for the competition. I know I would not be where I am today without them.

Crossfit Q7 coaches - District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam


So, in 7 days, I, along with two fellow coaches, will be heading out to Thailand to take part in the 2018 Bangkok Throwdown and at this point, I’m just ready to give it all I got! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...