Road to the Philippines

#PresentOverPerfect2019

"The road to success is always under construction."

When I returned from my fitness holiday in Phuket in February, I decided to sign up for yet another CrossFit competition, this time in the Philippines. Unlike the other competitions I've participated in over the last 8 months though, I would need to complete 5 weeks of qualifying workouts, which would be the same 5 workouts (scaled) featured in the 2019 CrossFit Open Games.

19.1: wall-balls + rowing

19.2: knee raises + single unders + squat cleans

19.3: dumbbell lunges + dumbbell step-ups + strict handstand push-ups + bear crawl

19.4: snatches + burpees + pull-ups

19.5: thrusters + jumping pull-ups

As always, my strengths and weaknesses were made evident throughout the 5 weeks. Despite some massive improvements over the last year, it was no surprise that heavy lifts and gymnastic movements were still things that I struggled with.

It wasn't an easy 5 weeks; there were some highs and most definitely some lows. Nonetheless, after lots of sweat, a few tears and a wee bit of pee (Oupsy!), I've officially qualified for the competition.

After taking it easy for a few days following the qualifying phase, I got right back to work adding in a couple morning training sessions.

1st morning training session

With 5 weeks till the competition, I've been focused not only on my physical development through training, but also on trying to improve my eating, my sleeping and most of all my mindset.

"It's on! Time to make the magic happen!"

Comments

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

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 ...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog