One Rising Star

#PresentOverPerfect2019 It took me just a few weeks of being back here in Vietnam to realize that this isn’t the right place for me to be anymore. I’ve experienced a lot here in the last two years and I have learned more than I can ever explain. In particular, I’ve grown to understand a little more about who I want to be, what I am looking for and what my purpose is in this life. A memorable marathon completed in Halong Bay back in April 2018 I will forever be grateful for my time spent here, especially at the Bilingual Canadian International School as well as at Saigon Sports Club. Throughout all the ups and downs, the things I’ve experienced and the people I’ve come across in both of these places have helped me on my journey of self-discovery.              My students @ BCIS My gym mates @ SSC/CrossFit Q7 They say that every chapter has its end and this is most definitely not the ending ...

#PresentOverPerfect2019 “Be brave, take risks and allow the unexpected.” Since a very young age, I have always been involved with sports; such as figure skating, soccer, running and most recently CrossFit.  Over the last 10 months, my love for CrossFit has really grown. Working out at the gym has helped relieve my anxiety , improve my focus , increase my motivation , augment my confidence and boost my happiness . Also, it’s truly led me to push myself , both physically and mentally, beyond my “limits”. I LOVE SPORTS! In September 2018, I took part in my first international CrossFit competition in Thailand and since then, I’ve also competed in Malaysia and the Philippines. Despite the competitions being a little nerve-racking, I’ve truly enjoyed every single one of them. Throwback to my first competition in Bangkok, Thailand In preparing for my latest competition in the Philippines, I came to realize the importance and the impact of hours of hard work and de...

#PresentOverPerfect2019 In the early hours of Friday, May 17th 2019, I flew out to Manila in the Philippines, with my coach and a fellow gymmate, to take on my biggest CrossFit challenge yet. Having barely qualified for the competition nearly two months ago, I had very few expectations for the weekend. I worked incredibly hard in the weeks leading up to the competition and I had seen massive improvements, however I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to truly compete against the other women in my division. So, when asked what my goals were for the weekend, I said: to gain more competitive experience, to do my best and to put all my hard work to the test. After all, the only thing I can control is my own performance, right? The week before the competition, I did a run-through of all 5 events and I focused on strengthening my weaknesses. When it came time to travel to the Philippines, I truly felt like I had done all that I could within the time I had to prepare. Upon my...

#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; th...

#PresentOverPerfect2019 "When you are off track, acknowledge it, forgive yourself, and re-start." Every now and then, I feel the need to take a step back from life, reflect on it and reboot my mind, body and soul. Often, I do this towards the end of December when I reflect on the year coming to an end and I begin planning for the new year ahead. Unfortunately, this time around, I really struggled with the whole process and particularly with setting new goals for myself as I got closer to 2019. Leading up to the holidays, during the holidays and even after the holidays, I was evidently off track and in a bit of a slump.   My brother, my sister-in-law and my niece who welcomed me into their home in Karlskrona, Sweden over the holidays Luckily, living in Vietnam, I get a second shot at New Year's since people here celebrate Tet, also known as Vietnamese Lunar New Year. After returning from Sweden, I spent some time contemplating what I should do during my next...

#abetterversionofme2018 I haven't posted in a little while, so here's a quick recap of what's been happening. After returning from my competition in Malaysia mid-October, I had a plan in mind. I wanted to take a bit of a step back, focus on my weaknesses and build some strength. So, I began an 8 week functional bodybuilding program and I commited to some extra training. As I entered week 3 of the program however, I became a little bored with training, a long-time injury started to irritate me again and to top it all off, I got sick. After a little time off, I decided I should really "Take it EASY" up until the holidays, but somehow, over the weeks, my competitive self just kept going. -I improved some skills, I hit some new PRs and I checked off several of my 2018 goals. 2018 CrossFit Goals -I placed 3rd in a 10km road race. Techcombank HCMC International Marathon, December 2nd 2018 I won another small fitness competiton. FEST Battle, Dece...