What I probably love most about Crossfit these days is that my Box is doing this “Friday Night Lights” thing where everyone that wants to do the Crossfit Open WOD gathers together and does it in heats in the evening. This really brings us as a community together because we support our other athletes in the Box and get to watch them grow during this segment.
During this particular WOD, 16.2, I had the pleasure to watch an athlete that I regularly work out with in the evenings. She was one of the first women in the evenings that pushed me along, coached me when I needed it, and was regularly my partner when I needed one. Watching her during this WOD was a great experience for me because I knew where she was strength-wise. I knew going in where she needed to push herself and what she could do during an evening class. This was different though. I mean, just the atmosphere itself gives one energy to keep going, so I knew she could do more than just what she demo’d in class.
She quickly made it through the first round of the WOD:
4 minutes to complete:
25 toes to bar (scaled is hanging)
50 double unders (scaled is single)
15 squat cleans (scaled is with 55lbs)
She accomplished her second round with barely enough time to breathe until the next one began:
4 minutes to complete:
25 toes to bar (scaled is hanging)
50 double unders (scaled is single)
15 squat cleans (scaled is with 75lbs)
On her third round is where her challenge awaited her. That damn 95lb squat clean.
4 minutes to complete:
25 toes to bar (scaled is hanging)
50 double unders (scaled is single)
15 squat cleans (scaled is with 95lbs)
Since she was doing scaled it was allowed for the athlete to do a power clean followed by a squat clean. Her first few attempts with this weight were trials in which she did not do this. With two minutes to spare she had the strength to give it her all, at least to try and accomplish a PR.
I’ll never forget this moment. This is what I took away from the whole night. The coach that was evaluating her didn’t just stand there and wait for her next attempt. He went up and spoke to her. He asked her something along the lines of, “Are you good with just doing 1?” and She said, “Yeah.” He told her, “Power clean, keep the core tight, and do a front squat.” With her first attempt she got stuck at the bottom of the squat, couldn’t get back up. The coach stepped in again and told she had it, gave her the knuckles to confirm it.
Watching a coach step in and encourage another athlete is beyond impacting. Having someone confirm our strength and our ability to accomplish something gives us that extra push to make it to the top of a squat clean. A coach is not just there to demonstrate a movement, to explain the rules, or to babysit. A coach is a mentor, someone to look up to, someone to guide you and improve your mentality and physical body. No other person could have encouraged this athlete to give it their all with the same meaningful effect. This was a coach that demonstrated confidence, took away fear, and presented the opportunity to succeed.
Her second attempt was made with 15 seconds left and everyone was in her corner. No other athlete was still going. With all eyes on her, she power cleaned the 95lbs, inhaled, sunk in to her squat, and gave away every last bit of breath from her lungs on her way up.
I never felt more alive as I drowned in the cheers from all the other athletes supporting her.
This is strength. This is purpose. This is passion.
This is Crossfit Lynchburg’s Friday Night Lights.
ohmyywod 