5.19.2011

The last 14 days have been insanity.. I ended up surviving finals, miraculously pulling an A in Heat Transfer and a C in Thermodynamics 2 (one person was passing with a 61% going into the final -_-)! Sometimes I look back at where I was, both physically and spiritually, almost exactly a year ago and it amazes me. So many things have changed. I was introduced to CrossFit a year ago by Chris who randomly asked me to work out with him and Cune the upcoming Saturday. I had never tried CrossFit and couldn't deny the challenge, so I decided to go. The workout was Cindy - a 20 Min AMRAP of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 air squats. I was summarily annihilated. I was able to squeeze out 22 rounds and almost caught Chris who did 23. I then proceeded to fall over attempt to catch my breath and grasp on reality. The workout was killer! I hadn't experienced that sort of a challenge in a workout since back when I was swimming competitively. I absolutely loved it and have been hopelessly hooked ever since then. Physically, I am close to the being in the best shape of my life - stronger, faster, better endurance, more flexibility, less aches/injuries, and on and on. Its amazing what a high intensity, full range of motion, constantly varied program can do! CrossFit works! On the other side of the coin, through CrossFit, I made many close friends and in alot of ways, family. After joining I started going to bible study and then church with many of the people from CrossFit and getting connected with other believers and through these relationships, God challenged me in more ways than I thought possible. He put the right people in my life at the right time in order to challenge, support, encourage, and bring me closer to Him. CrossFit allowed me to see God work in other people's lives and challenge me to let Him do the same with mine. It still amazes me how close we all end up getting through a crazy workout that leaves us on the ground hoping the pain will subside so we can get up and do it again. I need to delve deeper into everything that has changed over the past year, but I thought I would start with a quick overview and start digging over the next few weeks. As for the last few weeks, I actually didn't record my workouts but instead just did my best to survive them. With the lack of sleep and time, I was just happy to be able to get in the box when I could! Sometimes life gets extremely busy and time is a rare commodity. These are the times I try and squeeze in workouts when I can and look forward to the luxury of upcoming free time when I can get back to a normal training, sleeping, and normal life schedule. Starting tomorrow at 4:45am I should be back on track!

Heres some great stuff to munch on:

Psalm 46:

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.