“Do you live for the applause? Live the way that you cheer and scream for me.” – Lady Gaga, Applause
Why do you do it? Why do you get out of bed every morning at 5am and head to the gym? Why do you spend your lunch hour at the gym? Why do you stop at the gym on the way home from work? Why do you get up on the weekends and make your way to the gym instead of sleeping in for a few hours?
Why do you tolerate the fish oil burps and drink Hard Apple Cider instead of Guinness? Why do you opt for grass fed beef patties with farm fresh veggies over the convenience of a $5 pizza or frozen meal?
You need to know your why. There will be days when you won’t want to do it. But you need to know your why and in those times you need to remember why you work as hard as you do. Why you push yourself to your limits and then go past them. Why you take care of your body so that it will take care of you for a long time.
Knowing your why will be very important as CrossFit becomes a part of your life. Remembering your why will be integral as you take on the challenge of the CrossFit Games Open workouts coming up. When you are in the middle of that tough workout and you want to quit, and you will want to quit, you need to remember why you push yourself to do the things you do. Remember them. And then use them to drive you forward to that next rep, that next minute, that next round.
Why do I do it? I have no ambitions to ever make it to the CrossFit Games. Sooner than I’d like, I will be of the age that I could compete in the Masters Division. I admire all of those woman, and all of them would quite handedly kick my butt. But I signed up for the Open this year. I have 3 young kids, and I would like to teach them to take some chances in life. Show them it’s OK to show up and participate and compete even if you have no chance of winning. Teach them the value of competition, sportsmanship, and camaraderie.
I would also like to get over myself and my fear of feeling inadequate. To actually push myself harder than I think I can. To challenge myself physically and mentally. The applause I am seeking is only from inside myself at doing something I didn’t think I could.
Why do you do it? Is it for the thrill of competition? Is it just to say that you did it? Is it to prove to yourself and maybe others that you can? Is it to be in the ring with others simply to support and cheer them on? Is it to set a good example for your kids? Is it simply for the love of CrossFit?
What is your why?