by Coach Vanessa Dickens
Burpees, Wall Balls, Double Unders. I used to shudder when I heard those words and think to myself “I’m going to die!”
Today, that’s a different story. I actually kinda like Burpees and Wall Balls. I’ve learned to challenge my mental toughness and grit through workouts with the reward of knowing I gave it my all.
When I first started CrossFitting there were a number of things I disliked simply because I wasn’t good at them; actually, make that almost everything. I had absolutely no previous sports experience so several movements felt awkward, the number of times I fell, smacked my face with the bar, or did something with modified form because my body didn’t bend that way or I had no idea how a movement was supposed to “feel”.
When it came to the things I disliked, such as “running” or the more complex lifts, it would honestly make my eyes glaze over. However, throughout the years I’ve worked to apply a positive attitude, listen to my coaches, and make time to practice on my own instead of avoiding it. Thankfully, with all this hard work I’ve become a better athlete, I’ve even performed well in competitions. I can humbly admit there are movements that have become more tolerable than others, some have even become favorites, and I relish workouts that have those movements – they allow me to excel – feeling the progress my body has made through hours of hard training and dedication.
Some say we tend to not like things because we are not good at them. For me, that dislike or sometimes downright dread has never stopped me from showing up for a class because that cursed movement is in it. You learn to suck it up and know you’re becoming better each time because you’re practicing. The more you step out of your comfort zone and practice the better you’ll get. You might be surprised what you can truly overcome with the right mindset.
Have fun with your fitness journey and never stop learning.
