CrossFit (M)Ad-Libs (How to Get Over It!)

Ah, a rest day. A chance to sit back and reflect on another excellent post from CrossFit Watertown.

Replace the blanks with any exercise you're struggling with: pull-ups, KB snatches, box jumps, push jerks... etc.

I can understand. Most of us don't _________as adults.

We did as kids, but somewhere we put ______ing to the side. It wasn't very practical, I guess. Think about it. Outside of CrossFit, when was the last time you ______ed as _____ as you could ? Maybe if you play _________ or you're in the military, but for everybody else (particularly for women) the need to _______ just doesn't seem to come up that often. The last time you _________ as ________ as you could might have been at an age that ended in the word "teen" and so you might have some apprehension when the WOD calls for _________. So here are some tips for successful ________ing:

1) Start small. It doesn't matter if the WOD is "Fight Gone Bad" and the standard is a __________. If you're not a comfortable, experienced _______er, then use the _________ and nail it repeatedly. Then move to the _______, then the _______, and beyond. Progress slowly if you have to -- but continue to repeatedly challenge yourself and your limits.

2) Focus on the _success_ _point______ at first. Stare at it and visualize your _______success________________. Do this for every __________. As you progress, you can move your gaze forward until you're ___________ing with the __________ in your peripheral vision but don't worry about that at first. Just worry about nailing your ______________.

3) Get mad at the ________. It's a stupid piece of lumber/metal and, if you're scared to do it, which means the ____________ is conquering you, it owns you. How pathetic is that? In my house, we have a saying: "Today, I will not be defeated by inanimate objects." It sounds really stupid but, the next time you're struggling with a stubborn jar lid, repeat this saying to yourself and you'll find yourself twisting off that lid like you're Superman!

4) When you're really tired, deep in the WOD, and you still have to __________, revert to #2, even if you think you've licked this ____________ fear. Fatigue can do funny things to your mind, as we all know. Focus and refocus and you'll get through it.

5) Add the ___________ to your warm-up at least once a week, preferably twice. It doesn't have to be a lot of ____________s: just 10 at a time. Repeated exposure at low levels will help.
6) If you fall, do it again right away. _________ immediately. Really. The more you postpone the activity, or avoid it, the worse the fear will become. It doesn't matter if your shin has a bruise 3" wide and you've left skin on the floor, ____________ again right away. Don't wait.

I think I'm going to add a Grease The Groove program for my HSPU starting tomorrow.