After I finished my individual Crossfit competition this year, my Grandma asked me if I was done with Crossfit now. As if the competition marked the end of the season or end of my training. To me it was a silly question to which I replied, “It never ends…”
While I don’t cuss at all, this is one of my favorite e-cards that sums up why I do what I do…
I feel Crossfit is one of the few sports that does not have any sort of cyclical training. You are training indefinitely for no real end-goal. There is always have a goal to be faster, to lift heavier. You push to Rx WODs, and then once you do, you can always “scale up”.
But for me and my half-marathon goal, I need to keep in mind that my Crossfit success is so infinite that taking time to focus on another goal in the interim is not going to delay my Crossfit progress nor will it undo any of the work that I have put in.
I have less than five weeks until my half marathon.
I am not by any means going to put Crossfit on hold for the next few weeks, but I do need to realistically look at my programming and make adjustments to prep my body for the torturous 13.1 miles I am going to put it through.. 😉
Despite being less than excited about adding in more running to my weekly workouts, my Coach and I are coming up with a plan to being able to balance Crossfit, Crossfit Endurance, plus my long runs, all while trying to keep me from crying in every run I do..
Your turn..
If you Crossfit, have you ever trained for anything alongside of it?
If you do not Crossfit, have you ever tried to balance two different training programs at once?
If you have done a half marathon, can you please promise me that the training gets better as time goes on?
Twitter: alex_j_meyer
September 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I started Crossfit at a bad time lol – I need to focus on my runs in prepping for my full, but I just want to go there! So, I’m trying to remember that I can do that AFTER October 20. Lol.
For instance … I know that since I ran 20 yesterday, I should do a few miles today to shake-out and some yoga.
But I want to go to crossfit :(.
I will say that training gets better, but for me, it took awhile. My first half was tough, but my second half was SO much better. So … wanna do another? 😉
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..Top 10 Things I Learned at Healthy Living Summit 2013
I love, love, love, that you have found Crossfit.
Why does everyone say once I do one half I’ll want to do another?! 😉 Do those same people think running sucks and training sucks? Seriously. lol. 😉
I run and do crossfit and I am guilty of not training for my runs. I have done a couple half marathons now that I have done little to now training. You survive but your body might be wrecked for a day or two. I am now training to do a full on Dec 1 and am trying to balance that training for a crossfit competition in a month. Guess which training I have been focusing on? I always tell myself I will do a few miles after a wod but I’m usually too tired and end up wanting to just hang out with the boyfriend. I am hoping to change that today…
Training does not get easier but when that 13.1 mile day comes you will realize why you did it. The mental toughness you have developed over crossfit training helps too.
Danielle @ See Fran Run recently posted..Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon Recap
Thanks for the encouragement, Danielle!
Since I have no competitions on the horizon I think it’s a better time than ever to put some more focus on the running, even though like you, I feel I want to schedule running in, but don’t make effort or time for it!
I’m committing to running 2x a week on top of my Saturday long run, plus I do a Crossfit Endurance class with intervals once a week, so hoping that will help.
I’m really excited to have this accomplishment done and know the feeling I will have once I do it will be unlike anything else I ever felt.
Good luck with your training!
Twitter: Mychickenbutt
September 17, 2013 at 1:38 pm
I think you have the right mindset here… CrossFit isn’t going anywhere, it will still be there for you after you tick this half off your bucket list, and obviously it’s made you a better all around athlete so that you actually CAN complete this half.
I don’t know if this will help you at all, but what gets me through my long runs is not thinking in terms of miles, but instead minutes. If while I’m running I think ok, I have 7 miles left, that sounds far and hard. But if I look at it as – an hour and ten minutes left until I can sit on my ass… That sounds a lot better. Breaking down every single mile and extrapolating every bit of data about how fast you’re going and how you feel doesn’t work for me – it gives me anxiety. Just trying to focus on one long smooth ride, and then checking out the data afterwards is my approach.
Either way, you’re going to be fine!! Just enjoy the ability to get out and play in this amazing weather!
martha84 recently posted..The Sucky Runner in Me
Thanks for always being so supportive, Martha!
I think one of the biggest things I hope to gain from this half is the mental strength! Constantly pushing my body beyond what it is comfortable doing and finding peace in that.
I have used the minutes concept lately in my runs.. but mostly towards the end.. like you have only 10 minutes left.. but need to work that in sooner maybe 😉 I cannot imagine telling myself, only run for an hour.. ahhh…
I don’t check the data at all during runs anymore; it’s too stressful! I’ve also been trying to not focus on pace or time, but just see what happens afterwards and accept whatever. It’s helping a little, but still need to tweak my thinking!
And yes.. the weather has been PERFECT!
I found your blog recently and am in love. CF blogs, for women who are averagely successful (aka, not a pro) are few and far between so it is really fun to see how other people are training! I CF through my most recent pregnancy. That was what I was training for–birth!! I am immensely grateful to have been at our box, working out, the day before I went into labor. I am even more grateful that because I was in good shape, my delivery lasted less than 8 minutes. The recovery after seemed even shorter.
I have yet to balance the CF/training for anything else as my training time is pretty limited so I choose to focus on CF. But I’d really like to get back to racing triathlons next summer, so that will be a challenge to try and train for a three-disciplined sport while also fitting in WODs. Ha! That just sounds like a joke, right?? Eeeek.
Good luck on training for your half!
Thanks for the sweet comment! 🙂
I am in such awe of pregnant women or mothers who Crossfit.. I sometimes struggle with my own life with no obligations yet you guys seem to have it all together! 😉
One of our CF coaches (the one linked here) is a triathlete and does Crossfit.. definitely possible! Look up Crossfit Endurance if you haven’t seen that yet; they have programming that is set up to combine both! You can totally do it!!
I’m training for a marathon and doing crossfit. I’ve only really been doing crossfit 2x a week because I started right before marathon training. I’m upping it to 3x a week as I taper. You just might have to cherrypick WODs and REALLY focus on recovery. I know if I have to run 15 miles the next day I’m not doing heavy squats that are going to leave my legs hurting. I think for a half marathon you’ll be fine, but just work in a rest day and try to have a rest day or more upper body work before your longer run. Also take BCAAs or l-glutamine and omegas to help with recovery!
Lauren recently posted..MIMM #11 9/16/2013
Yes, I have committed to taking Fridays as a rest day since I do my long-run on Saturday!
I have been conscious of eating more with the additional running, but wasn’t thinking about supplementing more.. will have to look into it!
Twitter: fatgirlhealthy
September 17, 2013 at 7:27 pm
I have not trained for 2 different things at once. I don’t think I could do it without getting burned out. Kudos to you lady!
Mandy @ fatgirlgonehealthy recently posted..Did I really sign up for another 5K?
We’ll see how it goes! Two days in, and I’m still feeling OK.. but legs are a big unhappy today..
Won’t know how far I can push myself unless I try, right?
Twitter: mast2mar
September 18, 2013 at 11:07 am
Well let me tell you that after I finished my half, I thought “nope, not going to do a full marathon for quite some time in the future, just going to stick with 5ks, 10ks and halfs once in a while for now” lol. Literally right after the race when I was dehydrated and pooped but happy to have finished.
HOWEVER, as a birthday present to myself I signed up for the Big Sur Half Marathon in Nov because its in Monterey and I might not have the chance to do it again (since I’ll be moving away in Dec), or if so, not for a very long time. Other than that no halfs planned yet for next year.
Nicole recently posted..Disneyland Half Marathon 2013: Training Recap
Nice!!!!
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