Helen

Tonight was my first "official" night at Crossfit as a regular member. I was nervous because this was my first night doing the same workout as everyone else and with everyone else.

The warmup was the same tough one it usually is: stretch, shoulder presses, wall balls with squats, pushups, situps, 200 m row. I did that 3 times.

Then we did a group exercise: the Bear Claw. It's a clean and press, front squat, dip and press, back squat, dip and press. I know, I'm speaking another language. Believe me, no one else will even read this paragraph so I'm just writing it for myself so I can gauge my progress. We did that 5 times, upped our weight, 5 more times, upped our weight, and then 5 more times.

Then we did the real workout: HELEN. It's done for time and we're doing this particular workout this week because we're going to do it again at the end of the 6 week Paleo challenge to see if we've gotten stronger and faster.

It was:

400 meter run (about a quarter mile)
21 kettleball swings
12 pullups

Three times.

My time was 12:35. I wasn't last! I started last but, to be fair, I wasn't all out running because it was dark in the parking lot and I couldn't see very well. The good thing is that in 6 weeks it should be light when we do this again so I know I'll knock off time right there. ;)

Then we weighed in for our start weight of the challenge and I like her scale way more than mine. I'm like 4 lbs lighter than I thought I was.

I would normally run on Tuesday but I'm going to Stamford so I'll do a double on Wednesday: run at lunch, CF after work. It's not ideal but I don't want to sacrifice miles for CF even though I know CF will ultimately help me with my running.

This week I have to make an eating plan for next week. Paleo is strict: no dairy, no grains. There's plenty of good stuff to eat I just need to make sure I'm prepared so I'm not caught out. I lose 5 points for every cheat. It's the honor system but I have a feeling these CF folks would take the 5-point loss if they put so much as a kidney bean in their salad. So I'll be just as honest.