This email is coming to you from way down a dirt road near Big Sky, Montana! It’s so beautiful out here!
Here’s what I found fun, interesting, or noteworthy this week…
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Loss is hard – Feel the feelings – Still use your brains –
Last week, we experienced one of the saddest losses in CrossFit history, as one of the world’s top CrossFit athletes lost his life during the CrossFit Games run/swim event.
I don’t remember ever feeling so sad about the loss of someone I’ve never met.
This might be because I’ve watched Lazar ?uki? compete and inspire others (including myself) in the sport many times over the past few years. It takes an immeasurable amount of time and effort to reach that level, and to do it with a smile on your face, as Lazar did.
This hit me so hard that I couldn’t even watch any of the CrossFit Games events—not one minute or highlight.
To give you some perspective, I’ve watched every minute of every individual event (and most of the team events) every year since 2012. I’m a BIG fan with immense respect for the sport and its athletes!
What saddens me almost as much as the loss of Lazar is the way so many people immediately responded with negativity, attacking CrossFit. It’s like they heard the news and immediately looked for someone to blame. This really hurt me deeply and has me questioning humanity. Is it because people don’t know how to feel sad, or are so many just that messed up? I don’t know, but I think we’re in trouble.
Does the safety of the event need to be reviewed? Yes, absolutely! But could this tragedy have been avoided? I’m not sure. It needs to be analyzed. But first, feel the sadness, not the hate.
Care for one another! Help one another get better! It’s ok to feel sad and support each other! There is so much abundance for everyone—SO MUCH for everyone!!
Hardest workout I’ve done in a while –
This one was REALLY tough for me to complete in the prescribed time! Really tough!
30 min EMOM:
Min 1: 15 burpees (we did them on DB heads)
Min 2: 10 strict pull-ups
Min 3: 15 push-ups on DBs
Min 4: 16 walking lunges with 1 DB overhead and 1 DB in front rack (switch halfway) at 50/35s
Min 5: REST
Woof, I had to sit and think about life for a few minutes after finishing this one. It was one of those workouts that made you feel like you could accomplish anything. And I usually don’t get that feeling unless I’ve done an ultramarathon or something similarly hard.
Good one!
Our NEW YouTube Video –
Due to all the learning I’m doing with our new YouTube coach, I wasn’t able to finish a new video for you this week. I’m learning so much!
But if you need someone new to follow, check out our friend (and YouTube inspiration) Dusty Trails MTB, who’s been riding some of the prettiest trails in Washington state!
Leaving my comfort zone (somewhere) –
We just finished a weekend of mountain biking at Legacy Bike Park in Montana.
Being at this bike park was like stepping into another world. A world where everyone knew how to send massive 20-40 foot mountain bike jumps as easy as walking down the street.
These people included an 8 year old girl (named Aspen) who was hitting larger jumps than we were!
I want to bring this up because it’s amazing how much your comfort zone or normal can change by the environment that you put yourself into.
In just two days, we were hitting larger jumps than we EVER have and making this our new normal comfort zone.
Talk about a super hack!
If you’re one of those people that wants results as fast as possible… go find people that are doing what you want to improve WAY BETTER than you are and hangout with them!
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That’s what I have for you this week! You are amazing! Go spread LOVE to others!!!
Cheers!
Joe
