On Sunday I missed my children’s first train ride. In fact, I have missed several things my kids have done for the first time over the years. I don’t mention this fact to bitch or to have people feel sorry for me. Instead I mention it to talk about sacrifice. Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a coach. Knowing that this would be my craft, I knew days like Sunday would happen. I knew that I would have to sacrifice time with my family for time with my athletes. It is a choice that I made.
I am passionate about what I do. I sometimes spend hours in front of my computer screen, only to walk away pick up my iPad or phone and continue working as I move. It can be a viscous cycle that I work tirelessly to break, to turn off, if you will. My wife, who is truly amazing, supports me in everything I do. She understands the sacrifices that I make but makes sure to keep my obsessions a bay. She reminds me of what is important and always makes sure to tell me when it is time to shut it down. Right now, she knows that this is the busiest time of the year for me, the time with the most running through my head. I often have conversations with her about things on my mind. I am thinking about the gym’s programming, prepping the Regional team, programming for other Regional / Games athletes outside of Precision, programming for the Shakedown, and most importantly trying to figure out who the darn 6 athletes will be that represent TEAM PRECISION at Regionals. This, more than anything, has exhausted me. It is truly like picking between 8 amazing children and I hate every single second of it. I mean who am I to tell someone his or her dream will not happen this year? It is freaking heartbreaking to me.
But I guess it all comes down to sacrifice, right? I sacrifice every day for the good of my family and Precision CrossFit. Just like all the athletes of Precision do day in and day out. All great successes come with great failures. I mean, if you have never failed, then how do you know what it is like to succeed? I may have missed my kids first train ride, their first time down a slide, and the first time they went to the zoo. But, I saw their first steps, heard their first words, and look forward to my Saturday afternoon grilled cheese and fry dates. For me it is all about priorities. I want to make sure I am there for the most important things and as I find success, and mentor coaches like Jose, Daimino, and Sam. I can walk away more and more from my coaching obsession to spend more time obsessing over my kids.
So why did I write this blog you may be asking? It is because I want everyone to know that I care deeply for every person that walks through Precision’s doors. Every athlete I coach I want to witness get better, reach milestones, and achieve goals. But I want everyone to know that I am just one person who makes sacrifices in my own personal life to be there for you. In order to be at an event, I must take away from other places in my life. Maybe that day it was missing a train ride. If your programming is behind, maybe I took my kids for grilled cheese and fries. If I don’t respond to a text until the next day, maybe my wife took away my phone for the evening to look into her husband’s eyes and have a conversation. I struggle with prioritizing daily, but I feel the more you all know why, the better I will make you and the better you will make me.
Fitness-Strength-Community
WARM UP:
3 Rounds
10 Pass Throughs
10 OHS
10 Good Mornings
10 Inch Worms
10 Scorpions
10 Bumper jacks
Then:
Mobility
SKILL:
7 Min. of Handstand Walking
-Practice getting vertical.
-Go outside your comfort zone.
LIFT:
Deficit Dead Lift
5 @ 65%
3 @ 70%
2 x 3 @ 75%
*Work off your Dead Lift 1RM. Stand with both feet on a 45lb. plate.
**Keep yourself technically sound.
WOD:
“MASTERS QUALIFIER #4”
21-15-9
Dead Lift (225/155) (205/135) (185/125) (165/115)
Box Jumps
HSPU
POST WOD:
Roll & Mobilize
