We Are...

I'm the first to admit that I prefer to practice things where people can't see me.  I don't like to get in trouble, I'm not a big fan of looking like a dufus and for the most part I'm just a very private person when it comes to certain parts of my life. 

Stoic, quiet, patient, shy....

Those are words I've been described as over the years and I'm proud to include those qualities in my personality.  My grandmother has always been a reserved person, she listens to conversations quietly before making a comment.  Take it in, think it over, then contribute your piece.

I used to start a lot of sentences with the words, "That's not appropriate..."

For years, my mom has been encouraging me to unleash the beast within.  Be a b*#@$!

Well...it has come to my attention that there is a certain level of what's not appropriate that I am breaking free of as I continue down the rabbit hole into the world of crossfit.  There's not a lot of time to think when you're in the middle of gasping for air inbetween reps.  A grunt or a scream may break free from your lips without you even knowing it happened.

Determined, focused, atheletic...

Those are words my family has used to describe me in recent months and recently while at the Plymouth Crossfit Memorial Challenge someone I didn't know told me they thought I was a "Great Competitor".  That one comment made me feel a great amount of pride in myself and in my sport.  I feel very strongly that Crossfit is a sport made up of great competitors.  We have varying degrees of ability, but our hearts are for the sport.  We won't quit, we won't stop.  We finish an event and before we can catch our breath we scream at the competitors around us and urge them to finish to.

We are great competitors.

On The Eve Of A Great Weekend...

This weekend is going to pass faster then a hiccup...

With great honor I will be beating the crap out of myself while participating in the 31 Heroes WOD on Saturday.  This WOD has me both excited and nauseas at the same time.  Secretly, I'm hoping to keep a little skin on my ankles (Rope Climbs!!!) so that when Sunday rolls around I won't look like a ten year old tomboy in a dress.  It will also be a treat if I make it through the thrusters RX'd...!

Well that sounds nice doesn't it...?  But what exactly is the 31 Heroes WOD, says you?  Read more about this fabulous event at  http://www.31heroes.com/.  The bones of the whole thing is that alot of people will be getting together to team up and honor 31 of America's bravest that fell on August 6th.  Simply fabulous.

Hiccup!  Hiccup!

In the wake of this WOD will be Sunday...and on Sunday I will have the privelege of being in attendance for the fabulous wedding of Jimmy and Krissy!  There will be dancing and glorious socialization with the fantastic Meske clan! 

Hiccup!  Hiccup!

And when Monday comes...there will be flat out recovery...hiccup...

Love These Balls!

Love these balls!  Found the recipe online and have to say they are handy for a recovery snack!

Ingredients
1/2-3/4 cup of almond butter
2 tablespoon of raw honey
2 tablespoon of cocoa nibs
2 tablespoon of shredded coconut
3/4 cup of protein powder ( natural, not sweetened)
1 teaspoon organic, alcohol free vanilla

Directions
Mix nut butter, protein powder, honey and vanilla.  Add remainder of ingredients, mix until smooth, then roll into 1 inch balls.  To help keep them from sticking together I also rolled the balls in a bit of loose shredded coconut. 

If there are any left after their creation (note the crumbs in above picture) store them in an air tight container in the fridge!

Sometimes You're In The Litter And Sometimes You're Not

My niece, clad in an eyelet white dress rolled around the patio on her shiny pink radio flyer trike.  The adults of the family gathered together to watch and chat, animals skittered about avoiding the wheels of the flyer.  Without much warning, she flipped herself and the flyer onto it's side and into a litter box.

We've all had those kind of days...dressed, ready to go out when you spill toothpaste or coffee on your shirt.  An afternoon when every phone call is someone screaming at you, kindly bringing another problem to your attention. 

A million different ways to feel like you've suddenly flipped into a litter box.

After this particular incident we gathered around my niece, brushed her off and straightened out her trike.  We laughed and told her it was okay.  A little bit of a fuss to bring it into perspective.  A moment passed and she smiled and laughed with us.

That's one of the things that I love about Crossfit and having a Crossfit Family.  When you're suddenly flipped into the litter, it only takes a little bit of fussing from your mates to put things back into perspective.  They pick you up, brush you off, get you laughing...

Then, the next day it's your turn to do the same.

Did You Have A Shake Today?

Head bent over a plate of delicious mixed greens, I have a five inch range of motion with my arms before they begin shaking hard enough that the greens free themselves from my plastic Staples fork.  Eating a salad takes long enough as it is with all of the chewing, with a forecast of showered greens I might be here until next season.

Fortunately I am a problem solver and have decided to give myself a three inch clearance to get this job done.  It's not pretty, but it's functional.  Who wants to see a lady with her face glued to a plate? Look no further, she's right here!

In the back of my mind I'm picturing the little tears in my muscles that are rebuilding with each bite.  Have some fiber biceps brachi, how about a little steak trapezius?  Mmmm...steak is good...

Don't forget the water, deltoids love water!

The things we do to our bodies everyday demand attention and care, you have to pay the toll, no freebies!  Each morning I get out of bed with a quick assessment of what hurts and play a little match game to figure out what I did the day before that led to that feeling.  Should it hurt, is there a problem?  Is there reason for concern?

And guess what...I love every morning I wake up with a little discomfort.  It's glorious, a glorious reminder that I wasn't sitting around the day before.  Most of the time it's discomfort related to a workout, but not all the time.  It could have been yard work or a home project, some type of investment in my world or my families world.  I pulled up a chair at the table of my life yesterday and it was good...so good...

Maybe it wasn't shamrock, strawberry, vanilla or chocolate, but I had a shake today and it was exquisite!  If you haven't had a shake today, there's always time for one tomorrow!

WAM, WOD's and WSD!

I'm not sure exactly where the summer is going, but it's flying by faster then Tanguy on a trail.  That being said, July has become the perfect month for getting some rest and enjoying some good old fashioned fun.  I've been relaxing, WOD'g and biking...

This past week I had the opportunity to share the love of summer and cycling at the Ladies Trek Mountain bike Demo.  Full-suspension and hard-tailed eye candy came in all sizes for a very eager group of ladies looking to expand their rides and skill sets.

There were so many fabulous bikes in this trailer...

The support team!

Ladies learning to embrace the suck on the trail! 

This event was so popular that there's talk of another being had before the summer is over, if that should happen, I'll be getting the word out to those of you that I know are looking to expand their mountain bike prowess!

And just like that there's only fourteen days until the Wish A Mile ride will begin!  As many of you already know I'm riding as part of Team Alex (check out what Miss Alex wished for here:  www.wishmich.org/alex).  It's been amazing to be involved in supporting this cause and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming event!

I'm still accepting donations, if you're interested in supporting this cause, please click here to donate:  http://www.wishmich.org/danabaurhenn

Please also make note that I'm accepting well wishes and weather dances for blue skies in support of this event and all the participants...

Last but not least, don't forget to do something that sucks today!

WOD=Word of the Day

Thumper Footing [thuhmper foot-ing]:  The involuntary act of leg shaking.  To shake ones foot/leg severely after extreme exertion or during duress, such as when performing a workout.

Use it in a sentence:

"It seemed like her rope climbs were going well until she began thumper footing.  We didn't know if we should catch her or give her a carrot.  Then we remembered, carrots are for ugly people."