Taking a break. Having a rest day. Mentally resetting the clock. Taking a week off and vacationing is probably the last thing on most people's mind one week before the
CrossFit 2012 Open.
Most of us are wound up tighter than a nun at lent before a competition, I have learned over the years that that stress is a greater disservice than anything else.
Sure, some stress is good and keeps you sharp, but if you have trained well, didn't shirk the work, and remained consistent before your event...that crucial week before it goes down is a great opportunity to taper, get into a calmer head space, and calm the eff down.
So I packed my bags and went to Jamaica for a week. I put "The Open" in a box on a shelf, and did what 90% of us should do more often , and relaxed.
Walks on the beach, sitting in the sun, having a few drinks, good belly laughs with friends, and some mid afternoon hoops thrown in for good measure. No pressure to perform.
Vacationing before a competition should not equate a slovenly pig out. I ate relatively well while there, did not drink to excess (for the most part), and I did workout 6 times...because I felt like it, not because I felt I had to.
When the 12.1 Open WOD was announced I was sitting with my feet up on our hotel room balcony, and felt completely unfazed by the " 7 mins AMRAP* Burpees touching a target 6" overhead".
It is what it is. I quickly thought of my strategy, ran it through in my mind, and satisfied with my plan, put it back in the box on the shelf...labeled: Do Not Open until Sunday, February 26th.
and promptly went back to relaxing and not dwelling on it.
Best. Decision. Ever.
I scored well for both the burpees WOD (104 in 7 mins) and WOD 12.2 (66 reps of Snatches = 30@ 45lbs, 30 @75lbs, and 6 @ 100lbs. There was a 10 min cap), and I'm hoping that the rest I had will carry me through the 3 more weeks of workouts.
To be continued...
Now pass the rum cream.
* As Many Reps As Possible
