Emmett looks pretty stoked as he relaxes after a 3RM PR in the deadlift--295# at a bodyweight of 135#!
And Iris looks good as she learns the deadlift for the first time.
Sometimes we get frustrated at ourselves in the box. Things just are not going the way we want them to, we just can’t get our body to do what we want, everything is just a little off. Maybe your kip just isn’t working. Maybe you just can’t seem to drop under a clean. Hey, it happens. It happens to all of us, to everyone, even Danny. It’s ok. Where that frustration gets to be a problem is when we let it control us. We start to tense up and get angry. Maybe the weights get dumped a little harder than normal. Maybe we let loose with a few creative curse words. You try the lift again, but this time you are so tense that there is no way you are going to make it and that just makes you even more frustrated and tense. Pretty soon the whole workout is irreversibly fucked up.
Now, I am not going to give you the California flowers-in-your-hair-feel-good advice of “just be happy that you can even attempt that lift in the first place,” even though it’s probably true. CrossFit is built on the concept of GPP–general physical preparedness–and GPP states that you need to train for the unknown and unknowable. Real life is not like game day where you have been able to watch tapes of your opponent, strategized with your coach, philosophized with your sports psychologist, and pumped yourself up with some good old punk rock. It is unknown and unknowable, and lots of times it won’t go your way. Situations like that don’t let you afford the luxury of frustration.
As an athlete doing CrossFit over the course of years, you are going to get frustrated. It is natural, it means you care about your performance and want to improve. A friend mine, a CrossFit coach and top performer, claims that the manner in which you deal with frustration over the years is one of the most important steps in one’s evolution as a CrossFitter and, on a much more holistic level, human being.
When you get frustrated in the box actively practice relaxing. Breathe deep, let it go, close your eyes and relax, shake it out, get out of your head and take off a little weight and try it again. Yes, I know that sounds like I might start chanting, but it works. Never end a workout on a missed note. Always take weight off and work the form. Force yourself to relax (oxymoron?) and ingrain the movement in your muscles.
If none of that works, just do Fran.
How do you counter frustration with yourself? Please post to Comments.
Workout:
Overhead Squat
10×2
Then:
AMRAP in 12 minutes
2 Power Cleans 185/125#
3 Clapping Pushups
5 Pullups C2B
7 Wallball
Post loads and score to Comments.
don’t you mean just do Karen?
Although I cant speak from experience, I know that other people get frustrated. I remember someone who looks alot like me having an issue with squat cleans with 185, then 135, then basically just the bar. I remember a month or so later that same guy did 250 for 9 reps in a WOD. So, yes working with frustration is part of getting better, learning new movements and accepting those days when it is just really hard. Like when stupid Kyle makes a WOD that he thinks should have a 40 min limit and it takes me 46:19 and a whole lot of cussing. xoxo
The times I’m successfull at conquering my frustration are the times when I revert back the old advice my dad used to give me during my young softball days…”der jaws, never let em see ya sweat.” If I keep my composure, I can usually beat the frustration and be successfull. But when I fall apart, swear, pout, throw a fit, that’s when it’s over with. Especially when there’s opponents in picture. That’s when they know they’ve got your number.
Crossfit is highlighting weaknesses. So attacking our ghost slowly but surely is a way to stay happy.
Besides resetting goals and expectations to be reasonably reachable are a good way to avoid frustration.
I’m changing my 120 OH squat goal by the end of the year to 100 OH squat.
I use to be so fustrated when I was working on OH squat: shaking on my way down, losing balance on my way up so I was hiding myself behind the bar and taking too much rest behind reps to avoid it … now this is one of my favorite lift to work on.
Thanks for your patient coaching and support!!!
I think you made a breakthrough today Vero. 100# is right around the corner.
Jesse and I like the fact that the blog had the word “fucked” in it.
This is the closest Jesse will ever get to commenting, so I figured it worth sharing
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