A Final thought on the 2009 CF Games

 The dust has settled, the medals have been given, the spectators, athletes and vendors have all gone home and yet I still can't get what an awesome event the CF Games were out of my head.  Bryan wrote this in yesterday's comments but I wanted everybody to read how this event touched him.

"So the 2009 CrossFit games were my very first. I had an awesome time. The Games exceeded my expectations by a very large margin. I had no idea what I was in for. I attended the NorCal qualifiers and expected the Games to be a lot like that…well, they weren’t…they were about a billion times better.

First of all, the presentation was right on par. HQ did an amazing job at setting everything up. The spectator area was incredible…you could sit high up in the bleachers and take it all in, or you could get right up against the fence for an intimate view of the action.

Second, the vendors were incredible. I scored a bunch of new (free) swag and also broke the bank a little bit at the CrossFit store. No biggie though, I’ve always wanted a pukie shirt :) I cheated at the food counters as well. I had some orange chicken and a double cheeseburger. Both were absolutely delicious, but nowhere near Zone…oh well, a little cheating never hurt anybody.

Finally…last but nowhere near least…the competition. This blew me away. I was expecting to just sit by and watch a bunch of people doing WODs, and cheering for my favorite athletes, just like I do at a baseball or football game. A funny thing happened, though, I got emotionally involved in the competition. I mean, when I watch a baseball game and my favorite player hits a home run, I’m happy. I jump up and down and scream and cheer because he just did something incredible. However, I haven’t played baseball since I was ten or eleven years old, I have no idea what that athelete is actually feeling as he drives the ball out of the park. At the CrossFit Games, on the other hand, I knew what the athletes are feeling. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am by no means a fire breather, or star athlete, and I’ve never done my WOD in front of thousands of people, but I felt the athletes’ pain as they struggled for that last rep, when they had to drop the bar cause their arms couldn’t take another push press, as they gasped for breath on the run, doing everything they could to will their legs to take just one more step. My heart sank when Jason Khalipa collapsed near the end of the run on the first day. When Annie Thorisdottir was struggling with her muscle-ups in the final event, and fell to the ground, I actually welled up with tears (good thing I had my sunglasses on so nobody could see it…). I, as well as everyone else in that crowd, felt a connection to these athletes. You could feel the energy at the end of the Women’s Chipper when Charity Vale set down her weight to rest during the lunges when she was only a few feet behind Kristan Clever, and only about fifty feet from the finish. Everyone yelled and pleaded with her not to stop. The energy was absolutely electric.

I can now see why DJ and Lo were so excited to be at the Games. I can’t wait till next year…with any luck we’ll have an athlete from our own box to cheer on…

I’m hooked. I now see why this is such a big deal. Hope to see you all there in 2010."

It should be noted that Bryan has kindly nominated Bubba (pictured Pooch) and himself as President and Vice President  of the Party Planning Commision (PPC) for CrossFit Solano at next years games (**Bryan won the title President by one vote, Budda doesn't have thumbs and could not fill out the ballot correctly)

***Rest Day*** (PAY WHAT YOU OWE)
******BIGGEST LOSER IS COMING TO A CLOSE, PARTICIPANTS PLEASE COMPLETE FINAL WEIGH INS WITH TRAINER, COMPETITION WILL BE CONCLUDED AT THE END OF THE NEXT THREE DAY WOD ROTATION AS WOD's WILL COUNT TOWARDS FINAL SCORING*****

Comments

[Lisa C.]

I have looked at the WOD's that are to be made up and I can't do any squats due to my hip still hurting from the Avon Walk; however, I did see that there was a TEAM WOD, what did that consist of and how many people have to make up a team? I really want to get back to the BOX but I'm wondering if I just shouldn't wait until tomorrow to start the new set of WOD's for the week,hmmmmmm.

[DJ]

Lisa C. the beautiful part about CrossFit is that we can scale all workouts or make something up to work around your injury. Look at Slim D and Lori for example they have been coming in and working around knee injuries. If you want take the extra rest day or if you want come on in and we will make up a WOD that stays away from your hip

[saki]

So, in my spare time, I've been looking at other CF sites. Is there anything I can do to improve on the site? Change things up a bit? Are there other CF sites that have things you guys like? Let me know. :)

...And yes, I have internet access before class...hehehe....shhh...

[Bryan]

I was planning to come in and do a WOD today, but my back and legs said no. Oh the pain...see everyone tomorrow.

[Sampson]

Is there Zumba and BBQ tonight? Harry Potter comes out today. And Bryan I'm surprised that the post didn't end with with you normal sign off. see ya later

[Lisa C.]

DJ, I appreciate you guys coming up with another WOD for me. Steve and I will be there at the 5:30 class.

[lo]

we will be there tonight, zumba and bbq! see you there!

[Sampson]

For sure i'm finally off in time too

[Lori Lee]

Hello All,....

Lo and DJ (and the others that we have missed these past couple of days) WELCOME BACK!!!! I missed you !!!!! :-)

I wanted to also give a public THANK YOU to Cindy and Meghan for being our trainers this past weekend---it was of course fun as always!! Thanks you two!!

See everyone later today!!
tag--Lori

[Bryan]

Gonna go to sushi tonight and try to keep it zone...yes, they DO have riceless rolls...and then show up to the BBQ for a couple of beers. I bought a guitar as well, so that we don't end up missing Giz too much...

[Rowbot]

Lo, it has been too long...... WHERE'S THE POOP?!?!?!

[gizzle]

you may have the guitar but can you play poker face?

[Suz]

Hey Gizzle...miss your smiling face!

[skinny pneumonia boy]

Hey guys, I feel much better and should be back at the gym soon. I was just wondering, with the biggest loser contest coming to an end, can we start up a biggest gainer contest?
At 137 pounds post-pneumonia, I really need this.
It's okay if I am the only contestant. It just means I will win. I just want it to be a contest so that I can win something.
Josh

[DJ]

Josh you are already a winner in my book... now get your skinny ass back in the gym!

[Sampson]

Hey joshy on the upside ur probably down to like 2% body fat so you might want to rework your zone and I'm down for the weight gain comp I've got like tens pounds on you right now though