Photo credit: CrossFit Inc.
I had too many injuries. Did I really want it this year? Did I want it too much? Are the rest so much better then I am now?
A week has past now since my disappointing performance in the qualifying rounds. I have been thinking what went wrong, or did something go wrong? I want to share my thoughts and try to learn something from the experience as an athlete and a coach.
In a way it are all open doors but good to realize it again.
1. Priorities, priorities, priorities
If you really want to compete at an international level you need to have your priorities straight! I thought I had them straight but I guess I didn’t… That doesn’t mean I am sorry for the choices I made, but you need to expect and might do some adjustments to your priorities to move forward in the sport of Crossfit.
Notice there is a difference between priorities and excuses. Excuse is when you blame external and internal factors for your “loss”. But if you know that it was you who set the priorities and made the choices, you are a step ahead and can learn from the experience.
2. You can’t have it all
Growing the 020 business, expanding, opening a second box, going abroad for my military and police training company… It was a busy schedule and looking back I planned the training around the work and private life.
I wanted it all, but that’s not possible.
Remember this:
Crossfit at this level is no joke. Your private situation, your work, your health, everything has to come together at the right time, and it’s the “details” that make all the difference. Clearly I had other priorities, my mindset was off and maybe I thought I could get a way with it but the sport of Crossfit doesn’t wait for YOU or for me!
3. Mindset
Both points, 1 and 2 will affect your mindset and therefore performance.
I guess I was a little arrogant to think I could do this with 80-hour work weeks and still have and achieve everything. But when you really want to perform at a high level you must only think of that: of yourself performing.
My mind wasn’t free from other thoughts. Even when I was about to start the CrossFit Open workout I had stuff on my mind.
4. Injuries
Becoming 43 in July with having a background in professional sports Judo and Thai boxing, together with all the training hours in Crossfit, had an additional effect on my body.
Ripping my Achilles in 2011 with a double hernia on top and knee problems this year, it all came down to trying to balance everything and walk the fine line between work and rest.
Because the results where there (Regionals 2012, Games 2013 – 4th place and 2014 – 17th place), until this point it was good enough. But I guess it was out of balance this year.
To people who have the ambition to get to an international level the lesson is be patient.
Do long term planning. Although you will get injured at some point, with a good plan and program you can and you must avoid big injuries that affect your future as an athlete.
Find a competent coach who both has history/competence as an athlete and as a coach (check CV please).
5. The Crossfit training itself.
So far it was all about the situation around the training, but what about the training itself.
Last four years I was forced to train around injuries. The programming had to be adjusted from what I really needed. It worked for me the last couple of years but it came back as a boomerang this year.
For example I haven’t trained 1-rep-max snatch for years, and this time it was crucial in the qualifying rounds. Being injured with hernia, I got a “blockade” at pulling myself under the bar and get down into a overhead squat. Also box jumps are a problem when your disks are herniated.
Add some new standards in the handstand pushups (the old standard were a real strength of mine) and voila, see my problem in the qualifying.
Erwin on CrossFit Games Master qualifier event 1.
What to do?
In a way my conclusions are the same but I cannot say this enough: plan long term and set long term goals, do the hard grind work, first make sure you get the basic technique and then “polish the diamond”.
That means details in technique. And this is exactly where I was going with my programming because I was injury-free again and could start doing my 1-rep-maxes again. But of course to come back after an injury take time, so my conclusion is that for Crossfit and qualifying workouts came a little too soon this time.
Quote: Follow a well thought program. You will never “get there” when you are just doing some random WODs. You need a vision.
6. The competition
Every year “new” guys enter the competition and the level increases. This is insane.
You can get away with a lot on a national level, but international competition is another cup of tea. Every year the sport of Crossfit will get harder and more competitive.
Together with all the above, I guess this year just wasn’t “in the cards”.
Conclusion:
Nothing went wrong but if I want to keep on competing at this level I will need to adjust something!
Your “work-life” schedule and programming works until it stops working. Then you need to adjust that too, and that’s where I am right now.
As they say: I never lose, I either win or learn.
I got my wake-up call and feel challenged to go forward.
What next?
I take my loss at this moment and planning my path as athlete and coach.
First up: marriage and wedding. And after? You will see.
The post I didn’t make the CrossFit Games 2015: What Now? appeared first on BOXROX.