"Wax On, Wax Off"

Chris Holt - 01/15/2012

If you don't know, one of my favorite films of all time is "I Love You, Man". There's a poignant scene where Sydney Fife is disclosing some wise and useful advice to his best friend, Peter. He says, "Trying is having the intention to fail. You got to scrap that word from your vocab. Say you're going to do it. And you will."

I despise the word "try". "Athletes commonly resist the natural processes by trying. The word "try" itself implies weakness in the face of challenge. The moment you try, you are already tense; trying, therefore, is a primary cause of error. In more natural actions, you don't try. You simply walk to the refrigerator, write a letter, or water the flowers; you don't have to try, yet you perform these tasks easily and naturally. But when faced with something you consider an imposing challenge -- when self-doubt arises -- you begin to try. And when competitors feel pressure and begin to try, they often fall apart."

Good Practice makes perfect. This is why myself along with all of the coaching staff at CrossFit Threshold harp on mastering technique over moving heavy weight. With good practice, you engrain the movements and points of performance into your subconscious so that it becomes second nature. You want that clean, snatch, or deadlift to be synonymous with blinking or breathing. Day to day functions that you don't have to think twice about. It is said that it takes 10,000 hours to master anything. Look it up: Mozart, The Beetles, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs; all have reported completing 10,000 plus hours to their craft which is evident as to where they sit in history. There is no point going RX'd if your form falls apart and it takes you 3 or 4 times as long to finish a WOD than it takes people who have properly scaled the movements and loads. Checking your ego at the door has been a rule in CrossFit from its very inception. It honestly doesn't impress anyone to see someone act like a hero. It's borderline embarrassing. Look for an elite time. You need to find a load that is heavy enough for you to match that elite time. If not, you're missing the goal of the workout. Intensity with self-awareness is the road less travelled. Take it.

Our coaching staff has the knowledge and experience to help you reach those elite times but it's going to take time and patience. Chris Spealler said, "CrossFit's defiinitely a lifestyle. We view fitness as a lifelong journey and it's not something that's a quick fix.  It's not something you're going to get in a month, 3 months, or even a year." You may be able to move heavy loads but if it looks like garbage, scale it back and master the skill. It takes a lot of self awareness and guts to check yourself. It's an admirable quality that all should strive for. It's a win-win in the end. Scale back, improve technique and over time when you go for a PR, you'll see it'll be a good 10-15lbs greater than your last attempt with questionable form. Another bonus; you won't wake up injured the next day. The Indian Playwright, Essayist, and 1913 Nobel Laureate for Literature said this, "We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility."

No one wants to eat Humble Pie.