Progress

princessxmeow
princessxmeow Posts: 15 Member
edited November 18 in Social Groups
im VERY new to Crossfit and am finishing up my second FULL cycle (month). We do a "deload" week after every 3 weeks of training where we do benchmarks and go for PRs. This week I started off with a 55:35 scaled murph. Yesterday I did Randy 10lbs under RX and got 8:36. Today we did Jack and I came in at 210 reps RX (my first RX hero WOD). I'm SO excited about all these "firsts" and "PR's" but as time wears on I'm afraid of getting discouraged because I'll be working just as hard (if not harder) but the progress won't come as quickly. What do you guys do to keep from getting frustrated? I'm currently going to 5 "Crossfit" classes a week and I go to our Olympic lifting specialty a week and hopefully soon will be adding one or two EWODs on top of that every week once my body is ready for it.

Replies

  • bethlivi
    bethlivi Posts: 157 Member
    I started out a lot slower than you and after two+ years I'm only doing 4x a week max, so I might be in a different place than you--but i just readjust my goals. We have a big blackboard in our foundations room and we all write our goals on it. So, I pick smaller and more quantifiable goals: walk 15ft on my hands; snatch 100#, bar muscle up, etc. so I don't really use the benchmark workouts as much. But when we do do those, I just try to do 1 rep better, or to maintain within 5% of my 1RM.

    For me so much is mental--and about framing and expectations. even the best of the best have off days and get into stagnant places.
  • alysa521
    alysa521 Posts: 137 Member
    I've been doing crossfit just over 3 yrs and I still PR all the time, but sometimes it's only by 1 lb, a rep or a few seconds. I also have days where I just don't have it, for instance my Fran time is 4:26 and I have done it twice since then and not beat that time. What helps me is I have a running list of goals (about 10) at the back of my log book and every time I achieve one I cross it off the list and add a new one usually for the same lift or movement. It's pretty cool to see all of the lines I have crossed out.

    I will say this week I got to cross off a huge goal of mine of backsquatting 223#, it was only a 5# PR but knowing how much work I've been putting in as I am not great at squatting it might has well have been 50#. I also think it's cool to look back at how far I've come, when I started I struggled to squat 83# to full depth :)
  • Mummyadams
    Mummyadams Posts: 1,125 Member
    I also have been Crossfitting for nearly 3 years and while my PR's are a lot less, I focus on small goals like increasing my lifts by small incrementals, running & rowing faster and tweaking specific movements. I go through periods where I am unmotivated and cut back on CF and join the gym, but I miss it and always go back :)
  • Aviation21
    Aviation21 Posts: 154 Member
    2 months and you are doing all the Oly lifts correctly plus the other CF movements? You must be an above average athlete... impressive! My guess is you have a ton of PR's you will hit this year and I wouldn't worry about getting discouraged. YOU GOT THE BUG my friend! :) Plus, if you start doing some competitive CF events you will get even more motivated!

    I am 9 days away from my first 1 year CF anniversary. I have so many things that I am still working on I haven't come close to the point of thinking... what now I can do everything. I had 4 goals this year and have only crossed off one... kipping pull ups. The other 3 are 20 DU's in a row, doing 1 OH Squat and doing 1 muscle up.

    @alysa521 I really like how you track your goals! I haven't got near the point where I am focused on PR's like that but once I get my form down that is how I will track my goals going forward... Thanks! My coaches keep telling me once I learn the proper form for each lift/ movement (which means get some dang mobility out of my shoulders) I will start hitting PR's all the time.
  • Aviation21
    Aviation21 Posts: 154 Member
    Apologies if my opening comments sounded sarcastic.. I should proof read more before responding! My point was I doubt you are anywhere near of getting discouraged... there is so much to learn when trying to master CrossFit.
  • princessxmeow
    princessxmeow Posts: 15 Member
    Aviation21 wrote: »
    2 months and you are doing all the Oly lifts correctly plus the other CF movements? You must be an above average athlete... impressive! My guess is you have a ton of PR's you will hit this year and I wouldn't worry about getting discouraged. YOU GOT THE BUG my friend! :) Plus, if you start doing some competitive CF events you will get even more motivated!

    I am 9 days away from my first 1 year CF anniversary. I have so many things that I am still working on I haven't come close to the point of thinking... what now I can do everything. I had 4 goals this year and have only crossed off one... kipping pull ups. The other 3 are 20 DU's in a row, doing 1 OH Squat and doing 1 muscle up.

    @alysa521 I really like how you track your goals! I haven't got near the point where I am focused on PR's like that but once I get my form down that is how I will track my goals going forward... Thanks! My coaches keep telling me once I learn the proper form for each lift/ movement (which means get some dang mobility out of my shoulders) I will start hitting PR's all the time.

    I have some of the BEST coaches possible who have given me a SOLID foundation for my lifts (my first WOD ever was thrusters and burpee box jumps...I learned the hard ones early on). I'm also blessed to come from a yogi background so mobility has come fairly easy. My gymnastics and endurance have a LONG way to go but I fell in love with oly lifting from day one! I LOVE the idea of competing BUT I am nowhere near ready (yet) I wouldn't rule out seeing me at the 2017 regionals (maybe even the games...). At this point my goals are pretty small. This week I completed 5 benchmark workouts (murph, Randy, Jack, Nancy, and Jackie) which was my goal. I only RX'd Jack but am proud I FINISHED 3 hero's and 2 girls. My next BIG goal is to go to at least 2 Endurance specialty classes a week for a month! Smaller goals are 5 DU, getting my handstand, Kipling pull-ups, and rope climbs.

    Thanks everyone for the great advice. I am still learning SO much but I've never seen my body progress so quickly in anything (hence the fear of plateau/not seeing progress). It's just insane to me that a month ago I learned snatches for the first time (20 minute EMOM with just the barbell...fell on my butt at least 3 times learning the movement) and then by deload week this week I did RANDY 10lbs below RX...24 HOURS AFTER MURPH! (There was a large amount of PVC at home practice involved). It's exciting to hear from those who have been at it awhile that the progress keeps coming! Obviously I have to keep training my butt off (and eating clean) but I'm thankful to have found a sport where I am empowered AND constantly amazing myself with what I can do!

    I also REALLY like the 10 goals in the log book idea! we have an online log book in our performance app but I have a huge calendar on my wall I am going to write them on and then highlight them as I knock them out!
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