Night Of Champions V – WODs Announced!

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Teams of 2 – Male/Male or Female/Female
Rx & Scaled Divisions available!
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10
6:30 pm – Athlete Check-In
7:00 pm – WOD 1 Start Time

$50 per Team (includes registration for both team mates) Only 20 spots available!

(Only 1 registration per team – We’ll send an email to get division and partner name)

***Proceeds from Night of Champions will go toward new equipment for the gym!***

FOLLOW THE FB EVENT HERE

REGISTER HERE

 

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 5 WODs

WORKOUT 1) CrossFit Total-The CrossFit Total is the sum of the best of three attempts at the squat, the press, and the deadlift

The order for performing the three lifts will be squat, press, and then deadlift. The best single attempt for each of the three lifts are added together for the CrossFit Total.

SQUAT RULES:

The squat must be done from the squat stands or power rack. The bar must be placed on the back and walked out to clear the rack completely. No contact with the rack is permitted until the bar is replaced in the rack. Once the bar is lowered, the stance cannot change until the bar is to be racked. The starting position must be completely upright, with the knees and the hips fully extended and with the chest up. The hips are lowered until the top surfaces of both of the legs at the hip joint are lower than the knees, and then the bar is lifted back up. The bottom position is identified by A) the apex of the crease in the shorts formed as the hips are lowered, B) the surface of the top of the patella, C) the plane formed by a straight line between the two, and D) the dipping of the hip end of that plane below horizontal. The finish position is the same as the starting position, and the athlete must return to it before the bar is racked. When the finish position is secure, the bar must be walked back into the rack and successfully replaced. Any halt in the upward motion of the whole bar, identified at its position on the back rather than at its ends, constitutes a missed attempt, as does any change in position of the feet against the floor during the squat. Any deliberate attempt to lower the bar counts as an attempt. No more than two spotters are permitted, and they are not allowed to touch the bar during the attempt, which is finished only after the bar is successfully replaced in the racks. The spotters are permitted to steady the racks, and to take the bar if the lifter loses control of it. Any touching of either the bar or the lifter by any spotter invalidates the attempt.

PRESS RULES;

The press is also done from the racks. The bar is held in both hands in front of the neck, taken out of the rack and walked back away from the rack. No contact with the rack is permitted until the bar is replaced in the racks. Once the stance is assumed it cannot change until the lift is completed. The starting position must be upright, with the knees and hips fully extended and the chest up. The bar must be in contact with the top of the shoulders or the chest, whichever individual flexibility permits. After the starting position is correctly assumed, the bar is pressed overhead until the elbows are completely extended, with the bar in a position directly above the ears. Once this position has been attained, the bar is lowered back to the front of the shoulders and walked back into the rack and replaced. Any halt in the upward motion of the bar, identified as the part of the bar between the hands, constitutes a missed attempt, as does any change in the position of the feet against the floor during the attempt, any bending of the knees, or excessive backward lean of the torso as identified by A) the position of the most anterior aspect of the armpit, B) the most posterior aspect of the buttocks, C) the plane formed by a straight line between these two points, and D) the movement of that plane to a position behind the vertical. Any deliberate attempt to raise the bar counts as an attempt. Spotters are not permitted for this lift.

DEADLIFT RULES;

The deadlift is performed with the bar on the platform or floor. The lifter assumes a position facing the bar, with the bar parallel to the lifter’s frontal plane. The bar is gripped with both hands, and pulled with one continuous uninterrupted movement until the lifter is standing erect with knees and hips fully extended, the chest up and shoulders back. Once this position is attained and the bar is motionless, the bar is lowered under control with both hands back to the ground. The bar may not be dropped. Any halt in the upward motion of the bar constitutes a missed attempt, as does failure to assume a fully erect position with both knees and hips extended. Any attempt to raise the bar counts as an attempt. The equipment that can be used is minimal. A belt of any type can be worn but is not required. Knee wraps or sleeves are permitted, but if they are used they must be left on for the entire duration of the session in which the lift is performed—e.g., they must be put on before the squat is warmed up and left in place until the last squat attempt is completed. Wrist wraps are permitted; lifting straps are not.

FORMAT
We will be running platforms with an ascending barbell.

*Opening weights for each lifter, for each lift must be submitted by Wednesday 11/8*

– The weight will move up :30 of every minute.
– The lifter will lift within the second :30 of every minute
– Minimum increase is 2 lbs.
– Each person will have 3 attempts.
– Weight will be changed as a group on each platform

This event will be scored by calculating the combined weights of each lift to find the CrossFit Total and then adding both partners totals.

WORKOUT 2)

5:00 AMRAP(RX)

20 cal Assault Bike

15 Ball Slams @ 20#

10 Pull-ups

5:00 AMRAP(SCALED)

20 cal Assault Bike

15 Ball Slams @ 10#

10 Jumping Pull-ups

*may split as desired, so have a plan and communicate for smooth transitions in case plan needs altered during WOD

*assault bike: must stay seated, no standing while biking

*ball slams; arms must be extended overhead OH, control ball past knees

*pull-ups: chin must pass bar, arms locked out at bottom

*jumping pull-ups: set-up on rig (box, mats, plates) where bar touches 3-4” below wrist when standing on object and arms extended OH

November Athlete of the Month – Ben Anstead!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our November Athlete of the Month is Ben Anstead! Ben is newer to CrossFit Austin, joining our community in February this year, but he’s no stranger to the game. He’s been working hard and setting new goals since he’s been here and he just recently achieved his first bar muscle up! Ben brings a fun-loving energy to class and does a great job of pushing and encouraging his classmates. We have loved watching his progress and getting to know his friendly spirit along the way. Ben, the CFA Team is proud to honor you as our November Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this community. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

State your Name and/or Nickname please:Benjamin “Ben” Anstead

Words to live by?
It costs you nothing to be a nice person

What is your fitness background?
I was a non-exercise person until a little after college, I started working out at a Globogym with a personal trainer who was also a coach at a local box. The type of workouts he wrote for me were crossfitesque and I started to really enjoy them. Eventually I mustered up enough courage to wander into a box downtown, gave it a shot and have been crossfitting since.

How long have you been CrossFitting?
2.5 years

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I couldn’t do a single pull-up, I still hate burpees.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
I like the way everyone encourages each other and are interested in each others progress, goals, and PRs

Current Training Goals/PRs?
Short Term: Ring Muscle-up, Long Term: Body weight Snatch (I have a ways to go)

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Everybody started somewhere and it’s a very encouraging community so just get after it.

What is your cheat meal go to?
Anything with cinnamon, particularly cinnamon rolls. Also, Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cookie Core.

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I like to bicycle and hike but part of the reason I crossfit is that my job isn’t physical at all so crossfit is the major way I stay active during the week.

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
I’ve always had the most difficulty with gymnastics movements so whenever one of those clicked is when I was most proud of myself. I remember my first handstand kick-up, HSPU, and recently a bar muscle up.

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
“The Jerk Store called…”

7:00
AMRAP
3 Power Clean Clean
6 Front Squat
9 Jerk
135/95#

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Auto racing, concerts, margaritas, bicycling, & paddling (canoes or kayaks, I was a whitewater rafting guide after college)

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I have an identical twin brother

Longhorns or Aggies?
I’m from North Carolina, Go Tarheels, and shoutout to my Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
Live your life and be who you are.

004 || Diaries of a Coach – Competiton

Two words.
CrossFit. Competition.
Alright so let’s be honest, what comes to mind? The Games? Untouchable athletic performance? Marathon rowing, snatch ladders and Murph?
Me too. And I’ll admit, a year ago I wanted nothing to do with competing. Never imagined I would be goodenough, brave enough or insane enough.
A year later, with my first local competition under my belt, here’s what I can tell you: there’s no such thing as good enough, courage is an absolute necessity and there is an element of this sport to experience and something you might miss out on if you avoid the competitive scene altogether. Competing is so much more than just the Games, it’s hard work and dedication, it’s pushing yourself, it’s community.
I was lucky enough to embark on my first competitive endeavor with three of my favorite CFA girls. Like most things in my life, they had to talk me into it. Historically, I don’t do well under pressure, especially when other people are depending on me. The anxiety about kills me. But also like most things in my life that I have to be talked into, I’m always glad I did.
This particular competition happened after an absurd amount of waiting and anticipation. Because of rain and flooding, it was postponed a month the week of. So you can imagine my anxiety and the time it had to just fester (I also spent that month trying to find a way out of actually doing it). In the weeks and months leading up, I’m pretty sure we read the workouts about 294859303 times to make sure we knew exactly what to do and when. We practiced, prepped and tried not to let our nerves get the best of us.
On the day of, hyped up on coffee and C4, we let adrenaline lead the way. Each workout brought nerves and laughter, disappointments and successes, but we did it together. Having those three girls there, cheering me on, was a complete game changer. Isn’t that what this whole thing is about after all? Pushing ourselves and each other beyond what we think we’re capable of?
Not only did we fair well for ourselves, we were ALL. SMILES. standing on that third place podium, we had a ball. (Yes a ball. And yes, that sounds like something my mom would say.) It wasn’t even about the placings or awards, it was about being proud of what we did that day. And we were. Overcoming the nerves and the pressure was definitely the hardest part for me. But on the other side of those nerves was a feeling of accomplishment I’m glad I didn’t miss out on.
So if you’re considering competing, or even if you’re not, my encouragement would be simply this: TRY IT. Dig deep for 60 seconds of courage and sign up for Night of Champions or another local competition that looks fun. You never know what strengths you’ll find buried deep, or what weakness will rise up to dial in on in your upcoming training.
If that’s all the convincing you need, and you’re ready to sign up for Night of Champions, click here!
If you need a little more convincing, did you know that 100% of profits from NOC registrations will go toward new gym equipment FOR YOU?
Did you know it’s a partner WOD, so you don’t have to go at it alone? (this was an absolute must for my first comp!)
Did you know the movements have already been released (link)? (so no surprises!) Stay tuned for the full WODs to be released Friday!
Whatever you decide, push yourself. Be crazy and brave. Grab some friends, compete and enjoy every second!

 

Coach E

003 || Diaries of a Coach – HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Erica’s Complete Guide to Halloween Costuming

 

If you’re like me, you’ve procrastinated the inevitable decision that comes around every Halloween. The dreaded costume choice. Ugh, I loathe deciding on a Halloween costume. Now, I get that there are those of you that get excited by spending money on a costume you’ll never wear again. That get excited by trying to personify someone or something that you’re not. That get excited about attention and judgment from others based on your costume creativity, originality and execution. Makes sense, I’m just not one of those people.

 

So in honor of this stressful for some, delightful for others time of year, and the commitment to let you in on my ‘diary’, here’s your complete guide to costuming this Halloween based on my own highly informed decisions from years past.

1) Let your alter ego take over.

This option produces not only a great costume but, lets be honest, some self satisfaction we’ve all been looking for. Who wouldn’t want to live, for just one day, in the fantasy of who you could be. Maybe it’s the opposite of who you really are, maybe it’s your dark side. But this Halloween, embrace it and share it with the world!

 

2) Be the ULTIMATE you.
What do you love? What do you love to do? This year, go all out. Like basketball? Go as your favorite NBA player. Love CrossFit? Go as your favorite games athlete (or Coach 😉 ). Really smart? Nerd it up! Love aerobics? Grab those leg warmers! (These should obvi make a comeback!)

 

3) Embrace the season.
Those of you that are lacking the creativity or courage to step into a fantasy you or an ultimate you, go with a tried and true seasonal object, persona or fictional character. You can’t go wrong with these. Options include but are not limited to: ghosts, witches, Frankenstein, pumpkins, pilgrims or even Santa (just don’t be surprised if people insist on copious amounts of lap sitting, or maybe that’s your thing…).

 

4) Get in touch with your spirit animal.
This is my favorite option. Maybe we should all do this one, together. A spirit animal represents the traits and characteristics you possess, in animal form. This might require some soul searching, but figure out the loudest parts of you and your personality and be the animal you were meant to be!

 

Alright friends, hopefully this guide gave you some solid inspiration (if not maybe a good laugh or two?). So get out there, get that costume ready, and I’ll see you THIS Saturday for the long awaited, 3rd annual Halloween WOD and BOO-runch…aka come look silly, workout and then let’s eat and DRANK it up! Sign up today!
-Coach E

Night Of Champions || November 10

Night of Champions 
Are you a champion? Show us your stuff!

Teams of 2 – Male/Male or Female/Female
Rx & Scaled Divisions available!
Night of Champions will consist of 2 WODs
WOD 1 – A Lifting Event
WOD 2 – A Partner WOD
Details to come!
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10
6:30 pm – Athlete Check-In
7:00 pm – WOD 1 Start Time

$50 per Team (includes registration for both team mates) Only 20 spots available!

(Only 1 registration per team – We’ll send an email to get division and partner name)

***Proceeds from Night of Champions will go toward new equipment for the gym!***

FOLLOW THE FB EVENT HERE

REGISTER HERE

002 || Diaries of a Coach

Ok I don’t know about you but here’s how my “rest” days go, on the reg.
Me: “I’m not going to workout today. I’m pretty sore. I’m going to listen to my body and rest.”
 
Me (to me): “Maybe just go to the gym, work on mobility.”
 
Me: “Well that’s a good idea. I’ll do that!”
 
Me (to me again): “But there are push jerks in the workout, you know you love push jerks.”
 
Me: “No, I just need to rest.”
 
Me (an hour later, with ripped hands): “Nailed that workout. ‘PR’ed my butterfly pull ups. Freaking crushed those push jerks.”
Let’s just say I have a really hard time resting. So every so often I have to sit down, with myself, and remind myself why rest is so important.
Did you know that the body can sustain itself longer without food than it can without rest?
Did you know that recovery is the key to making consistent progress?
Did you know that when you’re tired, you don’t operate at full capacity, potentially risking poor form that could lead to injury and low performance that could lead to a drop in overall confidence in work capability?
In an article from the CrossFit Journal, Bill Starr explains, “When an athlete goes through a hard training session, he has, in fact, damaged his body by stressing his muscular, respiratory, circulatory, skeletal and endocrine systems. These systems must have time to be repaired or the body will not respond as it should. That means supplying the various cells with nutrients and, even more importantly, getting enough rest to allow the body to recuperate fully. If that doesn’t happen, the athlete will not be ready for the next workout.”
In fact, the optimal training template designed specifically for CrossFit follows a three days on, one day off pattern, because of the high intensity at the heart of CrossFit’s methodology and the rest needed to recover in order to maintain these high levels of intensity. Scientifically, by the fourth day of training, neuromuscular function and anatomy are affected in such a way that requires a reduction in intensity.
So why do we have such a hard time with rest? My impulse is to blame the culture. I don’t think anyone would argue that we live in a culture that values doing. We are busy people, of our own doing, going from one thing to the next. Getting consistent workouts done make us feel accomplished, and that’s great. But the progress that we miss out on when we refuse to let our bodies rest and recover, that accomplishment, that progress, we sacrifice.
But more than that. When I really dig deep into my battle against rest, I’ve found that there is also a mental and emotional cause for my resistance. Somewhere along the way I’ve associated rest with weakness and worse than that, progress, even maintenance, with constant work. Not only is this an error scientifically, but it fails to cultivate a healthy training mindset spurred on toward consistent progress and gains (which it actually hinders).
So today, I just wanted to tell you that not only is it ok to rest, but that you should rest, regularly and intentionally. (Hey, if you see me, could you tell me too, especially if there’s A LOT of running in the workout?) Find something that you enjoy doing, that allows you to rest both physically and mentally. Maybe it’s getting extra sleep or maybe it’s retreating to your favorite spot and reading a book. Whatever it is, PR your rest day! Deal? And then get back to CFA and say hello to progress!
#havefunandbye
Coach E

Tasty Tuesday || Portobello Mushroom Tacos

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone’s week is off to a great start and that your meal prep game is on point 😉 I have been prepping my meals for the week on Sundays for a few years now. When I first started, I kept it simple and pretty much ate the same thing (or a variation of the same thing) every week…. until I got so dang sick of chicken breast I couldn’t stand it!

So, this past year especially, I’ve gotten braver and more creative with my meal prep dishes and it’s been awesome! In an effort to keep you from eating boring food, I wanted to share one of my favorite go-tos that is great for weekly prep, but also perfect for a quick weeknight meal. I’ve made this one several times and the nice thing is, you can really dress these however you like! They are super easy, super fresh, and super delicious. Without further adieu, let’s get into this lovely recipe for Portobello Mushroom tacos.

(I also love the name of this blog – Gimme some oven? Come on!)

Enjoy!
-Coach Gen

ROASTED PORTOBELLO TACOS

Don’t judge my plating… I don’t have anyone to impress 😉

These Roasted Portobello Tacos are quick and easy to make, naturally vegetarian, and so hearty and delicious!

Roasted Portobello Taco Ingredients:

  • 3 large portobello caps, stems removed
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 batch corn salsa (see below)
  • 1 Package tortillas (I like whole wheat or the always tasty almond flour tortillas from our friends at Siete Foods!)
  • 1 large ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese

Corn Salsa Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups whole-kernel corn
  • ⅓ cup finely-diced red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely-diced
  • juice of one lime (about 2 tablespoons)

DIRECTIONS:

How To Make The Roasted Portobello Tacos:

  1. Heat oven to 400°F.  Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Slice the portobello mushroom caps into long, thin strips.  Place in a medium mixing bowl along with the olive oil, and gently toss until the mushrooms are evenly coated with the oil.  Lay the mushroom strips out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet, and sprinkle evenly with a few generous pinches of salt and pepper.  Bake for 12 minutes, until the mushrooms are cooked through and soft.  (If you would like them more firm, you can bake for less time.)  Remove and set aside.
  3. Rinse out the mixing bowl, then prepare the corn salsa in it as directed below.  Set aside.
  4. If you would like to toast your tortillas, heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat until hot.  Then place a single tortilla flat in the pan and let it cook for 10-20 seconds per side, or until the tortilla begins to brown and bubble.  Immediately transfer the tortilla to a separate plate, and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
  5. To assemble the tacos, place 2-3 mushroom slices in the center of a tortilla, followed by 1-2 slices of avocado, a large spoonful of corn salsa, then sprinkle with fresh cilantro and cheese.  Serve immediately.

How To Make The Corn Salsa:

  1. Toss all ingredients together until combined.  Use immediately.
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