Never a Gloomy Day At CF

Rest Day


Tony hits the knee to elbow while the 9AM class warms up on a gloomy day.  Although the weather has sucked lately, its a great season for CFing and vibes in the gym have been awesome.  With the newbie challenge and the CF Open going down everyone is coming together, training hard, competing, and having a blast.  That's what it's all about.  The more you participate in the community and build relationships within the membership, the more likely you will be to have long term success in this program.

Comments

[DaveW]

A few days ago after a WOD, I was talking with Brooke about the homeless and beggars in Sacramento. She mentioned that another gym member had told her a story about meeting an allegedly homeless man that described Sacramento as a “$40/hr town”. This meaning that he on average brought in $40/hr (tax free) begging for change.

Last night I saw a John Stossel show entitled “Freeloaders in America.” For the show Stossel dresses as a homeless man and sits on the street asking for change. He also interviews beggars and follows a few of them around with hidden cameras to discover that they are in fact not homeless and in some cases living and making more money a year begging than the poor folks that feel sorry from them and give them their spare change.

There is no doubt that many of the nations homeless suffer from psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse and that they need help. The question is how do we best help them? What if giving to a beggar is actually harming them and perpetuating their suffering? I learned a powerful lesion about tough love from a Master Sergeant once. His men had finished a demanding survival course and were supposed to be at a designated pick up point at a certain time so that they could get a hot meal and shower. Two of the men were a few minutes late so the Master Sergeant left them in the field for additional training.

At first I thought that the Master Sergeant was mean and heartless. I later learned that he was practicing tough love and actually cared about the men left in the field more then anyone else. He knew that genuine love doesn’t always do what people want, it does what is best for them.

Is it possible that some beggars who are fully capable of working would stop begging and get motivated to get a job, if people didn’t keep giving to them? Would our spare change and time be better utilized at soup kitchens and job placement/training centers? What has happened to make a young person feel that it is ok to beg for change rather then getting a job? The next time I see a beggar, especially a young one I’m going to keep my change but give them my two cents.

[Sean V.]

Dave... I was the guy who told that story. I met the "beggar" who was just a homeless guy who went from town to town, just begging for money to save up for his annual trip to Vegas where he would make $80+/hour. He even said some nights he made up to $300/hour when the gamblers got lucky. You could imagine how defeated I felt knowing that I just clocked out of a job that I hate where I put in more hours than I'd like, only barely making ends meet. Giving him my "2¢" would have probably landed me a couple nights in jail...

Anyhow, epic pic, Justin. For some reason it sure has been extra fun training in this weather. But now, the storm is gone and it's warming up again. I'm sad... :( lol

[brother mike]

After a raging score of 6 (reps not rounds) due to a calf cramp on yesterday's repeat of Open WOD #1, Travis got me in to Flexibly Fit to get worked on.

I limped in to Flexibly Fit with my right foot pointing sideways so that I didn't have to bend at the ankle to walk. After an hour of work, some heat pads and stretching, I gingerly walked out. Oh, and the shoulder that has been bothering me for about 2 months felt great.

The calf is feeling a bit better today- not going for the normal long sunday morning run (although I probably could). I will be back in the box tomorrow and able to do most anything except a repeat of Friday's Kelly and her 150 box jumps and I should be back to 100% for the Open next week.

Oh, and the tie in to Justin's post- it was raining buckets when I went into Flexibly Fit.

[Grandpa John]

Dave... I've taught my daughters by example over the years - "Never give a beggar what he wants, give him what he needs -> if you are able."

Justin, Travis and Chris... Thank you for putting together an amazing session this year. Your passion for creating the best CF box on the Northern California map is truly remarkable - topnotch events: Sac Town Throwdown, NewBie Throwdown Challenge, your explanatory leadership in the CF Games 2011, showing us the way!

[Ashley Drummond]

Hi All! I'm going to throw out there early that I have class this Saturday and next, so I'll need to make up WOD 2 and 3. Would love to coordinate with anyone else who is going to miss one of the same. Let me know: arlatimer@gmail.com

Justin, I always appreciate your photog action : )

[brother mike]

Ashley- I have an allergy to going to the armpit of civilization (spelled S-t-o-c-k-t-o-n) so I might be down for an Open WOD here instead of travelling.

[Olga B]

Is anyone thinking about going to the Games in LA this summer?.. besides our team. Has anyone been there in previous years? How was it?

[Tashnelson]

Rain allows people to focus within and on what is important. So it is definately good timing to have the various games going on . It is starting to feel like Oregon though.

[Sean V.]

5:00pm... 8 comments... Hello? Super excited about some meeting time with my team tomorrow! Ari, Brian, Sabrina... let's rock this shiznit.

[Justin Riley]

If you can remember, it's pretty funny to ask the homeless people for a buck before they can ask you. It leaves them speechless every time.

Brother Mike, Stockton sucks, but CF rules wherever you are. Get over it!

Olga, the games are F'in awesome and if you can make the trip, I recommend doing so. It is something to behold, all the worlds fittest athletes, all in once place, doing crazy shit at the same time.

[Big Rob]

Adding to the conversation.

[Hollis Reilly]

I'm sure most people will agree... but I feel much better today than I did last Sunday. I'm definitely much happier with my score which has left me in a much better mood, and for some reason- even though I did more reps yesterday- I'm not nearly as sore as I was a week ago. Maybe it's because I had better form and was more efficient yesterday? Whatever the reason, I feel much better! Can't wait to see what next Saturday has in store... or can I...

[Scott]

Rob: thanks. I agree.

[Jen]

Hollis.. I'm not sore at all today. I also didn't get that terrible burning in my chest and throat when I was done. I did better so I don't know why I feel different.

[Olga B]

Blair's got a nice place - fresh paint and big windows. It's close to Amer. River Canyon high-endish neighborhood. Folsom Empire Ranch, parts of El Dorado Hills and Granite Bay are also within short driving distance.
Good luck man!

[adam k]

Granted, the weather has been crappy lately around here, but who can complain with Tahoe's ski resorts all getting over 80" of new snow in the past week!! Today was such a nice powder day, I'm seriously tempted to call in sick tomorrow and go again!

[Matt P]

Looks like the CFES Team is FINALLY appearing in the Nor Cal rankings at #2.

Well done to the Team, I am looking forward to WOD #2. The real benefit of WOD #2 is that we never have to do WOD #1 ever again.

[Olga B]

Justin, thanks, I am sold on crazy shit... fittest athletes is just an icing.

Hollis, are you going to be tempted to practice the WOD2 on Tuesday/Wednesday and then doing it on Saturday? Just a thought...

Adam K, I am so jealous!

[Sean T.]

Adam - was up there too yesterday and today. Best conditions I've ever seen...

The benefits that CrossFitting has other sports is incredible. I skied better this weekend that I ever had as a teenager who could go open to close without breaking a sweat. Thanks for the great coaching and congrats to those who did WOD#1 for the first or second time this weekend!

[Alice]

Ashley, Kyle and I may do WOD #2 on wednesday night. We'll be out of town this weekend. otherwise, I may try fro Friday am.

[Carol Penney]

Justin - Laughed out LOUD at your comment on homeless. Thanks, I needed that. There are a couple of people I would like to have in my car when I ask that.
Hey guys don't be so hard on good old Stockton. Pat and I were there last night at their arena on the waterfront (a feat Sacramento can't even envision much less make happen) to see our first ice hockey game. Sat right on the glass. Sold out crowd of 9,000. Game came down to a shoot out (not with guns) was a fun night, quite a COMMUNITY event.

[Sean V.]

Hey now... don't blame Sacramento's lack of ability to get things done on the city. Blame it one the silly developers we have in this town who have a strange ability to go bankrupt mid project... oh, and the NIMBYs who vote against everything... then again... that would kind of make it Sacramento's fault, wouldn't it... hmm...

WOD #2 group: I might have to join in with you guys on that one, myself. Not too sure yet, but I will let you know soon enough.

[Steller]

Following up on Dave's post above, I'm on the fundraising board of Francis House, a low-income and homeless services organization downtown, that provides people with emergency housing, gas vouchers, id cards, and job search assistance. They do very good work. If you're not inclined to give money directly to a person begging on the street because you're suspicious of their intentions, I hope you'll consider donating to a worthwhile non-profit like Francis House or Loaves and Fishes. I can promise you they'll put it to good use.

[Ryan Lippmann]

I'm soooo looking forward to WOD #2, i'm still angry at double unders. Stockton ain't shit compared to Oak Park - plus, it'll add an element to the WOD that just can't quite be captured in the mean streets of East Sac...

Definitely taking a practice run on WOD 2 this week.

[Ashley Drummond]

Alice-would love to WOD2 with you and Kyle wed night if you end up doing so! That way you can both finish and cheer on the last half of my WOD, win!

[Cherie]

B did well at his swim meet today. Came in first in the 50free, 100free and 100IM in his division...which puts him 3rd, 6th, and 3rd Nationally. More than a few asked how much he trained and his response was "I swim 2 days a week and CrossFit 5 days a week." Just more proof that this shit works.

Cort swam too and did awesome! It was fun having Kai and Kaleo cheer for their coach and dad at the meet.

After the meet, we went to a Swim Banquet for Sierra Nevada Swimming and Kailee won the 1st place award for the 10 year old long course season.

I'm off to Jersey tomorrow and will fly back tomorrow night. If I'm not in terrible shape on Wednesday from sitting on an airplane and in meetings I'll probably want to get WOD2 done. (Justin, u free during the 8am class to judge?) Then leaving Wednesday after school to Morgan Hill for yet another Far Western Championship swim meet. CRAZY LIFE...but CRAZY GOOD!