To be the best, you have to.....

To be the best, you have to train with the best!

Last weekend team BCCF had the opportunity to head up to CrossFit Centex for some Oly training with Chad and Jodi Vaughn and Ursula Garza.  If you're not familiar, let me get you up to speed:

Chad Vaughn:   Renowned Olympic

Weightlifter.  2-time Olympian, 6-time

National Champion, and the American Record Holder in the Clean and Jerk.

Jodi Vaughn:  Over 15 years of experience in Olympic Weightlifting. Including participating as a member of the Junior World Team, World Team, Pan American Team, and Olympic alternate.

Ursula Garza:  Olympic weightlifter and weightlifting coach. Her career as a competitive lifter began in 1987. During her 13 year career as a national and international elite level weightlifter career, she competed for Team USA at the 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996 Weightlifting World Championships and was a member of the USA National team from 1991-1996. Among her other athletic accomplishments include being a two-time National Champion, two-time Olympic Festival Champion, two-time NACACI Champion, and a former national record holder in the Clean and Jerk. A many time Collegiate national champion, she also held national collegiate records in two different classes. She is the 2009 Women's Grand Master Champion and 2010 Master's National Champion and a master's record holder. In coaching, she is one of only thirty Senior International Coaches, the highest level possible, in United States Weightlifting; she is the only woman to ever achieve this level.

Go ahead...read it all again.  It's a pretty impressive display of talent in those three short paragraphs. 

The relationship between Bayou City CrossFit and the Vaughns and Ursula (also referred to as OlyAthlete!) dates back a few years with a simple seminar that THE Vic Zachary attended.  Our relationship with them has grown tremendously since then and I know all of us coaches at BC would not only consider them all mentors, but also good friends!

As we drove home from Belton (home of CrossFit Centex) on Saturday night it kind of hit me like a ton of bricks:  We are lucky.  We are lucky to even have the opportunity to train with such talent.  We are lucky to have formed the relationships we have with OlyAthlete.  We are lucky they are such good people and are willing to share their knowledge with us.  We are lucky to train with the absolute best. 

Personally I've had the opportunity to train with all three of them individually and in group settings.  For those of you who attend my CrossFit classes or Olympic Lifting classes, I'm passing their knowledge on to you...the techniques, drills, and tips come from them.   Not only are they amazing coaches with more knowledge than I can ever imagine having, they are possibly the most humble, respectful, and outstanding people I've ever met.  The CrossFit community has time and time again introduced me to quality people, over and over.  The trend continues. 

Thanks you Chad, Jodi, and Ursula.  You guys are simply great people and we appreciate everything you do for Bayou City CrossFit. 

cg

ps - thanks to the OlyAthlete website for some bio information on each of you!

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Rest, Recovery, Vacation, and PAIN

Hey folks.  Let's get right down to brass tacks here...Rest is important.  Recovery is important.  Vacation is awesome.  Pain sucks. 

After the South Central Regional, a good rest was needed.  Not only because of the intense training and tough WOD's leading up to and taking place at the Regional, but also because of the stress we were under to prepare and perform.  We often assume we need the rest for our muscles, joints, and those aspects of the body, but I think it's just as important to rest your mind and release that stress as well.  So why not take a 7 day trip to Belize??!!!

A view from our private pier out into the ocean!

We spent all week basking in the sun, soaking up every minute of vacation possible.  Most of us worked out 3-4 times when we were there, but let's be honest:  It's certainly not the same.  We ran a bit, threw some rings over the balcony and did some ring dips, and hit a few body weight movements...nothing to the intensity we're used to. 

Katie and Jane working the rings.

My inner zen...working like the Karate Kid

So what about recovery?  You might think I was referring to recovery while on vacation.  Nope. I'm talking about recovery from vacation!  We got back to Houston on Sunday night and decided to hit the .com workout on Monday.  Yuk.  Then on Tuesday we ventured out to Genesis Athletic Performance to work some underground strength with David Claiborne and his crew.  This is where the PAIN comes in.  After a week of petty workouts, plenty of beer, and nutrition resembling a dorm room diet of three 18 year olds, my body is hating me this week! 

So just like THE Vic Zachary scribbled in his blog this week...get that rest!  But make sure it's good, quality rest.  Your body needs it.

cg

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Games Bound!!!!!

Wow.  Reflecting on this past weekend and the 2011 CrossFit Games South Central Regional is pretty exciting!  I'll try to contain my excitement as I roll through a few of them....

1.  We Won!!!  Team Bayou City CrossFit jumped out to an early lead in day one and never looked back.  We took our balanced, work hard, never give up approach into every WOD and made it happen.  The hard work with Vic, Katie, Jane, Susie, and Cody the past six weeks definitely paid off as you could see we worked like a well-oiled machine.  The plan was always to finish on top, but man, I sure do love it when a plan comes together!

 

2.  We have the best fans/support/community.  Period.  I wish I could personally thank everyone who came out, braved the heat, and pledged their support for BCCF.  It was amazing to come off "the battlefield" and hear/see all the fans and support...it almost seemed a bit surreal at times! I've said it before and I'll say it again - we have the best community of CrossFitters, anywhere. 

3.  South Central sticks together.  The support from other boxes is amazing.  So many folks from our area and beyond lended a scream, high five, or encouraging words to Bayou City.  It's great to have such high caliber folks on your side.  A shout out goes to all those boxes that continue to prove to be a class act on and off the competition floor - just to name a few:  CrossFit West Houston, Clear Lake CrossFit, CrossFit Austin, NHB CrossFit, CrossFit Waco, CrossFit Dallas Central, Body Armor CrossFit, River City CrossFit, Atomic CrossFit, CrossFit Point Break.  I know I've missed a few in there, but you guys consistently prove to be stand up folks!

4.  Individuals.  Damn.  I'll say it - I didn't envy any of you this weekend!  Congrats to Andy Lewis who has been at Bayou City the past few months after his job brought him to Houston.  The same congratulations goes to Aja Barto who obviously has worked his tail off for the last year in preparation for this years competition season.  Well deserved.  And let's not forget Aryan Barto.  Great showing all weekend.  I think you said it best:  "maybe I'm not just Aja's brother anymore."  Heck no big man...you certainly made a statement this weekend!  Finally, great job to Leah Shullenberger!  You came to work this weekend and kicked some tail!  On a side note...I'm somewhat happy Leah, Aryan, and Aja decided to go individual...damn...that's a strong team!

See you in California!!!

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Absolutely Amazing.

Sorry guys, been too long...and no pics today. 

I'm going to keep it short tonight.  Bottom line, people simply amaze me!

This morning Bayou City CrossFit hosted a fund raising garage sale.  We (and by we, I mean my wonderful girlfriend Kelly) asked our members and friends to donate any items they decided they no longer need to help us raise money to fund the BCCF team through competition season.  Everyone came through HUGE!  We had more items then we knew what to do with.  The generosity of our community is absolutely amazing.  Several of us arrived at BC this morning at or before 5:00 a.m. to set up for this fund raiser and several of them stayed through until the end of the sale.  Not only did several people get up at 4:30 a.m. on their weekend, they didn't even complain! 

Who does that?  Who gives up their Saturday morning to sit at a garage sale?  Who graciously donates to the countless fundraisers and benefits we host?  Who continuously gives, gives, and gives, but never asks for a return?  Our absolutely amazing community of clients and coaches, that's who!

Some people call us a cult.  Some think we are stuck up or snobby.  Some even don't like us.  I love us.  We're an awesome community and I'm thankful to be a part of it every day.

Thanks Bayou City CrossFit!

cg

Thanks Kelly for spearheading, organizing, advertising, working, and making the garage sale a success!
Thanks to Lori, John, Tanner, Lori, Monica, Jane, Kylie, and Angie for showing up at the butt crack of dawn to help this morning.
Thanks to everyone else who came to support and work throughout the sale (sorry, no names...I had to jet off to Pin Up and didn't get to stick around to help the rest of the morning). 

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New and Improved!

Hey all -

Check out my new blog page!  I've done some updating on the design, content, and linkage (is that an actual term?).  Anyway...I hope you like it.  Check back often for updates to the main page as well as recipes, training thoughts, and lots more.

cg

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Taking a break....

Ahhhhhhh....The Open is over!  I know I'm a little behind, but it just feels good to have that 7-week drain in our past.  As many of us look back on the Open and analyze the workouts, preparation, and all other aspects of the first ever online qualifier I have come to realize one thing more than any other:  The Open wasn't all that physically exhausting.  But, it was a mental and emotional drain!  Maybe that was part of HQ's plan.  Maybe they wanted to test our physical capabilities as well as our mental and emotional capacity.  Many of us changed our training habits, re-planned our weeks, ate different, and even adjusted work schedules to accommodate the demands of the 2011 CrossFit Games Open.  All that accommodating takes a toll on us. 

My solution?  Go to Mexico!!! 

Ok, so the trip was planned long before we started the Open, but it couldn't have come at a better time.  My long time childhood friend and one who I consider to be one of the best friends anyone could have, Caitlin, tied the knot in Cancun the weekend after the conclusion of the Open. So my beautiful girlfriend Kelly and I got a chance to spend 5 days in the Cancun sun, meet Caitlin's new husband, Casey, and hang out with a great group of folks who made the weekend an awesome experience.  Cait, your wedding was awesome, you looked amazing, and your new husband and in-laws are stand up folks...good work!

I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing few days.  I told Kelly long before heading south that the only thing I wanted to do on this trip was relax...and relax we did!  We didn't take any excursions, go into town, or even eat at a restaurant off resort!  We spend most of our time laying in the sun visiting with friends...perfect! There might have been a drink or two consumed as well....

 

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Inspiration

Where do you find yours?

If you haven't came by the box yet to check out one of the 2011 CrossFit Games Open WOD's, you need to.  The heart that people pour into these workouts is amazing - truly inspirational.  So much so, that I usually opt for a later heat just to watch those before me and draw from their excitement. 

This past week we did WOD #3.  A 5 minute AMRAP of Squat Clean & Jerks.  The weight for the ladies - 110 lbs.  The weight for the fellas - 165 lbs.  That's substantial weight!

I must have watched 25-30 people pour themselves into the WOD from Wednesday night to Saturday morning.  Watching Vic bust out 35 rounds, seeing Katie churn through 29 rounds or judging Jane through 23 1/2 rounds was definitely inspirational.  

But this post today isn't about the folks on the upper end of the leader board.  This workout was damn near impossible for some.  I spoke several of our members who had never even attempted a clean and jerk at the prescribed weight!  On Wednesday, the first heat of WOD #3 was set to roll.  I was the judge for Ryan Wheeler.  Ryan is in my 5:00 class and comes in daily and busts his ass through every single workout.  I've never seen Ryan quit, never heard him complain, and certainly never seen him give up.  He had never done a squat clean and jerk at 165 lbs..  Ryan didn't bust out 35 rounds.  He didn't make 20 rounds in those 5 minutes.  Nor did he break the top 10 on the leader board.  But, I can promise you this:  Ryan was by far the most inspirational performance I've seen in the 2011 CrossFit Games Open.  Ryan completed a personal record (PR) that day by completing 1 1/2 rounds of WOD #3.  He squat cleaned and jerked the prescribed weight and stayed in the competition.   To watch him complete what some deemed near impossible was truly inspirational.  Keep up the good work Ryan - You inspire all of us to keep working hard.

cg

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