Sisters Without Blisters

Jenny, Tina, and Celia attend my Tu/Th 8am Level 2 boot camp at Barton Hills Elementary. Last weekend they ran the Texas Independence Relay along with a crew of other ladies. The relay was a 200 mile run with 40 relay legs. Not only did they break the Women's Masters record for the relay -- they were the overall top women's team this year!Way to go Sisters Without Blisters.

Tina writes-
Leading up to the 200 mile relay, I was super nervous. I was worried about letting my team down. I hadn't been running. Work and life were crazy; typical for so many of us. The only thing I was consistently doing was CrossFit once a week. Looking back now at my pace and how well I did, I am convinced that what got me through the race was the endurance I had built up doing CrossFit for nearly 2 years. Also having Megan's voice in my head saying "you can do it!"  and of course, a little bit of stubbornness helped. Thank you, Megan! 

Jenny writes-
When I was training for a marathon and not doing boot camp, my upper body would get really fatigued during my long runs. At a certain point, my arms would even start aching! That was totally not an issue during the relay, even after four legs. 

I am so proud of these gals! Who's next for testing their endurance training without running your body into the ground? April classes begin on Monday.

 

Setbacks are gifts

Me and my roomie being SHOWOUTS!

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

Being present is one of the most important things yet one of the most challenging things to do. By nature, I am go-go, fast-paced, non-stop, check stuff off my list day in and day out. However, this becomes a liability when I do not take moments to be present and accept my circumstances. Today I am inviting myself to see my battle with PCOS as a blessing. I have been saying for a year that I will write in a national publication. I plan to use my story of conquering PCOS as a platform to write on a larger scale. 

I have no doubt I will be able to relate with more women through this journey. As of now, I have learned more about the female endocrine system, supplementation, and diet than I have in years. I feel like I am back in graduate school again, and I love it. For me, the mundane is my biggest enemy. I need to constantly learn and expand my knowledge and perfect my craft. Each day I am more comfortable in my own skin and thankful for the body God has blessed me with. Instead of constantly thinking nothing is good enough, I am reshaping my thoughts and living in the moment.

What setback can you view as a gift? Share below in the comments section.

Avocado Pudding

This snack is one of the best things to have recently graced my table. It's so light, yet indulgent -- full of great, healthy fats and decadence, yet exotic and refined as well.

It even freezes well if you want to double the batch and eat some the next day swirled into a smoothie.  I topped my own version with a little crushed almonds.

Avocado Pudding (a.k.a. Vitamina de Abacate)

Serves 1 or 2

1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut milk
1 TBS honey
2-3 TBS of crushed almonds

Here is how you mix it.

1. Scoop avocado into a blender.

2. Add 1/2 cup of coconut milk.

3. Add the honey and blend until smooth.

4. Garnish with almonds.

*You can also chill for about an hour for a refreshing coolness. I cannot recommend this easy, dreamy recipe enough. It's absolutely marvelous any time of day and will wow guests as an easy dinner party dessert as well.

Garage Gym Throwdown Series

Check out my latest article on The Triune below. Mark your calendars for the Garage Gym Throwdown Series kicking off on April 20th. Registration opens TODAY!

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The Relentless Event Series comes around every Spring. The idea manifested from Jeremy Thiel and I discussing how to bring the excitement of competition to our outdoor Relentless Boot Camp community.  Just like the atmosphere in our boot camp classes, we wanted to create a fun and challenging atmosphere that would strengthen the Austin fitness community. The very first event we hosted was Garage Gym Throwdown held at LCRA parking garage which quickly became an athlete favorite over the last three years.

 

Garage Gym Throwdown is a party!  We fill the parking garage with music, vendors, and spectators galore. Teams of 2 race from the top, to the bottom of the parking garage, and back up all while completing mini WODs at each level. The first team to make it back to the top with the fastest time wins. Vendors from all over Austin show up to this competition offering free food and a chance to buy the newest products on the scene. It is kid and crowd friendly as there are areas at each level to cheer for your favorite team competing. The costumes are awesome and some teams get extremely creative and have their kids dress up too. Last year one team of Relentless Boot Camp athletes, Carrie and Sarah, were surprised by friend and boyfriend, Eric, with a tent set up that had a big banner spelling their names out. It was the perfect warm up spot before their heat. The event comes to a close with a big after party at Abel’s on the Lake around lunch time. It is my favorite event we host!

 

2013 will be our second year to host the Urban Run, formerly know as the Relentless 5K. This is not your typical 5K; it’s an outdoor CrossFit meets running event. Teams of two tackle the 5K in a relay fashion. While 1 partner is completing a WOD, the other partner is running a 1 mile loop and vice versa. The 5K ends with a final loop as a team. This event last year surprised a lot of the athletes and came out to be one of the most challenging yet the most fun. It was truly a team effort coming across the finish line with your teammate after already completing a 1 mile loop and a WOD. Pure sense of accomplishment!

 

CrossFit boxes and athletes all over Austin have competed in the series in an effort to show case the caliber of athletes at their box, provide an opportunity for new people who simply want to compete in an event, and allow individuals to try out an outdoor CrossFit event.

I have personally competed in both events and enjoyed each of them tremendously. Both offered a chance for me to test different physical skills, and I was able to team up with athletes I coach on a daily basis. If you are looking for a different challenge that encompasses kettlebells, dumbbells, parallettes, tires, boxes, sandbags, and more—then I highly recommend giving the Garage Gym Throwdown Series a go this year.

Registration opens today HERE. 

Fight for Air Climb

Firefighters of Austin that train Strictly Strength

 It's that time of year again for Fight for Air climb. I have done this event the past 3 years, and last year I competed with a fire suit on during the climb. This event holds a dear place in my heart, because I lost my Mima last year to lung cancer and my Poppie to prostate cancer. I climb in honor of them!

I challenge you to be a part of the solution by climbing on our team this year or donating. I hope to see you at Frost Bank Tower on April 27th.

JOIN OUR TEAM

1. Go HERE.
2. Where it says "Team Company" choose CrossFit Central/ Relentless Boot Camp
3. From there you will fill out the remaining information to join the team.

OR

DONATE to the team HERE

Morning & Post workout shake

I am changing things up a bit for my morning pick-me-up and post-workout shake. Based on recent literature and advice from experts in the field, I have rid my morning ritual of caffeine (Spark) and my post workout shake (whey protein). For the next few months I am trying the following:

Morning: 1 scoop of Athletic Greens, 1.5 tsp Vitamin C, 1 scoop of AminoCore
Post workout: 1 scoop of Athletic Greens, 1.5 tsp Vitamin C, 1 scoop of AminoCore

I am on day 3 and feeling great! The goal is to blunt the cortisol response and alkalize the body first thing in the morning and post workout, as well as load up on muscle building branch chain amino acids (BCAAs). The combination of the products taste good together. I found the Vitamin C product at People's; it's all natural and taste like cherries. The AminoCore is simply the bomb and found at Total Nutrition.

DISCLAIMER: There is nothing wrong with Spark or Whey protein. I recommend it to all my clients. It was simply time for my body to make a change as I have been on the products for years without taking some time off. And as we all know, too much of something is not a good thing.