In Wallace Stegner’s semi-autobiographical novel, Crossing to Safety, he explains that “difficult times are both humbling and instructive.” In this particular book, his characters struggle daily with issues such as fitting into new social circles, achieving success in careers, overcoming fatal disease. And as the author himself shares: there is a high degree of struggle that lies within the craft of writing. Struggle doesn’t necessarily yield success or achievement. Yet the handling of difficult issues, the dealing with complex and toilsome problems does provide a hotbed for instruction. These classrooms without walls exist everywhere around us. It is not the ONLY way to learn- but lessons gained in these environments stick around a while. They also give way to attitudes and outlooks that contain empathy and humility. There is something about physical struggle that shares these qualities: lessons that stick, a shared sense of understanding the nature of the work, an environment for reflecting on how one can grow from tough situations. Throughout today’s workout… Allow yourself to feel the struggle and to keep an open mind for what could be learned. Take some time to think about these things after the workout and throughout the rest of the day. Anyone who is willing to share anything after that… Feel free to post to comments or to the CFM “invite only” Facebook page. And let me know if you need to be added there.
The struggle is real. And it can be for much more than PRs and nice abs. That’s what they say anyway. Thursday’s WOD at 6, 7, 9am and again at 4 and 6pm
5pm Open Training Hour
For max unbroken reps and total time:
1 mile run for time
Rest exactly 3 minutes
Max effort unbroken KB swings not to exceed 100 reps (24/18kg)
Rest exactly 3 minutes
Max effort unbroken jumping squats not to exceed 75 reps
Rest exactly 3 minutes
Max effort unbroken push ups not to exceed 50 reps
Rest exactly 3 minutes
Max effort strict pull ups
Post mile time, number of unbroken reps of each movement and total time of WORK to chalkboard/journals
Compare today’s results when we introduced and tried this challenge on July 25 2016
