Category Archives: personal

Raid Games

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Last weekend I was able to compete in the Elite division of the Raid Games. The Raid Games are held under the umbrella of the larger Europa Games. There’s a myriad of events held there (Powerlifting, IFBB events, Wresting, etc …). Just one of those is the Raid Games.

I’m going to jump ahead of myself and say the Raid Games is easily the most awesome event I’ve ever been a part of. The huge environment surrounding the event is awesome. That there are so many folks who are able to see what CrossFitters do, is also pretty awesome.

Additionally, that I was able to hang out with my buddies from my gym, CrossFit Firebase, as well as great friends from CrossFit eXalted, CrossFit KingsPoint, CrossFit 407, and CrossFit Country was great.

I went into this event, with very little expectation of doing well. I’m glad about this. It’s my first competition in 18 months, and predictably, I did not do well. However, I was able to hang with some incredible athletes. I learned a whole lot from this. I intend to make the most of those learnings.

I’ve been training for a long time for something like this. The weaknesses in my training became immediately apparent during the event. Things like muscular leg endurance and pain threshold were clearly weaknesses of mine. I’ll adapt and train appropriately going forward.

GORUCK Challenge

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On May 19 – May 20, I participated in the GORUCK Challenge Orlando event. For those of you who don’t know what GORUCK is, I’d suggest the GORUCK FAQ. Here’s a quick summary of a GORUCK challenge event:

  • Wear a backpack with bricks in it.
  • Perform various PT type exercises with a group of about 20-25 of your new best friends
  • Ruck to somewhere far away
  • Ruck back
  • Expect various factors of suckage along the way

Summary

Overall I’d call the event one of the more difficult things I’ve ever done. I’ve hung out with a number of folks who have previously completed the challenge, and was adequately warned that it would amount to as much. The camaraderie is the only thing that overcomes the difficulty. I’d highly recommend this to all friends and colleagues that are in decent shape.

Cadre – Dave

Our Cadre (guide / leader / painmaster) for the event was Dave. Dave spent 18 years in active duty doing in various roles in Special Forces. Dave was a smaller guy than I had imagined we’d be lead by. Having said that however, Dave is a monster of a man: not in the physical sense, but you can’t escape the feeling that he’s got a vast amount more knowledge about the limitations of the human mind and body than most of us could ever know.

Review

The grossest part of the evening :/


Class 172 started at the amphitheater on Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando. Our route put us around the lake, doing various forms of PT along the way. Within an hour we had our first casualty: a member passed out, and was unable to continue. We wound up in Lake Eola (gross), running to 7-11, then through Downtown Orlando during the primetime of the night scene. We headed to the new Arena, and to the Citrus bowl (directly through the roughest ghetto in 100 miles).

Flags, Ducks, Sand ... Check.

All the while, we were carrying our own packs (mine was just under #40) and 5 bags distributed among the team (each at #50), as well as the team weight: the head of a swan boat from Lake Eola. Doing all of this would have been enough, without the extra load.

When the fireman carry got to be too much, a two man carry was employed.

From the Citrus Bowl we took the scenic route to Citywalk. We had met some of the most interesting characters Orlando has to offer during the trek. Our march to Citywalk was a mix of running, indian runs, PT, and various other mental challenges. Along the way we were threatened by the intoxicated, rewarded with hydration, and questioned by criminals.

Inchworms. The worst thing you've ever wished you hadn't been through.


We got to the entrance of Universal Studios (Citywalk) around 7:30am. We got a group shot, and were able to lighten some of the #50 sand bags we’d been hauling around for so long. By that point, the less physically trained were showing signs of weakness. That’s not to take away from what they did though. If anything, those guys pushed themselves farther than any of us. For that, they have my respect.

Because of this however, our journey back to our starting point didn’t entail any other PT. I was a bit disappointed. I had expected to be pushed farther than I ever have been before. That certainly was not the case however. I had a very difficult time, but not as much as I had been worried about.

Suggestions

If you’re planning on doing the GORUCK Challenge, I’d suggest a few things:

  • Be in good physical shape. Crossfit is an excellent primer for the things you’ll encounter during the challenge. Having said that however, it’s not enough. I highly recommend practice rucks and extra running
  • Bring good gear. A friend of mine let me borrow his GR-1 for the event. That thing is awesome. I’m saving my pennies to get one of my own.
  • Hydrate heavily before the event. I had a gallon of water a day prior, and experienced no cramping at all
  • Eat like a complete asshole the day of the event. You’re likely going to expend somewhere on the order of 10,000 to 20,000 calories during the challenge. Because of this you’re going to need every calorie you can consume. This isn’t the day feel guilty about pizza. Find food, and stuff yourself

Final Thoughts

I’d love to thank everyone who was a part of class 172. My friends Ben, Mirason, Brenna, and Ramon were great to have for the ride. I met a ton of awesome new friends that I can’t wait to join to complete another event. A huge thanks to Dave for being an amazing leader during the event. This was my first event. I can guarantee you it won’t be my last.

Belief

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The season of lent is over. For this season, I gave up all alcohol. For those of you that know me well, you’re aware how difficult this was for me to do. Well, you’re aware how difficult it *appeared* for me to do.

The truth of the matter is: not drinking for 6 weeks was significantly less challenging than I thought it would have been. The reason for this: I believe in God far more than I require anything the world has to offer. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I’m surprised by this revelation.

I’m writing all of this, after having a nice share of Jack Daniels this evening. I didn’t give up alcohol forever. I gave it up for 6 weeks to recognize the sacrifice that my savior gave while still in human form upon the Earth. It sounds trivial to many of you. This gets me to the point of why I’m writing at all.

Faith requires courage.

Some of you will scoff at this statement. I challenge you, however, to deny it. Tell me that it takes courage to discredit the believer. Tell me that it takes more courage to find examples of inaccuracy of a statement of faith. Tell me that believing in nothing demands more than believing in something.

I believe in the LORD, Jesus Christ. He is the only son of God, who gave his on mortal life for all of us that we might have the opportunity to know eternal life. There is no other gateway to this path than recognition of who He is.

For those of you who discredit this notion, tell me; what *do* you believe in?

Recognizing the courage of this statement doesn’t take much intellectual investment. Any time you have believed anything to be true, you’ve undoubtedly encountered skeptics. You are aware that skepticism, by itself, is cowardice. Skepticism, with a counter-belief, is a belief.

That is, again, the point. Belief is Faith, and faith requires courage.

Men and Women

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Recently, a friend of mine posted a link to a blog post that got me thinking about the dynamic between married men and women. I offer an opposing view to Denise’s position on the lack of effort put out by married men.

Denise makes a long point to highlight the efforts she, and most women, put forth in a family relationship. She also points out that despite the faults of her husband, he does things that she appreciates. As a married man myself, I can’t emphasize how much that last part goes a long way.

While much smarter people than I have written plenty on this, it bears repeating: Men and Women are different. There is no escaping that women excel at things men statistically do not, and vice versa. Embracing this difference is key to a successful relationship.

This speaks to the nature of any successful relationship – Empathy. While my wife does a number of things that drive me crazy, I get nowhere with her if I don’t first recognize why she’s being the way she is. She feels the way she does for a reason. Making the effort to understand is like opening the door before entering the house.

I bring this up, because while Denise mentions how her husband is still good to have around, the bulk of comments on her page suggest otherwise. Most comments on her page are women ranting about the worthlessness of their husbands. One even offers divorce as motivation. I take offense to this. While plenty of men could use a lesson in gumption, the majority of men I know do not

I don’t recall seeing anything detailing a typical married man’s frustrations. So, here’s a few things I’d answer these women with.

I’m a man, so I don’t multi-task well (as well pointed out by other posts). My day however, consists of quite a lot of that. I have to do plenty of that at work. When I get home, I have to do even more.

Switching between the demands of employees and employers, and the demands of a wife and twin kids is difficult. Quite often it highlights the inadequacies that I’m terrified define who I am. Reading the comments of these women hits me between the eyes: I am not enough, I am never enough, I have never been enough.

There are so many indirect assaults on the fears of male inadequacies in American culture it’s difficult to even start to complain about it. Between jokes about male sexual failures, the lack of efforts put forth in family life, and jokes about a husbands mechanical abilities. All of these common jokes in society only tell men one thing: You are not enough.

The way men respond (typically) to these messages, is withdrawal. If you’re wondering why your husband doesn’t help with certain things around the house, it’s likely because he doesn’t feel he’s doing it right. Think of the last time you were told how badly you were doing something. It didn’t encourage you to try harder, did it?

I’m sure there are plenty of similar messages our culture sends women. I think there’s quite a lot more documentation of those complaints though.

Ladies: If you want more from your men, encourage him. Berating him will get you nowhere.

David Crooks

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David CrooksI spoke briefly at your memorial today. I wanted to tell everyone how amazing of a person you were, and how I hope to carry your legacy with me wherever I go. I wanted to tell them that I have become a good person, doing good things, and I owe huge dividends to you for that. I wanted to tell them that no person stands out so profoundly in my life as you. I wanted to tell them that so much about the way I’m going to raise my kids is because of how you helped to raise me.

I should have said a lot of things:

I should have told them about the guitar you bought for me when I turned 16. I should have told them how you drove with me to stores all over Palm Beach County all day looking for the right guitar, and the place that wouldn’t rip us off for it. I should have told them how you told me you were proud of me for knowing what I wanted, and not settling to get it right.

I should have told them how terrified I was to hear that you were dying of liver failure when I was 18. I should have told them how I spent my 18th birthday sitting at a restaurant bar eating a sandwich contemplating my life without you around in it. I should have told them that after you got back, you gave me a necklace for my 18th birthday, that I still wear. I should have told them how my kids love to play with that necklace when I hold them, and how one day I’ll give that necklace to them.

I should have told them about the years I spent working for your block company. I should have told them how it’s the work I’m most proud of in my life. I should have told them how the people I met while doing that work, have changed my world view more profoundly than most folks will ever have the opportunity to understand.

I should have told them about the time I didn’t show up for work on Saturday. I should have told them how you broke in my house, yelling at me to get my ass to work. I should have told them about the number of times you were incredibly tough on me, and how it’s shaped so much of who I am today.

I should have told them about the time you sunk a Lull up to it’s wheels. I should have told them about the times you would put a lit cigarette in someone’s pocket, or put a rubber snake next to one of the masons working, and how we would all laugh. I should have told them that your since of humor was amazing, and how it will be carried on long past your departure in this world.

I should have told them about when I graduated community college, how you came up to me (during the ceremony), to tell me how proud you were of me. I should have told them how much it meant to me.

I should have told them how much you meant to my mom. I should have told them that the 10 years you were together were some of the hardest, and best times of her life. I should have told them how much it meant to me that for so long, you were such a good part of her life.

I should have said a lot of things to those people sitting there today. But when I got up there, the enormity of your absence hit me like a cube of block. I love you like a father. That’s not to the deteriment of my dad (who is awesome), but to the testament of who you are. I’ll always consider you my dad, and I’ll miss you as much as I’ll miss anyone in my life. You are one of the greatest people I’ve ever encountered, and that’s what I should have said today.

Baby Tools

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So after a couple months of being a dad to twins, I’ve come up with a list of stuff that first time parents should know about. Here’s some of the most important stuff Melissa and I use:

  • The Slumber Bear: One of the few calming things for babies is white noise. It’s the shhh noise we all know so well. A tip: Do it loudly. When babies are in the womb, the sound of water running by their ear is akin to white noise, and it’s reportedly as loud as a leaf blower. Another Tip: We took the bear skin off, and just use the noise making guts.
  • Boppies: When the kids are little, they can’t hold their own head up. When it’s feeding time, you’ll either have to hold them yourself, or have something to hold them for you. That’s the idea behind the Boppy. It may look like a neck pillow for Big Foot, but it’ll give you a spare hand for that beer of yours.
  • Probiotics: Babies typically don’t digest food well early on. This is one of the causes of colic kids. So, just like a wastewater treatment plant, you can help get the pipes working by introducing bacteria in your child’s diet. Some of you might sound appalled, but you’ve still got billions of E-Coli in your belly right now.
  • Bouncy Seats: I don’t know why, but a bouncing baby is usually a happy one. If baby has eaten, and has a clean diaper, and is still crying, the bouncy seat should be your next plan of attack.
  • Swing: Another great way to chill your baby out is to set them in a swing. The bouncy seats are a great way to soothe babies quick, but it still requires you to sit there and bounce them (we’ve yet to find the automatic bouncy seat).
  • The Happiest Baby On The Block: The doctor behind this DVD is a bit odd, but his methods work 100%. I knew nothing about raising kids before watching this (the day before Mason and Charlotte were born). Within a couple hours of using the methods described, I was better at calming the kids than anyone else was. This DVD is definitely a must.

I’m sure there’s some stuff out there that some of you have come to rely on a bunch. I’d love to hear what everyone else is using to get by the hardest times. These days, with the help of the previously mentioned tools, things are a lot of fun. :D