March 2012 – St. Pattys at Tampa? No problem!

What a month this has been.  Split my time between taming the rabid Tampa crowds and competing in the CrossFit Games Open.  I’d like to think I did pretty well at the former, wish I had done better in the latter.  The patrons at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival are a rambunctious crowd, but I think we held our own against them. 🙂

Spring is here

It is definitely starting to warm up in Charlotte.  So much so that my front flower bed is blooming very early.  I don’t track these kind of things, but I can’t help but think that the flowers are coming out a good 2-3 weeks earlier than past years.  And man, what a mild winter this has been.  Personally, I’m a fan of warmer weather, and no snow, so this is just fine by me.

Now I just need to find the time to spend more time in the yard.  I think I’m going to hire a lawn service to actually cut the grass this year, but I want to expand the flower beds, trim back some trees in the back yard, plant a couple in the front, and do some hardscaping.  I said hardscaping, not manscaping.  I already do that.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival

I have to admit, I was nervous going into this festival, it being the Tortuga’s home festival.  And while we have been getting a little more “Clone Team” ribbing than most festival’s it’s been bearable.  We will let someone give us a little grief, and we’ll give it back, maybe with a light hearted jab at the Gold Team.  But sometimes you run across someone who just doesn’t get it.  Nothing to do there but walk away.

But man, what audiences.  So much fun.   Great energy, great picks.  And very generous with their beer in that last show of the day.  We’ve even managed to gather a few of our own “Regulars” who come back week after week.  It always feels good to do that as a first year act, especially if it’s fans whom never seen the Gold Team before.  It just reinforces and recognizes all the hard work this team has put into this show.

Joey, our Merch Goddess and Den Mother has been a pleasure.  We’re staying with her for this run in Lakeland.  So it’s a bit of a drive every week, but it’s worth it.  We each have our own room, which is heaven compared to the small cabin that we have stayed at in the past.  And she make a great “one of the guys” giving us grief, and drinking us under the table in kind.  Love this woman.

CrossFit Games Open

Once again I competed in the CrossFit Games Open this year.  I was nervous going into it because I still have nagging impingement issues in my shoulders, especially left.  And sure enough, a few of the workouts exposed that weakness.

Started out with a max burpees in seven minutes workout.  I started well, but quickly slowed down.  My shoulder slowing me down when dropping down into the push-up position.   The second workout was a snatch ladder, starting at 75lbs, then 135lbs, 165lbs.  I got up to 165, but I didn’t get it.  The first attempt I almost did, but didn’t have enough time left for a real second attempt.

Third workout I did better at, but still not great.  It was a box jump, push press, toes to bar workout.  The Push-Press was a lot tougher than I thought.  This workout literally sucked the will to live out from me.  Eighteen minutes of hell.

Then what was probably my best workout.  150 wallballs, 90 double unders, 30 muscle-ups.  I got through seven muscle-ups, so I was quite happy with it.  My legs were still tore up from wallballs earlier that week, but I only had one shot at this workout on Friday afternoon.

And the final workout was a repeat of the workout from last year.  An ascending ladder of thrusters and pull-ups.  Unfortunately it destroyed me.  I got four fewer reps than last year.

So all in all I think I finished in the top 25-30% or so.  I’ll take it.  Not as good as I was hoping, but not the worst it could be.

I gotta wear shades...

Okay, one more weekend in Tampa, and then it’s off to the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Texas!  Really looking forward to this one.

Take care & be safe