Age Is Just A Number

I am 45 years old. I don’t start today’s posting with this as a way to gain sympathy, although a little every now and again is kind of nice… I start today’s post to help keep things in perspective.

I have been called an athlete, which I thought was interesting, if not funny… I guess I don’t think of myself as the athletic type… I have never competed in any sport. I train in CrossFit, and I compete with myself, to be better, stronger, faster, etc. All the pillars of CrossFit… And I occasionally chase the “big dog”… Until this past weekend.

This past weekend I competed in the San Diego/Arizona Sectionals for CrossFit. I was one of about 40 women who competed. The top 20 women would move on to the Regional competition. I felt I had a fairly good chance of moving on, the odds were good, but I didn’t want to be cocky about it. I trained hard to prepare, and during the Sectional workouts, I pushed myself hard. Could I have trained harder? Yes. Could I have pushed myself harder? Sure. Isn’t that always the case? But I had a 50/50 chance, so the odds were even. Exactly.

But what I experienced this past weekend, and what I saw this past weekend, is nearly beyond explanation and comprehension.

I saw a man overcome physical limitations and compete as if he had none. He finished 147 double-unders with a prosthetic leg. I saw frustration in a woman, as she tried her hardest to finish the same WO, even though she could not do what was being asked, and eventually ran out of time. She did not give up. Time gave up on her. I saw a community of CrossFitters come together to cheer on the man who just wanted to finish the WO, regardless of his place in the competition. I saw people cheer and support athletes they did not even know. I saw the respect and admiration for the athletes who were in the top contenders, and I saw the respect and admiration for the athletes who just did.

I saw struggles, hardships, victories, support, honor, strength and camaraderie. I saw athletes of all sizes, shapes and colors, bound together by one thing, the desire to do more, faster and better, and an ultimate love for CrossFit and the CrossFit community.

It does not matter what your limitations may be. Limitations are self-imposed. In this community, the CrossFit community, all that matters is that you try. That you attempt, and that you persevere. That you give your best each time, knowing that your best is for that specific moment – whether a daily WOD or a competition. That you are competing against you own self imposed limitations, not any real limitations.

I am 45 years old, it is a biological limitation. It will not be a self-imposed limitation. I am 45 years old, and age is just a number.

Congratulations to all the athletes who competed in the San Diego/Arizona Sectionals.

Check out the clip from Day 1! WMV MOV

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