Champions Club Scaling Notes

RANT

I'd like all you veterans to marinate on this question for a minute: in general, is it more difficult to get yourself to work hard during a workout or to hold yourself back?

One of the things I have recently realized that I admire about CrossFit is their inclusion of Rest Days; the more I think about it for myself and the more I coach the Champions Club people, the more I respect how difficult it is to rest when we need it.

First off, resting takes surrendering. It takes surrendering because we are now letting go of control and allowing for other factors to do their jobs. YOU did rowing yesterday, YOU did muscle-ups yesterday... now it's your turn to allow your mind, spirit, and biology to do their jobs.

Resting also takes modesty, and this is where Coach Glassman has really done such a great job of demonstrating how such an unbelievable dose can be given from such a modest amount of work. This modesty comes from knowing that if the power/intensity is right, then a little volume will go a long way, both in the micro dose of the workout and the macro dose of the three-day cycle.

This means that resting takes patience, which I have wrote about on a few occasions in these Scaling Notes.

Ultimately, we land on faith, which is being sure of things we can't see. What can I see right now? The rowing machine, the rings, the sweat angel on the sidewalk, the veins bursting out of my arms, our chest rising up and down uncontrollably from breathing so heavy. What can't I see? Literally everything else. The things inside of our body reacting to what we just put it through. Monday's workout. Our body next Friday. The school demands next month. Ohio State's football roster in the fall. Our work demands next winter. Our life demands next year. To rest means that, even though we can't see them, we believe they are going to be just fine without our immediate actions.

Resting is something we receive, not earn. I may be speaking way out of line here, but I'd imagine a first-responder or Army veteran can tell you that: after all, you may be called on to work when you feel the most deserving of rest, and called on to rest when you feel the most eager to work.

I'm also starting to believe that resting doesn't need our help. (That work be working, right?) Resting needs us, more than anything, to get out of its way, like a point guard waving off a high ball screen. If we are to truly receive the rest given to us, we have to allow it to come in whatever form it may look like on a given day. You'll know it's rest because there's usually a little hint of guilt trying to stop you from doing it. You won't see the benefits of rest right now, but in time they will be obvious.

Love you guys!