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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Review: Rich Froning's "First: What It Takes to Win"

 
Author: Rich Froning
 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is so much more than an athlete's biography. Rich Froning delves into his battle with pride, his family values, and what drives him to do what he does. Complete with scripture that he relies on to keep him grounded and focused, this book is a must-read for the Christian athlete. I would encourage EVERYONE - CrossFitter, Christian, or not - to give this one a go. It's easy to read, and I managed to finish it in about 6 hours (reading straight through). Froning is a genuine guy... Josh was able to spend some time with him at a competition we went to in January of this year. While he doesn't do many (if any) smaller competitions during the year, he attended this one - a fundraiser for orphans. The 2013 Games are in full swing as we speak - you can check out the coverage schedule here. I don't think anyone is more deserving of a 3 time, back-to-back championship and title of "The Fittest on Earth" than this guy.

345# clean at Love+1 fundraiser
 
Man-hug. Josh was 3rd behind Rich and his buddy Thomas Cox
in the clean ladder, so he got some love.
 
Book Cover 
 
 Best photo displaying his Galatians 6:14 tattoo. "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
 
Favorite Excerpts:
 
"Colossians 3:23 says, 'Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.' To me, that should motivate Christians to give their all - whether it's at the Games, in a gym busting their butts in a workout, competing in another sport, or working a desk job. The point is, whatever you do should be done for God's glory, not yours."
 
"The Games didn't make CrossFit; CrossFit made the Games."
 
"I found my purpose in living to glorify God, not in competing to bring glory to myself. I found my identity not in a sport where I was one injury or one superior athlete away from people forgetting who I was, but in Christ, who gave His life for me so that I could spend eternity with Him."
 
"It was a rope that exposed two of my weaknesses. One was obvious to CrossFit fans around the world. The other, more important one was visible only to me within my own heart. The first weakness was corrected by learning how to hold on properly; the second was corrected by learning how to let go. As I began to dig deeper into the Bible, I let ho of my pride and found my purpose in God. The rope defined me until God's Word refined me. And what God's Word has taught me is that the key to truly winning is not to be first. The key to winning is to put God first."

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Without Limits



Event: Without Limits


Series: Garage Games

 
Hosted By: PrimeTime CrossFit 

 
Location: Montgomery, AL

 
Date: 7.14.13

 
Category: Rx Male Teams

 
Ranking: 6/19
 
WOD #1
15 minutes total for both partners to find a one rep max on Snatch and Clean & Jerk.
 
Jake's Snatch PR: 235#
 
 
 
 
 
 
Josh's max snatch: 255#
 
 
 
 
 
 
Josh's  345# Clean & Jerk - heaviest lift of the day
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mandy's 120# Snatch
 
 
 
 
 
This guy - Andrew Rape - has to clean from the hang position due to a fused spine. He was throwing around almost as much weight as Josh. Pretty impressive. His partner - Wade Witten - claimed the heaviest snatch for individuals on Saturday, and again on Sunday during the team competition. Both of them competed both days, and never showed the pain they were in. Awesome athletes to watch.
 
 
 
 
WOD #2
Each partner completes the following for a total time:
21-15-9
Kettlebell swings (70#)
Shuttle run
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WOD #3
3 Rounds:
75 Wallball shots (20#)
Lunges/Sprints with sandbags 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WOD #4
For time:
20 burpees
20 thrusters (115#)
20 pull-ups
20 snatches (115#)
20 toes to bar
20 power cleans (115#)
40 box jump overs
20 power cleans (115#)
20 toes to bar
20 snatches (115#)
20 pull-ups
20 thrusters (115#) 
20 burpees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Possibly my favorite shot of the day....
 
 
Daniel and Matt tied for 1st and had to do a tie-breaker WOD of squat cleans and pull-ups...
 
 
 
...And ended up placing 2nd for the Scaled Male Teams division. 
 
 
Mandy & Beth took 2nd for Rx Female Teams.
 
 
Wade and Andrew placed 1st for Men's Rx Teams. Their team name was 1COR1031.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
 
 
CFI Family
 
 

Loading up the equipment we loaned... and Daniel...
 
 
 What an awesome day for CFI! Some highlights included this conversation:
 
Guy: Hey man, great job on that clean & jerk.
Josh: Thanks!
Guy: So, I have  question... does your diet consist of small children?
Josh: (laughing)
Guy: Earlier one of the kids in our group went missing and everyone was like, "Where's Jasper?!" and I'm thinking... "In that guy's belly..."
 
Josh thinks he's pretty awesome now that he has a video on YouTube.
 
He wants a 270# snatch pretty bad now after talking to Wade more.
 
My favorite part of a competition day is after it's all over and he starts decompressing. He's always really talkative and wants to go back through all of the events to hash it out. We took Carter to Applebee's since we hadn't seen him all day (we had a friend sit for him since it was a long day). Over dinner we talked about what could have gone better and where he could improve. I love watching his progress as an athlete, and seeing him grow as a person through this sport. A year ago he would walk into the box and not speak to anyone... now you can find him coaching and encouraging, learning member's names, talking and smiling with people he may not even know. I can't say it enough - CrossFit is more than a sport, it's more than exercise, it's more than sweaty, hot bodies... it's a community. Every day I'm more thankful for our CFI family and the happiness they bring. All of you did awesome today! Be proud and get some rest!

The Pay-Off