I started CrossFit in January 2012, looking for an alternative to the steady state cardio rut I had found myself for several years. I went in to CrossFit Chicago for a free trial workout, which turned out to be the Baseline. I could not do a regular push-up or pull-up, but I was hooked immediately. I followed a pull-up plan for 2 months trying to get the required 3 strict pull-ups so that I could be taught to kip (and ditch the dreaded bands). Fast forward to July 2013, I moved to Broomfield and joined MBS. I felt, and still feel, so lucky to be able to come to such a great gym in such a beautiful location with such dedicated and knowledgeable coaches. Not everyone gets to workout and take selfies with such an amazing backdrop ☺
Around October that year my shoulder and upper arm started to feel really sore. I went in to see an Orthopedist, had an MRI, and was given a cortisone shot and told to lay off the weights. Of course that was never going to happen, and I continued training through the pain, setting many PR’s along the way. I bought some sessions with Ashley O’Connell to see if she could help with the pain. After stepping around on me a little bit, Ashley suggested I go in for a second opinion because she thought there was something wrong with my bicep tendon. I went in to see another doctor, and it turned out that I had an SLAP (superior labrum anterior posterior) tear and a torn biceps tendon that would require surgery. On July 31, 2014, I had my labrum reattached with 5 anchors and my biceps tendon reattached with a screw. I spent two months in an immobilizing brace and four months completing physical therapy.
It’s now been 13 months since that surgery, and I almost feel like I am back to my old self. I’ve learned that recovering from a surgery, or any setback in life, takes a few things: a positive outlook and a plan. In CrossFit, we are constantly trying to be better and do better than yesterday. I know that my time at the gym is oftentimes the best part of my day. So what happens when you can’t go to the place you love and do the things you love to do? Well, the best plan I could figure out was to do the things I COULD do. For a few months, all that I could do was walk. So I walked a 4 mile loop around my neighborhood every day, and each day I tried to PR my four mile walk time. When I started physical therapy, I celebrated each incremental increase in range of motion. I treated my PT exercises and 1lb dumbbells like I would any WOD. Finally when I could come back to MBS, I continued to follow the plan my physical therapist had put together for me and worked on strengthening the muscles around my shoulder. I asked for modifications from our coaches, so that I could take part in class. I remember how pumped I was the first day I could do a power clean with an empty trainer bar, how cool it was to finally do a snatch again, and the amazing feeling of kicking up into a handstand!! I’m still working on strengthening my shoulders, and still trying to get my pull-ups back. But I have a training plan, and I am sticking to it.
You hear the phrase “Leave your Ego at the door” thrown around a lot, and it’s true. We each come in every day to be the best possible version of ourselves, but our egos can get in the way of that goal. Before my surgery, I could Rx most workouts and had a pretty decent engine. I would work through real pain and ignore what my body was telling me because I was concerned with what I thought my time or weight said about me (insert eye roll). For now, I have had to learn how to become comfortable scaling workouts when necessary and knowing my own limitations. The most important thing is to move well and work hard, whether the work is ring rows or muscle-ups. We will all get better and stronger over time, but only if we stick to our own plan.
We each face our own struggles, big and small, but I really believe that CrossFit helps develop the confidence and courage we need to face things head on. A big thank you to Pat and Janelle for creating such a great community, our coaches for all of their help, and my 9’ers for all of their positive energy and encouragement!!
