FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT ON MANY FRONTS

SATURDAY 12/6/08: Grand Opening of our new Crossfit Academy.

[ Winning the fight against sloth, indiscipline, and mental weakness]

The whole celebration was inspiring to me. Once again our extended community came together, pitched in on many levels to make this event a resounding success. My faith in human beings to be decent to one another is so often shattered...but rarely within this Crossfit/Bootcamp community in which I spend a lot of my time. I have seen this group...and a rather diverse group at that, continually lend a hand when needed, encourage those who are new or at a lesser fitness level and cheer each other on during competitions. Yup, that's right..cheering, not jeering, fellow competitors. That's awesome, and that's rare and it makes me proud to be part of this community.

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT DURING "FIGHT GONE BAD"

On a personal level, competing in the FIGHT GONE BAD (FGB) event was something I really needed to do. Honestly I don't like attention when I train, I prefer to "suffer in silence" with my own group and with my fellow coaches there to push me when needed. This large group made me even more nervous about doing FGB than I normally am. That's right, FGB makes me nervous. I would rather run up and down the Mt. Wilson trail twice in a row than to do FGB. It's so f*&#ing tough both mentally and physically. I KNOW how bad it's going to hurt (yeah, good hurt, but still hurt) and on top of that, I now have the mental pressure of trying to keep my score above 200.

Since I'm a trainer, a Bootcamp coach and an intern at the Academy, there is an expectation that I will perform well. It's my expectation of myself, but it's also the expectation of of our Crossfitters and Bootcampers. This doesn't mean that I will be at the top of every WOD or that I won't have a bad day sometimes, no way. I hope no one would expect that of me. What it does mean is that I must always put forth my best effort and set an example for our members. In other words, this community not only holds each other accountable, but they hold me accountable too. I must "practice what I preach" or be perceived as a hypocrite. This is sometimes a daunting task, but I'm glad to take it on and I'm even grateful for it because ultimately I too become a better human being by upholding those values and principals which I preach. Warning: because I'm human I will not do this perfectly and that's when I am grateful to have this community there to pick me up when I fall (after making fun of me first :)).

Well, in the end,I got over my nerves, focused entirely on the work at hand, forgot about the crowd and scored 203 -- hell, I'll take it! Special thanks to Kelly for being my scorer and not letting me chicken out (cluck, cluck)!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 2008....FIGHTING ON ANOTHER FRONT

A SIGHT TO BEHOLD: As I was driving East on Sierra Madre Blvd., not far from La Salle HS,I heard the sound of a LARGE jet aircraft, and what did I see gracefully cruising the sky above me? The STEALTH BOMBER!!

I thought it was in honor of PEARL HARBOR DAY, but turns out it was part of a funeral service for a man named Verne Orr who was our former Secretary Of the Air Force during the Reagan Administration. He was 92! A very interesting and important man in matters of the defense of this nation. I learned a lot about him from this article:

Verne Orr, Air Force Chief Known for Fight Against Waste, Dies at 92

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/washington/06orr.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

I'M SO GLAD THIS IS OURS:

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT: DEC 7, 1941 - OUR FIRST DAY OF INFAMY

I do not forget that we are vulnerable...that we have always had and will continue to have enemies....

Look at this photo...can you imagine seeing enemy aircraft invading your country and dropping bombs on you? This happen before most of us were born. Then again on 9/11/01 in a completely different way, we were briefly invaded and thousands died. Complacency kills.

I took some time today, to remember and to honor those who have fought and continue to "Fight The Good Fight".

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY "WREATH LAYING"

There is a time to fight...know why, know who, know how and know when....that's my goal.

Sometimes the battle is within myself, like it was for FGB...those are really tough battles.

Be well and FIGHT ON!