Thanks, Mama

Mama did her first CrossFit workout ever today at the elementary school in Ila, Georgia!
I'm so proud of her that I named her first workout in her honor.


"Nettie Jo"

3 Rounds for Time:
Walk 1-Lap Around Playground
10 Push-ups
5 Sit-ups

The highlight of my weekend was a Sunday morning workout with my mom. I spent the last few days at the cabin, and on Saturday I spotted pull-up bars at the Ila Elementary School. I mentioned to Mama that I was planning to workout there on Sunday morning. She said she might like to join me. I hoped she would, but didn't count on it. She's 68, has suffered two mild strokes, and has been having lots of health issues lately, especially with her hips. I thought she might not be up to it when the time came. But when I stopped by her house Sunday morning on my way to the school playground, she popped up, ready to go.

I designed the above WOD for her and another one for me. After explaining the workout, I said "3-2-1-GO!" and we hit it. I did a Fran/Helen inspired workout of dumbbell thrusters, pull-ups, and running. I hate thrusters, and running isn't my favorite either, but nothing gets my endorphins flowing better than these two exercises, so I figured why not do them both!

Mama was quite the trooper. She did well with the walking. Because of her prior strokes, she's unsteady on her feet. But she was careful with each step, and did better on the second and third laps than the first. She did modified, incline push-ups on a wall. She did so well with these that I told her we have to make them more difficult next time! :-) The sit-ups were challenging for her, but not TOO challenging. The hardest part of the sit-ups was getting up and down from the ground. That's part of it though, and she'll just get better and stronger as a result. And she clearly understands how all of this involves functional movements that will aid her with everyday living. She finished her workout in around 21 minutes.

It was so rewarding to share this with my mom. And what an example she is! If she can begin this at 68 after two strokes, then certainly I can continue it at 48. Thanks for the inspiration, Mama. I needed it.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."
~ George Eliot ~