Monday, August 24, 2009

Workout of the Day:
Power Cleans
3-2-1-1-1
and then,
Seven rounds for time of:
3 Cleans (85% of today’s 1-RM)
6 Box Jumps (high)
200 Meter Run

Athlete Spotlight – Carla Mac
Written by Tabitha Stine

Hometown: Cando, North Dakota
Occupation: Attorney
Usual workout time: 5:30pm
Favorite exercise/WOD: Slam ball & ”Fight Gone Bad”

What is your fitness background?
I played ice hockey and basketball in college and law school, and worked many years on a cattle ranch at my home in North Dakota.

How long have you been doing CrossFit?
I started in 2005. I used to be a trainer at CrossFit San Diego during that time. I worked certifications and trained with Coach Burgener quite a bit.

That’s great! So you’ve been involved with CrossFit for quite a while?
Yes, however, my workouts became very inconsistent after my son, Tom, was born. I did CrossFit right up until I delivered him and it was great, but after he was born and I started working again things got busy. My fitness suffered and took a back seat when I knew it shouldn’t have.

So you haven’t been doing much physically for the past 2 years?
Initially after my son was born, I fit in some WODs. With an hour-long commute, long days as an attorney, and a baby, it was difficult to stay committed. I would do workouts at 9:00 at night outside my little apartment with a reading light facing out the window so I could see. I squeezed in an occasional WOD in the garage and once in awhile with Coach Burgener. I was averaging two workouts a week, I was very inconsistent, and slowly, my fitness tapered off.

So what was it that brought you to CrossFit Invictus?
A number of things. I had a blast CrossFitting when I was really emerged in it. I felt great and met some awesome people while doing it; I missed that a lot. I also started having pain in my low back and burning in my legs, and I couldn’t pinpoint the cause. I realized it was from inactivity and doing too much sitting. Between commuting and sitting at my desk, I probably sat, on average, seven hours a day. That is a dangerous combination, and I decided it was time to take control and get moving again.

So now your doing CrossFit again and getting fit, yay!
Yes, and I am loving CrossFit Invictus. TMac loves the gym too. To be candid, I was embarrassed to come back after letting my fitness level suffer, especially having been so involved before. I knew getting strong again meant scaling my workouts when I used to do the majority unscaled. I realized I needed to get into a class and surround myself with others in order to get my intensity level up, stay motivated, and hold my feet to the fire. Pride needed to take a back seat.

Do you feel that the welcoming community here at CrossFit Invictus helped you get over that hump?
Yes, definitely.

What are some of your fitness goals?
Rehabbing my lower back to where I can do kipping pull-ups again and not only returning to my pre-pregnancy fitness level, but in fact, surpassing it.

Anything else you’d like to share with the CrossFit Invictus community?
YOU HAVE TO START BY STARTING! I would also like to add that I know that work and a child did not HAVE to affect my workouts like they did; in the end that was my choice to let them suffer. I am here to change that.

One last question I have to ask: In your opinion, what is the world’s toughest animal?
Gosh, give me ten seconds….uh, I’ll say badger.

Good choice. I’ve heard that’s a favorite among a couple coaches here.
It’s been mentioned before?
Oh, yes.