Matt Steinheider
Matt Steinheider “Everyone in class expects me to do my best and push myself”
When I first started Crossfit at the end of August, 2009, I literally needed a week to recover from the basic WODs. My first WOD of something like 10 box jumps, 15 pushups and 20 sit-ups put me on the shelf for 5 days. My first tabada pushup total was 1. And that was only because I cheated on the last 2-3 intervals. My first real WOD came on October 1, 2009, at 4:00 PM. There were about 6 of us there, me being the only newbie. The WOD: 50 box pushups, 40 air squats, 30 box dips, 20 SDHP with 53# KB, 10 burpees, 800m Run, 2 ROUNDS. 55 minutes later, I finished (kind of: I had a few range of motion issues on, well, everything the whole WOD). But what I remember most is that as each person got finished, they offered little bits of encouragement as I was struggling. I must admit that this seemed very weird. I was obviously struggling, and thought that everyone was just sitting there watching me struggle. I suspect that CrossFit in general loses a lot of new clients who don’t like being watched, as it wasn’t until I had been 4-5 times that I realized that nobody cared what my time was. They just wanted me to do my best and finish no matter how long it took.
It’s that kind of camaraderie that has helped my fitness improve so much over the last 6 months. It’s not only doing extra pull-ups after class, lifting with stronger guys, or chasing faster guys (the competition certainly helps though), its knowing that while I am doing a WOD, Vic, Katie and everyone in the class expects me to do my best and to push myself. You could walk into the box and insult somebody’s mother, and eventually you might be forgiven. But if you show up and give less than your best that day, people will remember. I didn’t know that was the stimulus I needed to get my butt into shape. But it works for me. And I think it works for everyone who has ever measured themselves against a clock. Whether one person does a WOD in 9:41 and thought they could have done it in 9:25, or another does the same WOD in 16:10 and thought they could have done it in 15-something, everyone is expected to do their best, and that is why I love CrossFit. I hate to admit this, but I think I used to be one of those people who had a lot of “quit” in them. Try to do 20 pushups and the 15th is hard? Shoot, do 15 then. Want to run 5 miles but you can see your house after 2? Eh, go home. 2 miles is a lot to run. Fortunately I think that person is on his way out of my psychological makeup. I don’t know if he is all the way out yet, but I know he’s most of the way.
As I write this, Bayou City Crossfit just finished its 2010 Paleo Challenge. On January 9, 2010, I, along with 20+ others, were measured and did the Helen WOD: 400m Run, 21 KB Swings (53#), 12 Pullups, 3 Rounds. I don’t remember all my measurements, but I do remember that I was 42″ around my belly, and even though they didn’t weigh us, I know I weighed 238 that day (down from 248 and 43″ around on October 1, 2009). That first ever Helen was done in 13:40 if I remember right. Over the next 3 months, I ate well, went to the 6AM class 4 times a week, and practiced the hell out of my kipping pullup. (Quick side note on eating well: I always thought that you should eat well just for body composition reasons. It never occurred to me that eating well would also help to improve your fitness. I’m a paleo devotee now). When the Paleo Challenge ended on April 3, 2010, I was 39.25″ around, weighed 218, and probably lost more than 20 lbs of fat. My Helen time was 10:08, a time that I am both totally proud of, and a little ticked at that I didn’t break 10 minutes. But I know for a fact that 10:08 was as fast as I could have gone that day. I pushed myself harder than I ever have before. But that is what CrossFit is for me now. A way for me to measure myself against myself. A way to test my limits, even at 36 years old. I only wish I had found CrossFit earlier in my life.
CraigJuly 21st, 2010, 10:34 pm
Well said Big Man!! Looking damn good!! Keep up that early morning devastation because that shit is paying off!!!
ShaneJuly 29th, 2010, 12:10 pm
Matt, just read your story and I think it’s one of those great ones that gives new CrossFitters the motivation to keep going when they may not fully understand why they’re doing CrossFit yet.
I’d love to have you check out our website and if you feel compelled, we’d really appreciate you submiting your story for that exact reason. Inspire others and get the word out to the world. Keep on keeping on brother!
http://www.crossfitstory.com