OUR DREAMS KNOW NOTHING OF BOUNDARIES
I decided to use the above theme for the next blog post without really knowing how it would materialize. Two days later I got a phone call requesting my presence at an interview for an Olympic athlete who's also a Crossfitter. Immediately it ALL made sense. I jumped at the opportunity. I asked for two things, the sport and the name. I did my research...but it didn't prepare me for who I was going to meet. Her most attractive quality was her intrepidity; physically she gets faster the longer she goes and mentally the stronger her resolve - not because she's "soooo skilled", she just so damn stubborn and she also just wants to kick your ass.
We spoke about her diet, her workout regimen, her sleep requirements, her boyfriend (who happens to also be a bad ass in the endurance department - Brian Mackenzie - "I AM UNSCARED"), and the secrets to her success.
I had the pleasure to go head to head with her for a mini Crossfit workout...we both finished under 5mins but as you guessed it, she washed the floor with me. Yep! I was behind her by 22secs on completion. The workout: 3 Thrusters and 5 Burpees for 7 rounds. I was ahead of her until round 5, then as I slowed down she picked up momentum. Incredible athleticism but what a great personality as well. She never taunted or even looked my way, and post workout she commended me on my great effort and even admired the fact that I jumped in just 30secs or so before we started with no real warm up.
Winning gold at the Olympics in 2008 and coming 1st in almost everything else, being the "Female Athlete of the Year" could make someone a bit of a stiff who glides while we mere mortals touch the floor. No...that's not who I met; she's easy going, laughed at my jokes, is game for a good time and is very happy to "just be Erin".
The point of all I just said? Dreaming big is admirable and necessary for elevation. But what makes Erin Cafaro an Olympian is her attitude. She's shorter than her crew mates and lighter (only 160lbs) but her inability to have these factors affect her performance makes her an inspiration and an Olympian. Your dreams have no limitations and it certainly is never too late. She's a professional rower now, but started in 2001 inspired by a newspaper article. She made the Olympic team in 2008 armed with her solid mental fortitude and Crossfit's fundamentals of always varying her workouts. The person I met a few days ago is coming home with a gold medal...and it's not her dream, to her it's reality and being around her I know it as well.
Set realistic goals, reachable ambitions and once that's done...set another and then another!! The road may seem long, even arduous...but you're SO worth it. Who knows? You may be the best in the world at something and not even know it!
Love KK!
*The video of this interview will be posted here when completed
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