It must have been the shoes...

So last night was probably one of the first times I looked at a workout online and almost changed my mind about booking in. I usually try not to look, so that I just get a surprise (I must get out more). But I did look, and I didn't like what I saw: 5 (timed) rounds of 21 kettle bell swings, 21 box jumps and 21 toes to bar. Toes to bar is exactly what it sounds like - hanging from the bar and swinging your toes up to touch the bar - I can't do this yet, so I do something akin to a hanging stomach crunch. I'm terrible at box jumps and anything involving hanging from the bar is my nemesis - it always feels more like a punishment for how delicately lady-soft my hands are than anything else. Kettle bell swings are ok for me, but I decided to do lower than the prescribed weight of 20kg. Given that I was going to struggle with everything else, I went for a nice comfortable 12kg.

I've always tried not to be defeatist about my workouts, and have made myself do the hardest version that I think I can manage, but I had already got myself convinced that I would be struggling to do box jumps all the way through, and that I'd have to switch to step-ups. And I just knew I was going to fail miserably at the toes to bar and might have to have the number scaled down...

But, blow me down, I did it! I did the whole bloomin' thing! AND I managed box jumps all the way through, AND I finished earlier than everyone else (all guys!). AND I thought that maybe next time i should try a heavier kettle bell (Donny says 20kg - not so sure about that...). Maybe it was because I was using a much lower weight kettle bell than all the boys. Maybe it was because I hadn't worked out since Saturday and had some extra energy. Maybe it is because I'm 3kg lighter (yes readers - I've lost some weight!). But I think it's my new shoes. You see, I finally invested in some proper shoes that are better designed for CrossFit - flatter and lighter than my heavy and highly cushioned old running shoes. There was a choice of a multitude of (fairly hideous) colour choices, so I chose black - isn't that what Wellingtonians are famed for? They're not pretty, but they certainly seem to be doing the job. And buying shoes that help with my workout is the perfect excuse.

Every girl loves new shoes, but mine are magic.