Thursday 130523

Yesterday, an athlete showed me torn calluses and bloody hands after the workout ended. The hands were torn somewhere around rep 25 on the second set of 50 pull ups, but that didn't stop the athlete from completing the 50. "Had to finish!" the athlete said. I disagree.
Unless you're competing for money or fame, it's not worth damaging your body for a workout! CrossFit is hardcore, we feel good about pushing through pain, and quitting sucks, but if you take a moment to think about it, it's just exercise. If you feel like your hands are going to shred if you do one more pull up, STOP. If you feel your back rounding during the third or fourth set of a five round deadlift WOD, DROP SOME WEIGHT. No one outside the gym is going to see your bandaged hands and think you're awesome, they're just going to think you're crazy.
If you love CrossFit like I do, one of the worst things that can happen is NOT BEING ABLE TO DO CROSSFIT! If you tear your hands, your exercise options decrease significantly. If you strain your back, your options are almost zero.
This is of course, completely different from just being tired, winded, or fatigued during a workout. That is what we want to learn to push through. You've done a big chipper workout and have to do 50 Burpees to finish- now is your chance to be awesome! Keep putting your body down on the floor and getting back up, over and over again, even though you want to stop, your legs are screaming for mercy, and you're wondering why you signed up for this crap!
I have had my share of torn callouses and strained whatevers, and its not fun. I've pushed too hard, went to heavy, forgot to stay tight, and had to regret those decisions for days or weeks while I was unable to train. Most of the time an injury occurs from going outside of your ability and forgetting to leave your ego at the door. We all have to be smart about our training TODAY so that we can train again TOMORROW!

Snatch- Heavy Single, then 90%x1x2

20 minute AMRAP:
4 Handstand Push Ups
8 KB Swings, 70#
12 Burpees