Bad Blogger

Hello to all. Since I have gotten back from Cali I have been a terrible blogger. Too busy!!! But to catch you up... Work has been very hectic because of our big inspection, and that is finally over as of last week. Our section and base as a whole did a great job. I also was fortunate enough to be awarded an outstanding individual award from the Inspector General which was exciting. The CrossFit workouts have been going alright. No time for myself anymore! But I have recently taken a position at Anytime Fitness doing personal training and small group classes with a CrossFit type workout sessions. I am getting my personal training license and my level one crossfit cert in November. Looking forward to that.

Also to assist in my fitness career, and what has been taking most of my online time, has been an informational website I built. I plan to post tons of information about health/diet, workouts, equipment, etc. Please feel free to visit the site and pass on to friends!

www.functionalshape.com

Catch Up...

I have been quite the Slacker on this blog lately... As soon as I got home I was immediately crazy busy- per usual! I made it home safe and sound from California. As I expected it- it was hard to say goodbye to the amazing people I met there, and the great routine of working out, etc. I had established. I can't wait to go back and visit everyone! I did end up continuing my CrossFit workouts by joining a gym here in Milwaukee. Man was I spoiled at CrossFit Anacapa! Gym is A LOT smaller with way bigger classes (I'm sure by now Anacapa has grown huge!) so it has been a challenge to get used to it. But they are saying they are getting a bigger space soon, so we will see! I like the programing so far though so it is a win there. They do a lot of strength building as a warm up which I like. The dream of opening my own CrossFit gym might be getting closer. I went back down to my old Anytime Fitness here in Cudahy where I worked out at all the time before I left. The owner was extremely interested in opening a CrossFit section/program in here gym and was looking for a trainer. I am having a meeting with here early next week to discuss her plans, and see if we have a good fit to have me do that. I would likely run that for a couple years and then still open my own up when I get back to the CG area. They even offer certification reimbursement which is really nice because in order to get CrossFit certified it costs $1,000 ... Not cheap and another long weekend!

Well I got 2 days off when I got home (of which I was real sick for!) and was back to work that Friday right away. And it has been go go ever since. We have our huge inspection coming up at the base, we get hit for this every 5 years, and so everyone is in get things in order mode! Been working lots of overtime so the money is good at least, but need a break soon! My return to softball hasn't been what I was hoping! Team and especially myself are struggling. This weekend is the city tournament so I guess we will see what happens. I explored Cudahy a little more throughly once I got back down here too, and I must admit I am a little more excited about living here. I found a great bike trail, beach, pond, and park. I also have been hanging out a lot more with an old college buddy who lives here as well. We joined a basketball league, trap shooting league, and softball. Like I don't need more things to take up my time...

My biggest news to share is the addition of my new best friend Jax! I gave in to my desire for a new hunting dog and got a yellow lab. He has a great personality so far and I am very excited. All puppies have their challenges (Just ask Linda) but it will be worth it. Once Brooke moves in at the end of August he will be living with me full time. Right now he has to spend the week at Grandma and Grandpa's house...

Well not too much going besides work, a little play, and more work. Will do a better job of keeping you updated.

Last Few Days...

Only a few days left- and I have definitely made the most of them. On Thursday after the 4th I went on an amazing hike with a friend called the "Punchbowls". Was a series of three punchbowls and numerous waterfalls where you could jump into the bowls and hike up the creek/falls. Gorgeous hike and one of my favorites- even though the unfortunate happened. While at the very last part of the hike, the water slide, I made a dumb decision to try and climb straight up the falls. Story made short- I slipped, cracked my head open, knocked myself out, fell 10 feet, hit every rock/branch on the way down, and was awaken by being underwater. Worst part was mine and my buddies cell phones were in my backpack and now were no good. Had to make the 3 hour hike back to the van with a bleeding head. Always could be worse! Seems to be healed up now. Then on Friday we had a "Sports Day" with all the Air Force company at school. Had many games and sports going on, and I chose to play softball. Played 4 games- had to pitch, but had a pretty good team and even beat the instructors All-Star team once. Due to my head injury I backed out of the competition in the afternoon- but out of 400 Air Force students I was picked to be in the top 6 for a Fitness competition vs. the Navy's top 6. Air Force ended up winning it even without me. Then today (Saturday) was my long awaited Tough Mudder!!!  12 mile obstacle course designed by the English Special Forces... Was a killer! I swear the whole race was either straight uphill or straight back down- and I'm not sure which one was worse. Had some very tough obstacles- but I completed my first Mudder in a little under 3 hours. Between the hiking fall and this- I am COVERED in bruises and cuts- but feels so good! Accomplished on of my goals. Toughest part about the course was that the ground was so dry- there was a lot of dust being kicked up and inhaled... Some fun obstacles were the Berlin Walls, the jumping into the lake from about 40 feet, and the huge waterslide. The not so fun ones were the freezing ice baths, dragging yourself through rocks, and all the electricity! I managed to keep myself blood free until the very last obstacle- Electroshock Therapy. A ton of wires hanging down that sends 10,000 volts through you. Last couple wires hit me real good and knocked me to the ground hard and opened up the knee! Even with all the pain- Couldn't have asked for a better couple of days! Maybe I will be able to talk Brooke into doing a Mudder with me soon...  Pictures below of the hike and at the Finish Line

Happy Birthday America!

Had a great day today. My gym here "CrossFit Anacapa" had a "Going Away" Workout and cookout for me today. They made a special workout named "Vial"- which included most of my strengths so of course I had to win big! Workout was 10 rounds of 1 MuscleUp/ 3 Ring Dips/ 4 Handstand Pushups/ 6 Kettlebell swings @73#/ 12 Pushups/ 200 m Run...  Was a killer! Completed it in 22:30 min. It was a very fun day and had a ton of people show up. I also made special shirts for everyone playing off the phrase I always use "You can do anything for 10 minutes"- as something to remember me by. In CrossFit they are all big on their shirts and gear so hopefully everyone liked them! Seemed to be a hit. Then again after the workout Alex & Richard had a big cookout at their house. Perfect way to spend the 4th away from home. It is definitely going to be bittersweet leaving next week. On the one hand I am very excited to get home to my life in WI - but as proven by today, I have met some amazing people here and will miss them a lot! SO glad I joined this gym and couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my time out here. Below is a pic of most of the crew that showed! "W" for Wisconsin!

Animal Day

I feel like yesterday was Animal Day! In the morning I was lucky enough to be on the beach and saw 3 dolphins swimming right off shore, about 15 yards.  Beautiful and from what I hear pretty rare for these parts. Then in the middle of class we almost had a skunk run right into our classroom through our open door- which would have been very bad for me because I am the first one next to the door...  And most importantly - ONE WEEK till I am home. REALLY looking forward to it.  We have off from class the next 5 days- then test Monday and graduation Tuesday!

The Countdown begins...

10 DAYS TILL I GET TO FINALLY COME HOME FOR GOOD! Almost in the single digits...  It will be a bittersweet departure. Can not wait to get home, and my full heart and life is there- but I truly feel I have made some great friends out here, and have had a great experience at an amazing CrossFit gym.  So much so that I hope to one day open my own CrossFit gym.  Retirement plan I suppose!  But getting home is going to be great!  For my birthday last month my AMAZING girlfriend had gotten me a one hour private golf lesson out here at a course I constantly talked about with her on the phone that I wanted to try out and play.  It was a very thoughtful gift and she put some time in coming up with it and getting it taken care of all the way in WI.  Well today I got to use it- and it was a really good time.  Absolutely beautiful golf course as I expected- and the guy who gave me the lesson was fun.  An old Marine/PGA tour pro... made for a lot of good stories.  As for my golf game, I found out my swing "needs a lot of work"- which I knew already!!  Gave me some fun pointers and we will see if my game ever gets any better!  Love softball/baseball too much to ever get that perfect golf swing!  Speaking of softball the boys back home are in my favorite tournament of the year this weekend.  Really missing being there- but again will be there soon and can't wait to take the field...  GO SLAMMERS

First CrossFit Competition

Yesterday I participated in my first (of many more to come) CrossFit competitions.  Team CrossFit Anacapa consisted of Richard, Alex, Cam, and myself. The 2 workouts were as follows. Morning WOD: 15 rope climbs - move a pile of 340#'s 200 m - 150 box jumps @ 24 inches - 150 ground to overhead w/ 45# - and partner carry for 800 m ...  In this workout the whole team went at the same time trying to complete this workout as fast as possible.  We ended up taking 1st place overall in this workout!  The second WOD was each member completed one of the benchmark workouts in order of "Annie" "Grace" "Cindy" and "Randy".  I did Randy and had a personal best time. Our team ended up taking 3rd overall in that workout.  So based on points we came in second overall, but first in the coed division! Was very happy with home the team did and had a great time.  Can't wait for more!!!