Monday, August 31, 2009

Regarding Ella

Over the last year and a half, we have borne witness to an amazing transformation. Anyone who is a coach, or a teacher, or for that matter, a parent, knows the unequivocal joy of watching a person, especially a young person becoming. Ella and her parents have agreed to let us share her story.

Ella has been hanging around CrossFit Agoge since her parents started coming to the evening class in our driveway two years ago. She would sit on our lawn observing the class with a look that fluctuated between amusement and disbelief. By the time we started our CrossFit Kids program in May 2008, she somewhat grudgingly joined the class. You could see that she wanted to do it, but the confidence was not there. She frequently stayed in the back of the group and tried fly under the radar as much as possible. But still she came.

In the Fall, she joined a sports team at school and couldn’t participate in our class as much, but she was frequently there with her parents and posted her game schedule on the bulletin board so we would know when her games were. Her mom worked with her to makes some changes in her eating habits. Slowly, Ella began to change. She was speaking up in class and volunteering to demonstrate skills. Instead of shuffling to finish last with her eyes downcast, she was firmly in the middle of the pack, head up, concentrating on her technique, helping keep the younger kids on task. Ella became a leader.

These pictures tell a lot more about Ella “then and now” than just weight loss and improved performance. Surely, those things are important and we are very proud of her accomplishment. But we are blown away by the changes in the way she carries herself into a room, into a workout, and into life. The second photo was taken a week or two ago. It is after class and Ella is practicing her band-less kipping pull up. She will have it in another couple of weeks. She will work hard to get there. Ella is becoming. We can’t wait to see where she’ll go.

Workout of the Day

Back Squat @ 75% of 1RM
5-5-5-5

then

200m Run
10 Pull ups
20 Wall Ball
30 Double Unders
200m Run