CrossFit World Race (with photos!)

There are so many different aspects of preparing for the mission field.  

There is financial preparation– writing support letters and thank you notes until your hand cramps, managing facebook messages and emails, praying for God's provision, and giving Him the praise He deserves.

There is emotional preparation– being honest about your expectations and trying to lay down the unhealthy ones, maintaining a Godly outlook on the upcoming unknowns and goodbyes, processing the sacrifices that are both expected and unexpected.

There is spiritual preparation– faithfully praying for your squad, praying for your destinations, praying for the ministries you will work with and the people you will meet, spending time every day in the Bible, prioritizing worship over sleep, asking God to do whatever He wants to do in you in the months remaining.

It doesn't stop here!  There is also physical preparation!  For most of my life, I have spent my days at desks, bent over books, and typing on the computer.  Now, I am about to enter a year of construction and painting, picking up orphans, lifting and carrying 50-70 pounds for long distances, and walking for hours on end.  If I am going to be a contributing member of my squad, I have to be physically capable of pulling my weight!  I need stronger bones and muscles and greater endurance than I've ever needed before.

To prepare myself for the physical challenges ahead, God has blessed me with a membership at a wonderful Christian CrossFit gym where I can be challenged and cheered on– CrossFit Redeemed.

When I do heavy squats, I remind myself that I will soon have to be able to stand up with a heavy backpack.  When I do a farmer's carry, I remind myself that I will soon have to help carry jugs of water.
When I do wall ball throws, I remind myself that I will soon have to put my carry-on in those overhead compartments again and again.

In honor of the World Race and the physical challenges it entails, Grant created a "World Race Workout" to do at CrossFit Redeemed last weekend.

   Here's the WOD (CrossFit lingo for "Workout of the Day"):
  
   2 rounds of:
   50 meter farmer carry
   7 kettlebell deadlifts
  
   3 rounds of:
   11 back squats
   11 push presses

   2 rounds of:
   50 meter farmer carry
   7 kettlebell deadlifts

   Fun Fact: The "11"s represent the 11 countries I will be visiting, 
   and the "7"s represent the 7 team members who will become
   my family!

Farmer's Carry– for carrying construction materials, luggage, jugs of water, …

Deadlift– for picking up heavy luggage and adorable toddlers

Back Squat– for standing up with everything I own strapped to my body

Push Press– for putting luggage in the overhead compartment and lifting toddlers to hear their giggles

My final time was 9:36…. Are there any fellow CrossFit World Racers out there?  Try the WOD and share your time!

This blog post is dedicated to my coaches at CrossFit Redeemed.  THANK YOU.  I am the smallest and least experienced member of our gym, and you still take my training very seriously.  You push me, encourage me, and pray for me.  I am so thankful that you are helping prepare me for the mission field!  When I'm trodding along with my heavy pack in a few months, I know I'll hear your voices in my head (along with the gym's playlist!) telling me I'm stronger than I think. 

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