“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
-Michael Jordan

Above: (Top) In the middle of doing “30 Muscle-ups” for time. (Bottom) Assessing the post-“30 Muscle-ups” damage to my hands, which were blistered open from the friction of the rings.

“Let Failure Drive You To Find Success”
by Coach Elyse

Before I start a WOD, there is never a moment where I think I’m going to fail, and most times, I don’t fail. Most times. As we all know, failure is a part of life, no matter how strong, how tough, how determined you are, failure happens to everyone. We’ve all been there, you don’t finish a WOD because you pull a muscle, you don’t finish a WOD because your hands tore open, you don’t get the PR (personal record) you were shooting for. One way or another, everyone’s failed. But, failure is only permanent if let it be–if you fall down and decide to stay down.

Today, my WOD was “30 Muscle-ups” for time. Looking into my Workout Journal, I found my old time of 25:47, done back on February 3rd. In the back of my mind I thought I was going to smoke my old time. April was a great month, I had PR’d on every WOD for the month and “30 Muscle-ups” would be no different. Boy was I wrong!

After smoking through the first 20 Muscle-ups in under 10 minutes, I was feeling good. But by rep 25, with both hands torn open from blisters and the clock reading 15 minutes, the last 5 reps seemed nearly impossible. I couldn’t find a good grip on the rings because of the wrist wraps that were covering up my torn skin and every time I slipped, my shoulders took the beating. By rep 27, the clock read 20 minutes and I was pulling failed attempt after failed attempt after failed attempt. Enough failed attempts to make me stop 3 shy of 30 reps.

I was pissed. Angry at myself for not PRing, angry for giving into the pain, angry for not finishing the workout, angry because I hate failing. But, that’s life. Failure is a part of life. Now, the real question is what are you going to do about it now? Do you stay down or do you stand back up?

The great thing about CrossFit is that there’s always another workout, there’s always another chance to get that PR. And, when you get that chance, you use your previous failure to motivate you to success. Failure makes me realize how much sweeter success is. Its like Michael Jordan said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Now, go get some!

Today’s Workout:
“Death Grip”
5 rounds for max reps:
30 seconds @ each station
1 minute rest between rounds

Dead Hang Pull-Ups
Rope Climb
Deadlift
Burpees
Double-Unders (x5 for Single Unders)