2 Chicks and a blog

KT’s competition story:

What a day. What an adventure.

As I blog today I am going to start at the end just like I did in our first book. Why? Because every ending launches a new beginning and my life is full of new adventures every day. Today I will share my ending in hopes I will inspire somebody near or far to start a new beginning of their own.

The alarm was set for 5:50 am but of course I woke up at 3 am and again at 5 am because I was so damn excited. Was I going on vacation? Heck no! I was going to compete today with some amazing gym friends at Bring the Heat #2 hosted by Knockout CrossFit.

Now my journey really didn’t start at 5 am, it started weeks ago when I signed up for the competition and swindled a few gal pals at the gym to join me in my shenanigans and compete. From there we picked our team name: Dainty Divas. Of course there is nothing dainty about any of us but that’s the beauty of the name. And the name was inspired by a fellow gym mate Shane who said I just needed to be a little more dainty when I approached my handstands. Ha that itself is so funny that it made the name a must!

From there we ordered custom shirts because badass attire is part of being a CrossFitter and added flair by adopting a motto: “Hot Mess Party of 3” and proudly plastered it on the shirts. The motto truly described us to a tee.

Then came the preparation. Extra squats, extra miles on the pavement, extra weight on the bar as the weeks turned into days before the competition. As the days turned into hours we looked at nutrition options and how to fuel our bodies for four WODs in the same day. Water, healthy snacks, energy drinks, nuts and the list goes on. We planned, we prepared, and we conquered. I don’t even think any of us said we were hungry and we had zero desire to eat from all the hydration we did.

After checkin we warmed up for our heat in the ‘athlete’ section. Ha! I hadn’t thought of myself as an athlete since my teen years but if I am competing then I guess I am an athlete. I might have been in the scaled division but I was competing as an athlete at my ability level. I was up early and knocking out movement after movement. And all the while each of my family members were tucked in under the covers at home. They aren’t lazy but they are not committed at the same level as me to accomplish more than most by 9 am.

I am a reflection person, no doubt. I write as a form of reflection. I crunch numbers for a form of reflection and I use the data to improve in all aspects of my life. A nerd of some sort. As weird as it may sound I also love to reflect on how others around me fare. These are my observations of my of my teammates:

I watched and cheered as one girl conquered her fears of being out of her ordinary box for the first time on a stage where others see her, where she had to push her mind and body to new limits, and to just get it done. It was amazing to see her grow and smile as she did it all. She did it all and she did a damn good job. Burpees, box jumps, rowing, among other daunting moves. 1.5 years into her Crossfit journey and she has made amazing strides. A dancer in her youth days but now an avid CrossFitter. So glad to have her as a box mate and friend.

I watched another as she competed for the first time after an injury. Could her body handle the stress? Would she feel as competitive as she did in past competitions? I am sure many emotions ran through her mind but all I can say is she slayed all day. I was next up behind her most movements and she was fierce, dynamic and just badass and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Every time I looked up the camera man was snapping away at her amazing form. From start to finish she put in work. I learned so much from her today. From how she moved the bars to how she transitioned quickly all while smiling.

And then there was me. The almost-50-year-old CrossFitter. Two years into my CrossFit journey I can safely say I’m an addict. A CrossFit addict.

I mirrored my teammate before me as much as I could and I pushed my body to its limits on some movements more than others. I encouraged my teammates and I celebrated friends who came to support me in my first out-of-my-box competition. The experience was amazing. Nothing disappointed me and I would do it again tomorrow.

The facility was awesome. The lanes were organized and the timeline ran smoothly. The judges were informative and the electronic scoring was on point. Then there were the value adds: the photographers capturing the moments, the overall CrossFit grind and the DJ getting the athletes pumped with the background noise. All around awesomeness.

Beth’s view from behind the camera:

Today was my actual one-year anniversary of starting CrossFit. As I touched on in an earlier post, CrossFit has been a transforming experience for me both physically and mentally. Of course, you might expect that I’d want to do CrossFit on my CrossFit-versary, and I certainly did want to attend a class and celebrate with an old-fashioned sweat. But when I looked ahead at the calendar, I realized that a class wasn’t in the cards for me on that particular day. Instead, I’d be CrossFitting a different way.

Today I went to support some of my closest friends at their first out-of-our-box CrossFit competition. These girls have goals, and one of them was to start competing with teams in the region.

So, my CrossFit today was cheering them on, taking photos as they competed, and supporting them through the duration of their competition.

No, I didn’t sweat myself. But I did CrossFit because I cheered someone on as they pushed themselves physically and mentally, worked to achieve goals, and overcame obstacles to exceed what they had done before. And wow, did these ladies do all of those things! As much as we love to work out and the physical effort is common to us all, it’s the community that is also essential to the verb CrossFit.

So yeah, a sweat would have been nice, but it was just as much CrossFit to show up on a big day and support people who have pushed and encouraged me to get one more rep, one more lap, and exceed myself so many times this year. Just yesterday, as we completed Gator at our box, two members of this team were encouraging me as I pushed through over 200 knee pushups. The third member of this team was there to support me on my very first day of CrossFit one year ago. It’s only appropriate that I cheer for them on their big day.

As for the competition itself, it was exciting, loud, energetic, and pretty awesome to watch so many people who I don’t know push themselves to the limit. I saw teams working together, encouraging each other, high-fiving, and doing incredible things.

The vibe was wonderful, and it was also inspiring to think of how many other people are dragging themselves out of bed or hustling after work to get to their box and do the same kinds of things that I do nearly every day.

KT’s final thoughts:

I have done 5k, 10k, and 15k races before as well as extreme mud runs or other adventure runs. All are fun and rewarding to complete but the adrenaline rush of competing in a CrossFit competition is like no other. Even if you can’t participate you should go to an event to cheer somebody on.

As I wrap up and head out on the town with friends I can say I had an amazing day and it’s not even over yet. I fueled my soul for weeks to come and I have skyrocketed my expectations for my next competition. I will continue to train and meet new gym pals who will inspire me to reach new highs and motivate me if I hit a low. As for the leaderboard, we didn’t focus on finishing in first place. Instead, we set goals, we trained hard, we put in the work and the results speak for themselves.

And I said in our first book, every ending has a new beginning and today is just that. As I wrap up this amazing journey, I mean day, I will hit my pillow tonight knowing tomorrow the sun will shine and I will again set out on new adventures with whomever I interact with all while making memories.

Get out and enjoy life. Live fit. Embrace people and new surroundings. Get out of your box. Whatever box confines you, step outside that box for one day. Embrace the unknown and jot down your thoughts about that adventure. This may lead you to do it again and again. This is power we all have inside us.

Beth’s final thoughts:

The leaderboard, while interesting, doesn’t tell the whole story, or even the most important one. As you’ve read above, each of these women overcame obstacles to be there. This was a day of triumph for these women and this team. They trained, prepared, and executed. They achieved, even exceeded, their goals. It was inspiring to witness and I’m already excited to see what comes next. The close of one exciting chapter that launches them forward into the next stage of their stories.

giving

Paying it Forward, Chick 2 Style

July 23, 2018July 23, 2018 2chicksandapen

Travel is such an important part of life. It’s a great way to spread your wings. I learn something new wherever I go.

This summer, I’ve had opportunities to visit a number of different cities. I traveled to family celebrations as well as chased my daughters as they pursue their passion for lacrosse.

Whenever the schedule allows, we try to take time to enjoy the cities we visit. Sure, we hit the famous spots and that is always fun. On a recent trip to Nashville, we loved walking in the evenings, listening to lively music spill from the honky tonk windows and rooftops onto Broadway. We spent time on the beach at a tournament in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and rode roller coasters for a day at Cedar Point while visiting Cleveland, Ohio.

In addition to the major attractions, there are a few other things I try to do to get a closer sense of a place. If I can, I shop a local market like Cleveland’s Westside Market. I try to get out into nature by visiting a park. Finally, I make an effort to have a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.

We just returned from a few days adventuring in Nashville. During my time there, I stumbled across Caliber Coffee Company. I liked it so much, I went there two days in a row. Although the coffee was excellent, it was the friendly employees and energy that brought me back for the second time.

As you get to know our brand, you’ll see that the 2 Chicks are serious about giving. We have given our books to kids in hospitals, food pantries, and low-income schools. We’ve had support from generous readers and corporate sponsors. This is just the beginning! We are always looking for new and inventive ways to give. So, when I saw this board at Caliber and read that it was a way to pay it forward, I had to ask for details.

Every sleeve clipped to the front and back of this ‘Shot of Grace’ board is a cup of coffee that was bought as a gift that day. Some sleeves have names of local people on them. You can call or text the person you’re treating and let them know they have a coffee waiting.

But it was the other gifts that interested me even more. These sleeves are less specific. Instead of a certain person, they are made out to someone in need…a single mom…a freshman at the local community college…a newcomer to town…a daycare employee…a first responder…a step parent…a fireman…someone having a bad day. I imagined the smiles these tiny bits of thoughtfulness would bring to someone who needs a lift.

I immediately thought of the 2 Chicks and our passion for giving. My imagination started spinning…who could I connect with using this opportunity? It didn’t take me long to decide.

I couldn’t resist the chance to encourage someone who may be thinking of telling their story. The Chicks have found such amazing power in storytelling. Although I don’t know where it ended up, I hope the coffee brightened someone’s day and encouraged them to share whatever unique and powerful story they have to tell.

It also made me start to wonder again about new ways the 2 Chicks might connect and share. I can easily get bogged down in details and logistics, but maybe giving doesn’t have to be as complicated as I think. As I was reminded again only yesterday, paying it forward isn’t only about the the news stories we see about the drive-thru at Chick-fil-a. Even more importantly, it’s the small, sincere acts of caring that are never noticed by the cameras but have an enormous impact nonetheless.

What are some of your favorite ways to pay it forward in your life? What random acts of kindness bring you the most satisfaction? Let us know in the comments, readers! Cheers!

-Beth, (aka Chick 2)

#2CHX #2ChicksGiving #Payitforward #travel #lifelessons #reflection

perspective

Girl Boss Hits Nashville

July 21, 2018July 21, 2018 2chicksandapen

I wanted to write a blog post today after a busy business and play week in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a Saturday and although I don’t have time to write per se, I am making time to write. Why write? It is a form of expression and an outlet that I have chosen to share with the world in the most public fashion available to me. And the beauty of this type of writing is nobody is dictating the content or the outcome. It is the pure honesty of this writing that makes it so special.

The internet is my vehicle or means for expressing my words. My creative outlet. My audience is unknown and the acceptance of said writing is up for debate. I’m not publishing my rants on Facebook like some do, rather I’m writing to inspire others right here on our 2 CHX blog. My words are here for those who want to take the time to read and learn about others.

Today, after a hard CrossFit workout, I had a lot on my mind. I reflected on the last week of my life and what was on the horizon for the next couple of weeks and it was important for me to journal my thoughts. Hope you like what I put together.

As we all know, life is full of so many ups and even more downs but how you react to life’s challenges impacts your life path. With that being said we must all learn to take risks. Taking risks requires us to step outside of our comfort zone. For me this past week, I took a big risk and challenged myself professionally by conducting the largest number of in-person trainings I have done in a short four-day period, on the road, living out of a hotel, and juggling all of life’s daily grinds in the background. Just speaking in public can be physically and emotionally draining but to do it repeatedly is definitely a challenge of one’s mind, body and spirit.

While managing a mostly chaotic professional life, I always find time to unwind. Normally this includes time at my CrossFit gym or a gym I visit on my business trips. This week’s schedule didn’t permit for those sweat sessions so I needed alternatives. I was fortunate to link up with friends and family while on the road and enjoy some of what Nashville has to offer. From honky tonks to mural sites I didn’t miss a beat. Great food, great times, and just enough adventuring for me to sleep well and rise to grind another day. Work hard play hard is a necessity in my life.

I don’t have a typical day in the life but that’s what I like most about my life. The constant change of pace, scenery and people. It fuels my soul. This week on the road I impacted and interacted with hundreds of new faces. People and places I would never have seen had I not taken on this professional opportunity.

I shook hands, I hugged, I smiled and built rapport with some of the most diverse people in four short days. Talk about rewarding! I just filled my emotional tank for the weeks ahead. And all the while I was benefiting, but I was inspiring others too through storytelling. I didn’t think about worst case scenarios, I just rolled up my sleeves and did what I needed to do. One day after another until I could see the finish line. I attacked each day with fearlessness and was able to enjoy the rewards that followed.

I trusted the process. I made a plan. I worked the plan. I survived and thrived. But now I know I can do it again. And why stop there? Why not up the stakes? Why not?

When we reflect, we learn. Reflection is a part of life. Whether you look in the mirror and see a need to change physically or you think about your life path and see a need to grow as a person, reflection is required.

The road ahead will always be filled with the unknown but that’s the beauty of it all. New challenges, new adventures, new memories, new learning experiences.

Chart your path. Change often. Change should become your new constant as life throws you curve balls. Adapt and roll with the punches. We only get one life to live. Are you living your best life?

Thank you to all the wonderful people that I crossed paths with in Nashville, TN and the surrounding areas. You helped me make memories and I am thankful for the growth experience.

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#girlboss #travels #2CHX #nashville #inspiration #Saturdaysuccessstory #livinglife

fitness and nutrition, friendship

Every Peach Has A Story…

July 6, 2018July 10, 2018 2chicksandapen

My Peach(tree) story began in Atlanta, GA in 1997. I wasn’t a runner but a friend asked me to run the Peachtree. What was the Peachtree? Well it is only the biggest 10k Road Race on the planet. So I did it. No training, just did it. The internet wasn’t so big back then so I don’t even know how long it took me to complete the race. All I know is I conquered the challenge and moved on. I was a one run wonder.

1998 was a new year with new adventures and the Peachtree hype faded in a blink of an eye. I wasn’t a runner, I didn’t grow up in Atlanta and I just didn’t have a fit circle of friends who ran the Peachtree each year. Over the next 20 years, I climbed the corporate ladder, I had a few kids, I raised a child with health issues, and I worked hard at being a mommy and a wife yet something was missing. What was missing? ME time. I learned to prioritize and put everyone around me first, before me! I see this happens to many women (not men) but women. I had tried to lose weight in those years, I tried to live an active lifestyle, I tried and tried but I never made me a priority so failure was always around the corner. How could I be the best version of me and show my kids how to be fearless?

I had to reinvent myself. Some would judge me, some would defriend me, and others would support me. I guess this is where you really find out who your true friends are. As I make changes in my life, I find myself seeking out new adventures. And with new adventures come new friends. I would meet new friends with similar interest and goals. I had always told my kids and employees that you become what you surround yourself with. And it’s true: spend all your time around negative people, you will be negative. Spend all your time around lazy people, you will be lazy. Spend all your working hours with those comfortable in dead end jobs, you will find yourself right there with them. This isn’t what I wanted in my future. So I changed my scenery. Slowly but surely. Out with the old, in with the new.

Fast forward to December 2015. I found a gal pal who was willing to work out with me consistently at 5:30am at a gym in between our homes. Why so early? We had to go before the kids had to get on the bus so we didn’t take any time away from our husband (hmmm) and then before we had to work (yes we had full-time jobs in addition to being full-time mommies). We pushed each other, we relied on each for accountability and we got in 1-2 hours of gym time 3-5 days a week. This was huge for us. But we were both moms just relying on the internet or friends for workout advice. We met people at the gym that marveled at our consistency and progress but we eventually hit a plateau. We considered kick boxing, a personal trainer, a boot camp but nothing jumped out at us or gave us a spark to change. We finally saw a Facebook ad for Crossfit at a local box for women only in a trial boot camp. We said let’s give it a shot. It was whimsical. We were not in the worst shape when we got there but we certainly were not near the cream of the crop either! And we said holy cow what if we never worked out before we came here? We would have died! Seriously.

For about 6-8 weeks we did core work, we ran, we crawled, we walked, we sweated and we lost our pride over and over and over again. We even learned a new vocabulary. A snatch, an immature squat, a Russian baby maker, and so many more. What started as 30 women got to less than 10 by the end of the time commitment. We were still lifting weights (not really) with a PVC pipe. Is that even a thing? Oh now what to do now? Well we could spend a good amount of discretionary income for the monthly membership and see how we fair. Let’s check in to see what the others are going to do as we liked some of the friends we made. 4 of us opted to stay and give it a go. We were nervous entering the regular class with the “big boys” who all seemed to be friends but we sucked it up and went 3 days a week. We got stronger. At the end of month 1, one of the girls dropped off so we were down to 3 but a new boot camp started and we met the ONLY girl in that boot camp, Sarah. She was just like us before. She really was just like us so we took her under our wings and the new foursome became the best of buds. We again sweat, ran, crumbled but we never quit. We never QUIT. We chipped away at each workout and we cheered for each other along the way. We all had good days and we all had our share of bad days. We scaled the workouts to our abilities and in time we earned our spot in the morning class. Shoutout to my WOD Goddesses below. These friends left the box for the beach this past fall to celebrate life. I remember one guy saying we (the guys) don’t acknowledge you (the girls) until you have been here 6 months. That’s when we know you are committed and are going to stick around. Did he seriously say that? How offensive! I guess when I look back, he did me a favor. He pissed me off so bad that I had to show him that was like flies on shit and I was sticking around and I would make sure the other girls stuck around too just to prove a point. HA to that one guy, SUCK IT! I/we are still here 2 years later at the same box and we are crushing it in our own way every time we come into that box. PR-PR-PR, some might say PR as in personal record but I say PRRRRR as in lady ROAR. Slay all day after you get your WOD in at 630am with the PURE DIVAS. Here we are with our friend #burchie who motivates us each and every week at the box and here at the race.As I reflect, we not only stayed but we conquered our fears and we slimmed down in the process while gaining confidence, friendships, and offering inspirations to others who thought they couldn’t do it. NO matter your shape, your size or your athletic ability, YOU can tackle anything YOU put your mind to. Weight loss, professional aspirations, workout goals, family goals, etc. The playing field may be different but the process is still the same. Commitment, goal setting, and achievement are all common denominators. Check out the pre-race fun we had in 2017. So what does this all have to do with my PEACH story? EVERYTHING! My Peach story was revived in 2017 when a group from my Crossfit box started talking about running the Peachtree. I did the math and 2017 would be 20 years from the last time I completed the race. HOLY COW! I have to do it. I was feeling pretty good after being at Crossfit for a year and had dropped a good amount of weight, so why not? I got a few of my gal pals to jump in and do it together. There were about five of us who took part in it together. Each of us conquering our own set of challenges to get there and get it done. It was great. We planned for 2018 to keep the momentum going.2017-2018. One year of fitness. Can you see the difference? I can feel the difference. In my energy, in my clothes and in my mind.Now here we are in July of 2018. Life has been full of ups, downs, adventures and memories but through it all our gal pals at the gym have been together pulling for each other. This year there were almost 10 of us attempting to connect for the race and many “others” we knew who would be there racing as well. As I reflect on 2018, I see where I hit the 20 year milestone that has now started the annual event log for my fitness journey. This will be an event that I can continue to attend as long as my body will allow. I will strive to conquer the race and improve my race time each year. From mile 1 to 6.Because age is just a number and I am like a fine wine, aging to perfection. At almost 50 years old, I am now focusing on me. ME! I am committed to eating healthy, working out, and plan to enjoy all that goes along with living a healthy lifestyle. While others turn into couch potatoes at 50, I am working towards FAB at FIFTY. I am proud of my accomplishments thus far and I am excited for what is on the road ahead. I am sure there will be bumps along the way but hopefully this blog post will be one way to hold myself accountable and possibly inspire others who can’t see the finish line in their journey at the current moment. DO YOU, FOR YOU. It’s not to let late to start writing your amazing story!Go find your Peach story and live it. I am a Georgia Peach and live life to the fullest each day. I keep the negators away and find ways to smile each day even if it is at my own expense. Be thankful. Inspire others. Improve communities. #MiniMadness=doublefun#KTV #2CHX #Crossfit #Fitventures #PeachtreeRoadRace #GetMoving #AuthorsBlogToo

fitness and nutrition

Beth’s First Year of Crossfit

June 29, 2018August 5, 2018 2chicksandapen

There’s a running joke on the internet. CrossFit people LOVE to talk about CrossFit. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought I would be one of those people, but today I can tell you it’s true. A day doesn’t pass when I don’t talk about CrossFit.

bradpittcrossfit

It starts when my alarm goes off at 4:45am. I ask myself…Beth, do you really want to get up and go? Then, get out of bed to my quads and glutes screaming….why are you up? Get back to bed! Walking across the room, every cell in my body is telling me I’m sore. I can’t today. But I keep walking. I get up and get to my box nearly every morning.

It is addicting and those who haven’t experienced CrossFit (but have friends who talk about it) might call it a cult. I may have even been one of those people just a year ago. I won’t go that far but I will say, after nearly a year, I am a believer.

KT and I each had our own paths to joining our box, CrossFit Pure, but KT took the plunge far earlier and is responsible for bringing me in to the CrossFit community.

It wasn’t easy to get me to try it. KT would tell you I was full of I can’t. I won’t fit fit in. I’m not athletic enough. I don’t have time. I just can’t. But those were all just excuses or poor reasons to not invest in myself. It took about a year of her asking, persuading, coaching, nagging, or verbally dragging me before I gave in.

KT and the Box Babes welcomed me with open arms. They told me it will probably be like death for the first few days but you can do it and we will be here to support you. And that is where my Pure family journey began in late summer 2017.

Before I joined Pure, I had been a committed walker / jogger for years. In 2016, I set a goal of moving for 750 miles and managed to clock well over 1,000 miles. That was an accomplishment. I was still considered morbidly obese, but my cardiovascular health did improve and I managed to keep diabetes at bay. Even still, I wasn’t getting the results I wanted, the ones you see in the mirror and others might take notice of. I lost about 10 pounds that year, but I wanted more.

Fast forward to today, when I will soon celebrate my first year CrossFitversary. I can’t believe I did it but I did. I committed to something out of my comfort zone. I made a financial and time commitment to myself despite scheduling challenges and long commutes. I survived and now consider myself an athlete of sorts. Maybe not an elite athlete but I compete every day at the box, even if it’s just with myself.

I had my annual physical yesterday. My doctor marveled at how much I have improved my health this year. My blood pressure is excellent, my heart is strong, and as a bonus I lost over 25 pounds, which is about the same as what I had lost the previous three years combined. Holy wow, I did that. Me! The girl who thought she couldn’t turned into the girl who believed she could and did it.

I am now able to look in the mirror and see how much I have changed. I am physically stronger, mentally stronger and I am capable of taking on many life challenges I face by slowly chipping away at them. I feel better. I look better and more confident. I eat healthy foods most of the time.

Looking back, I was afraid of CrossFit for several reasons.

As many of my friends can tell you, I am about the least athletic person on the planet. I can trip over flat ground (and do so often). I have no coordination or sense of my body. Growing up, I had permanent scabs on each knee. My Dad called me “Grace” (since I had none).

Having heard some of the things CrossFit athletes did, I was convinced I wasn’t capable of lifting weights on a barbell, doing burpees, or jumping on a high box without injuring myself and those around me (and also eliciting ridicule from the actual athletes there). Then, there was the scheduling. The friends I had went to a class I couldn’t attend due to my work schedule. How would I endure this by myself?

I can now share that all my fears about CrossFit were quickly laid to rest.

Movements were taught step-by-step by capable, patient, qualified coaches…scaled versions helped me build up if I couldn’t get it that day.

Even though I technically went to class by myself, the people at my class welcomed me quickly and encouraged me from the very beginning (which isn’t easy at 5:30 am!)

Finally, I now find seeing people and enduring the pain / accomplishment to be a beautiful part of the process. These are people who I would have never met otherwise. Some people who are crazy healthy and fit actually cheer for me – me! And are pulling for my health, fitness, effort, and happiness (even as they play a role in it).

CrossFit is the real thing. My story is real and still unfolding. I’m just one of many who have been transformed by CrossFit and community, and I’ll keep talking about it to anyone who will listen.

Think about your health goals. Maybe CrossFit isn’t for you today, but what might your next step be? If you feel scared, find a buddy and get active. It might be a nightly walk today and yoga next year. Define your path and skip along at whatever pace works for you. Remember if you never try new things you will never see the world and all that it has to offer.

#2CHX