CrossFit Boston

So, I have been training. This past weekend I finally was able to run without any pain in the calf! Huge relief and a BIG shout out to Steve Cina. Steve is my acupuncturist that I have seen off and on for the last 5+ years. He knows more about the human body than any other person I have met, hands down! He is located over by St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton if you are interested in visiting with him.

Back to the training. I have been hitting CF real hard. I follow a 2 on 1 off, 1 on 1 off, etc schedule b/c that is what I find that my body can handle the best. I am dialing in my nutrition more each week, eliminating alcohol consumption completely in addition to grains, sugar, and dairy. I am already seeing dramatic improvements in fitness markers. My body composition is down to 14% from being almost 18% while the scale has only changed by 4 pounds. I hit a new personal best in FRAN, 3:35, :33 seconds faster than my previous best. All of my strength lifts are staying constant and I am sustaining my energy levels throughout the day. I am pretty excited about the Boston Half.

On a different note, I just finished reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. The book begins with Christophers searching for the answer as to why he is always beaten up while running. His search leads him to the Tarahumara Indians in the Copper Canyons of Mexico and to a mysterious person named the 'Caballo Blanco' the White Horse. These people are known in Mexico as the 'Raramuri' or 'Running People' and are renowned for their ability to run great distances in nothing more than rubber sandals and their remarkable health.

McDougall also explores the origin of man as a runner and the causes of the high incidence of injuries in modern runners.  The conclusions of the book are profound and motivating to this reader that has always had a lurking desire to be a better runner.  Is this desire innate?  You must read the book yourself to find out!

Throughout the book, McDougall also tells the story of 'The Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen' as he, along with Caballo Blanco organize to have a handful of the top ultra-endurance runners race against legends of the Tarahumara Indians.  The culmination of the events leads to a fantastic finish that I imagine is not unlike the feeling achieved in CF after a workout simliar to 'Murph'.  I highly recommend this book to everyone, even those that are not interested in running, as it is a fantastic read.

Jessica, James, and Myself all had the opportunity to meet Christopher McDougall at a book reading here in Lexington, MA.  He was every bit as fascinating in person as he comes across in his book.  His story telling is even greater in person and he has an energy that is both contagious and addictive.  If you ever have the opportunity to meet him, do so, and tell him his friends at CF Boston say hello.