It Doesn’t Get Easier, You Get Better

It's gonna be Not Fun. You're going to think things like, "Wow, I'm an uncoordinated potato person who clearly has existed thus far based on luck alone," or, "I am a shame to my ancestors," and "Can I die now please?" It's okay, really.  Beginning a new physical skill and fitness regimen, ESPECIALLY when you …

Spring Update: Strongwoman Competition, Blogs, and What’s Next

My spring has already been pretty packed; I'm sure many of you can relate. I competed three times in April. It was bananas. I hit a bunch of personal bests, and got my qualification for Strongman Corporation Nationals this upcoming fall in Las Vegas, so that's pretty cool. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjN9jzAvzK/?taken-by=captainstarbuck Since the shut down of my old …

The Beginner’s Gauntlet: You Don’t Hate Working Out, You Hate Being Out of Shape

Chest pains. Nausea. Body shakes. You dread working out, because this is what it means to you. Total exhaustion and PAIN.  You avoid working out, because working out means pain. UNBEARABLE pain. But this isn't what working feels like. That's what being out of shape feels like. Don't get me wrong, an effective workout should …

You’re Not Shallow For Liking/Wanting Compliments

I read a post on This is Female Powerlifting that I enjoyed; wrote a whole thing and then realized I had a blog post! So let's talk about external validation and wanting to look a certain way (maybe because of said validations, maybe not!).   I empathize with the writer's many points and she touches on …

Loving the Fight – What I Learned at The Kumite

I saw things that seemed a result of magic - atheltes reaching a miracle-inducing state that occurs when they have nothing in them but their task. Their desire.

Gratitude for the Grind

There are hard days. And then there are days where you feel like the universe has conspired for no particular reason to utterly upend your shit. Be grateful for these days. Greet these days begrudgingly but with an affirmative nod. Because sometimes they're the days that have something really important to teach you. And sometimes …

How to Go Through Hell – Training and Living Through Anxiety

Sometimes nothing in particular is wrong, YOU just feel wrong. Unsure, unconfident, like you're making the wrong choices. Sometimes you get stuck there for days, weeks. Everything you say sounds wrong. Every decision you make seems like a terrible idea. Ah, anxiety you sure know how to make life suck for absolutely no reason. If …

Ordinary Greatness: How Discipline Builds Us

Good morning! I've decided to make the 15th and the 30th/31st my post deadlines, and as the rest of my weekend (Strongman Competition! Weigh ins! Steak! Early bedtime! The Glamour of it all!) promises to be exciting and hectic, I'm posting this now. Thank you to everyone who read the earlier drafts and gave me …

“DOWN”

I tried writing prose and this happened instead. First poem of 2016. ----------------- "DOWN" - 1/4/2016 Thousands of hungry moments pushed through me by some god or some demon Held breath, held hope, held chance, all hanging midair while I pray DOWN - It's over before consciousness realized it wasn't needed Again, faster, faster, faster, every …