COMPETING DOESN’T MEAN COMPETITION
First workout released today for the popular Pound4Pound competition. And also the Rising Stars comp, aimed at those athletes newer to the sport of exercising for time.... Best of luck to everyone signed up to tackle these and other competitions coming up down the line.... (have we talked about our little shindig with CFNZ and Quattro next month yet???? Fun times coming........)
Being competitive.
It's a big part of what has made this style of training so popular. Burpees, deadlifts and high intensity training are nothing new, but the concept of putting a timer on your workout, trying to beat your class mate, or your old time/score, as simple as it sounds, really revolutionised the fitness industry. And stepping outside the gym to compete against 'outsiders', takes it to a whole new level.
Personally I'm a big fan. I'm not a very competitive person, and I'm not a natural athlete, both factors that have been improved by putting myself into the sporting arena. I also like it as a way to get out of the comfort zone, to test how you'll respond when something as simple as a thicker pull up bar, new movement standards, or a tough judge mess with your strategy.
I also love a close finish with the other gym members, if I'm lucky enough to join a class. Running down the driveway on the heels of another athlete, or with someone breathing down my neck is awesome, no way am I going to sandbag that final run with a little peer pressure like that.
There are so many other forms of competition though. Too many people think it's the logical, and only, progression in training when they join us here. But it certainly does not have to be the case.
What does competition mean to you?
If you're competing against yourself, it means demonstrating the best form you possibly can on an exercise, adding even 1 more kilo to the barbell compared to last time, running to the kettlebell with 5 seconds left on the clock and doing 1 more rep, when last month, you let that time go...
Turning up to train 3-5 times per week, even if work is busy, and the weather is freezing, and you haven't made any decent progress in a while...
Not letting a bad workout, or a less than optimal meal, completely derail you, instead, laughing it off, hitting the mental reset switch and starting again.
A competitive person doesn't make excuses, blame others, or give up.
A competitive person sets goals, tough goals even, and then fails forward until they reach them.