Student Athlete of the Week

One of the most inspirational students we have is CARA. She's courageous, committed, she's our "Student Athlete of the Week" and I'd like to share her story about a battle with cancer and how CrossFit keeps her going... "I just can’t sleep past 6:30am. I can lay around all day but I will be awake and anxious to contribute to the day. At 6:24 thursday morning I woke up with my heart on fire in my chest. The walls, floor, and ceiling was crushing me in a tight compact box w/ an air sealed lid. The sweat was rolling off my body and burning my eyes. I was coughing so hard that I thought my body was going to pop. The flames from my heart were burning my throat and the cough was the gasoline. I was gasping for air as it was being pulled further and further from me. In between each cough I would try to inhale real hard to try to breath in the energy for my next cough. My mind is trying to nurture the life process while wondering if this is it? Am I going to cough out my final breath? I tried to sit up so I can get my inhaler but mixture of the cough and not being able to breath prevented me. Then I remembered the pharmacy gave me a broken inhaler...FUCK IT I'm going to CrossFit anyway! I don’t like carrying a 7 day pill container around w/ me and having to take all those pills in 1 day. 6 of those pills are supplements that are suppose to reverse the beginning stages of osteoporosis in my lumbar from high dose steroids. I would rather use crossfit as my remedy for osteoporosis then the pills so I’m going to finish up those bottles and not get new ones. CrossFit lets my inner Grrrrr come out. When I'm w/in the brickhouse I feel as if I’m meditating w/ the sangha. Together we all support each other and share a family like bond. Once I run out the door to go on our runs I can be bitchy. I have pushed people out of my way and ran right on them to startle them to move. Of course I’d never do that to the sangha but I do it to the people out on the street and laugh about it when I walk back into the brickhouse...



...Yesterday I did my 1st 1 armed handstand. It might have been up against the wall but I did it! Chris enjoys picking on me in class. I guess he wants me to set an example w/ form and tenacity:) Im all for encouraging everyone to be the best that they can be. The folks at LaLanne Fitness treat me w/ respect and see me as an athlete not a patient even though I've trained with them when my eyes were swollen shut, had a catherter hanging out of my arm, and I've cried through my workouts. I appreciate them so much for their compassion and patience with me. CrossFit can be hardcore and Chris can be intense. The intensity reminds me I'm still alive and better off than most people I know. Why can't most of my friends or my other supporters from the various cancer groups treat me like that. CrossFit keeps my spirits up!