I’m not sure where to start. Right now I am in so much pain, but I am also happier than I have been for a long time.

I suppose I should start at the beginning, only I am not sure exactly where that is. The Grand Canyon invite? My hatred towards large box gyms? The combination of hell, accomplishment and immense pain that has become my new passion?

Yep. That about sums it up.

OK. OK. The beginning…

The Grand Canyon!

Each year The Grand Canyon only allows a certain number of people to backpack from the North Rim to the South Rim of the canyon. You have to enter a lottery system and be randomly selected to go. Well, one of the members of my hiking group entered the lottery and hit the jackpot (thanks, Roger!).  Since I have NEVER BEEN to the GRAND CANYON (practically a sin greater than drinking coffee or masturbating when you live as close as I do), I was invited along with four of my comrades to accompany him on the grueling hike through the most magnificent canyon ever.

I’ve never backpacked anywhere.

We leave in, um, 1,2,3…7 weeks!

Did I mention my pack will weigh roughly 30-35 pounds?

So I figure I best be hitting the gym a bit more diligently, right? Only I hate, nay, detest my current box gym. It is always packed, the machines I know how to do stuff on are always taken, and no one is there to tell me what I should actually be doing outside of the one good intentioned beefcake who told me I was over-extending on a movement I’ve been apparently doing wrong for years.

One night after leaving said gym all disheartened and secretly praying for a better option, I pass by a building I have passed by hundreds of times and think, hmm, I wonder what this Ute Crossfit place is all about?

I research, I attend the free trial class where I all but puke (the first time skipping breakfast has actually worked out in my favor), I am unable to move for two days, I sign up.

Before beginning Crossfit they have you go through two weeks of “On-Ramp,” their classes designed to teach you the proper form for all of the ridiculously challenging movements you will be doing.

I graduated from On-Ramp last week so as of this week I am now officially a full-fledged Crossfitter person.

Pros?
I feel like I could take on the world I am so high on adrenaline. I am happier and more productive than I have been in years. I love that there is always a trainer present who comes up with the workouts each day, and that they encourage you throughout your workout. They even put challenges together which incorporate healthy eating and getting more sleep too. It has already helped me become more structured with my life (with work and school already taking up so much time I kinda have to be to fit this in).

Cons?
I hurt. I hurt in both the good way AND the bad way. Sore muscles are one thing, I actually love that feeling, but having my recently-released-from-rehab ankle feeling like it is regressing and my Endometriosis stabbing my abdomen relentlessly, well, that just sucks monkey balls.

I realize the cons are kinda big deals, but truthfully I don’t want to give up my new found high. I’m working with the trainers to scale back my workouts and have “make PT appointment” on my to-do list. As for my stupid Endo pain, there is nothing that can be done. I just have to hope my body adjusts and that in the meantime my heating pad doesn’t give out.

So there you have it.

Beginning, middle, and cliffhanger to my Grand Canyon-Crossfit-I’m-in-so-much-pain-I-want-to-cry story.

Who knew beating up your body could be so much fun?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Anklegate, Crossfit, Grand Canyon 2011, Hiking