CrossFit is for anybody. CrossFit is not for everybody.

I started this post a little over two weeks ago, and now it seems to be even more relevant than when I started. I am VERY passionate about CrossFit, and anybody that knows me would tell you that I am enthusiastic to say the least. With that said I am going to attempt to make as calm a case as I possibly can. (just proof read this, calm didn't work out). I encourage anybody who reads this and takes issue with my stance to please let me know. I welcome all and any who take "issue" with my beliefs to do so, and I promise to answer any and all questions or points directed at me.

CrossFit is FOR anybody. Absolute truth. PERIOD. Young, old (seasoned), conditioned, de-conditioned, man, woman, former athlete, professional couch potato.......BLAH BLAH BLAH, I just deleted a boatload of writing...WHY? Because all one has to do, is Google CrossFit, and start down the rabbit hole. There is already an example/success story out there for ANYBODY you could possibly imagine. Too LAZY to do it, give me an example of ANYBODY who CrossFit would be ill advised, and I will find THE example to prove you wrong. TOO TOO LAZY to do that. SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!


CrossFit is NOT for everybody. I will use Blue Bell ice cream to prove my point illustrating every type of person in the world there is. First, I fucking love Blue Bell ice cream, in my hey day a half gallon might last two sittings........ and a bowl?....forget about it, gimme a spoon bitch, I got this!

Let's break it down, CrossFit is now "Blue Bell" ice cream..... relax it'll make sense. Now I am every bit as passionate about Blue Bell ice cream as I am about CrossFit, and those that know me have heard my enthusiasm for Blue Bell/CrossFit shared whether anyone cared to know or not. Matter of fact to entertain putting any other brand in my freezer will get you a one way ticket outta my life. PERIOD. Here we go......

You tell me that you hate ice cream (fitness). I tell you that you are half an idiot and that's the good half, and immediately stop wasting my time. Ice cream is not for you.

You tell me that all ice cream is the same, so who cares anyways. You are that boring fucker who just goes through the motions trying whatever is around that people offer. YOU are the same person who pretends to be an authority on all ice cream whether you have tried it or not, and the ones you have, you only tried one flavor, or one time in a root beer float (dining at the weight buffet once because you were visiting your cousin for the weekend and he talked you into it). You spend your time discussing what's wrong with different brands of ice cream never really saying anything at all, and how could you, you don't know fucking ice cream...you know what?, typing this has stressed me out. You are worse than the fuckhead who says that they hate ice cream! At least they have a fucking backbone. Go eat some Dippin' Dots (THOSE videos) and stop wasting every one's time, obviously ice cream is not for you.

You tell me, Chuck I love ice cream! I yell out, you damn right, and we high five TOP GUN style. Then you say but Chuck, and I say "Talk to me Goose," and you say, "but Blue Bell is not the best ice cream." I hit eject mother fucker and your ass bounces off the inside of the canopy and you are dead to me!....... Just kidding, but never miss a chance to take a TOP GUN segue too far.

 So, this is where (depending on the situation) we have an intelligent argument about Blue Bell versus your preferred brand, and maybe one of us makes a strong enough case to convince the other to at least "try" the other brand, or maybe not (only one brand for me baby)! But no matter what at the end, we leave with a mutual respect for the others taste, and overall LOVE FOR ICE CREAM! Amen, takes many flavors and brands my friends to make up the ice cream world.

 If you are the sort of person who can only entertain one brand, then we obviously don't have anything to talk about, and I am thankful that you aren't out there fucking up MY ice cream! Go take issue with someone as ignorant as your "there can be only one ice cream" ass, or someone with nothing better to do! I got Blue Bell to eat bitch, and when I'm not eating it, I'm talking about it or getting others stoked about how delicious it is. Do I apologize for this, HELL NO!!! I LOVE BLUE BELL!! And will never allow where I am or who I am around to cause me to hide it, apologize for it, or make excuses for it! I LoVe that cow (Pukie) and wouldn't have it any other way.

Extra Credit!
Now to those that will campaign against my beloved Blue Bell. Get your shit straight. Blue Bell is as safe to eat or safer than any other ice cream out there. PERIOD. Do not confuse the "Brand" with a flavor and then start running around like you are an authority on the brand. Especially when you are not the person who actually tried the "Flavor" in the first place, but in reality you know a guy who has a chiropractor who says he watches people eat Candy Jar Blue Bell as they walk out of the store next to his office that sells it, and that Candy Jar Blue Bell is killing mother fuckers dead EVERY DAY! BLUE BELL MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAATTTT.........FUCK YOU! Think about it, I'm moving on because I got ice cream to eat.

Extra Extra Credit!!
If you have made it this far chances are that you are a BLUE BELL MAN/WOMAN through and through! I LOVE YOU!! I leave it with this one request. Please as you stroll the ice cream isle and find our Beloved Blue Bell, if you happen to see someone who looks unsure or that maybe like they find themselves in the isle for the first time. Say hello and offer a hand to a fellow/potential Blue Bell lover. Takes a lot of guts to take stroll down the ice cream isle period, WE should embrace any and all that stop at BLUE BELL for their "FIX". Also there is nothing wrong with starting out with Homemade Vanilla (it is delicious), sometimes it takes awhile to work up to Candy Jar, or whichever crazy delicious "flavor/s" we love as Blue Bell?CrossFit aficionados.

BOOM!! That just Happened!!!I'm out..................



 

 

Happy 1st Birthday Bubba! aka Red aka Bubba Pat Pat aka Bubba Red Bear aka MY SON

 I have said this recently, but the assumption of time is an idiots bet. NOW is the only promise of time given.

Charles Patrick Farr. Born January 3rd

2013.

First becoming a father "parent" with my Abbers a year and nine months prior did nothing to lessen the moment. EVERY hope, fear, and joy was being experienced as my little guy came screaming into this world. Delivery this time was much easier....YES I know what I just did here, and yes I realize that is very EASY for me to say....One exception though, with Abby my beautiful tough as nails wife was in active delivery long enough for ME to lose my voice and be physically exhausted only to have the doctor come in and tell us that the baby's heart rate was falling and that they would be performing an emergency cesarean immediately. The team took Molly away leaving me with scrubs to change into and the promise that someone would return shortly to get me. Easily the hardest moment of my life, and the defining moment of faith and not taking time for granted. God carried me that day and provided Molly and I with the cutest most spirited little girl I could ever dream to raise!

I will never forget the doctor coming into our room. Molly resting while I lounged on the super uncomfortable sofa, admiring my swaddle work...I am a swaddle ninja...watching our little guy sleep. The doctor VERY nonchalantly begins to explain that there is a noticeable "sound" when checking his heartbeat with the stethoscope that typically if present at birth goes away very quickly. For our son it had not. As I attempt to remain calm and "strong" I hear none of what the doctor is saying, Molly gets up and sits next to me, I have my hand on her leg and can do nothing but stare at my son, telling myself that I HAVE to maintain composure for my wife. I fill up with emotion that almost explodes and fight it back again and again. I do not remember what was said to bring me back into the moment, but when I do it is to hear that there will be an ultrasound done on his heart to determine the cause of the "sound" and its severity. We are told that someone will be along shortly to get OUR son and take him to have the "procedure" done. Typically the procedure takes about an hour, and when completed someone would bring him back to the room. Not a Fucking chance he would go through that without his parents, and after a promise to allow the tech to do their job with out a peep from papa, off we went. I will tell you that I now a year later can do no justice to the impact of being present had on me. I was asked by the tech (really I was) to soothe my son as she moved him into the positions required to capture the needed images of his heart. I held him in some way the entire time, never taking my eyes off of his. Praying for him to be okay, telling God that I would give ANYTHING for him to be, promising God to protect my family, and praying for the ability to do so no matter the requirement TO DO SO. I was angry that there was nothing I could do to "fix" his potential problem, and terrified that he might have a life of limitations ahead.

The three of us settle back into our room to await the results that we would receive "sometime" this afternoon. Molly is hungry and specifically requests a Freddy's burger and fries. Off I go......the whole trip out for food is surreal, almost like I am watching myself do it. As I pull back into the Women's Center parking lot I breakdown completely. I park and am staring at Park Valley Drive, sitting in the car crying my eyes out, breaking, asking God to please show me why my family must bear yet another burden.....It is a cold Friday, sunny, much like today, around 1pm.....Down the street to my left I see a jogger approaching. As he gets closer I see that he has no arms. As he passes me, I see that he has the bionic man prosthetic legs (and an A&M beanie, of course it's a fucking Aggie). I watch him until he makes the corner and goes left. Thank you Lord!! 

No more tears. This isn't punishment. This is life!! Obstacles become roadblocks only if we allow them to. Adversity has two solutions: acceptance (ride the pine) or a BIG FUCK YOU I GOT A GAME TO WIN!! What game is it? LIFE....Quit and the world will embrace you and the excuses, some might even champion you as a poster child for the embattled or wronged (they get a lot of likes).......or......get dressed, put on your bionic legs and go for a jog motherfuckers...why? Because you can, no matter what the world tells you, because if you stop making excuses or allowing others to make them for you and do the work YOU WILL WIN.

My son has VSD (ventricular septal defect). The hole in his heart has closed substantially since birth, but still remains. The cardiologist says that in all likelihood the hole is small enough that Bubba will never experience any limitations because of it. Thanks DOC, we got this, Bubba will NEVER have any limitations. He will arrive at obstacles along the way, and smash them to pieces if forced to, but he will never once believe that he "can't" do something. I will make sure of it.

Son, my present to you is this:

The rules,
1) Don't Die- stolen from Mark Manning

2) Operate out of LOVE and nothing else. Love is not weak and those that believe it to be will always crumble before it.

3) NEVER through participation or association allow ANYTHING to be done with the sole purpose/intention of hurting others PERIOD.

Remember my boy these are rules and by definition are not to be broken, no matter the consequence. I will always support you no matter my opinion of your choices so long as you follow the rules. I also understand that this requires me to follow them as well PERIOD. I will not fail you, I promise.

My Promise,
I promise to not take away nor allow anyone else to take away your confidence, joy, and willingness to love or dance no matter who is watching. Keep your WAR CRY son and never be ashamed of it.

I promise to not only protect you, but to allow you to take chances as well.

I promise to encourage you to GO BIG! Understanding that with it more times than not, you will FAIL BIG. Anything truly worthwhile will require this ability.

I promise to ALWAYS listen.

I promise to always back you up, so long as you follow the rules.

I promise to discipline you anytime anywhere if you do not follow the rules.

I promise to not preach to you, but instead show you through my own actions what I expect.

I promise to always be a father that you can be proud of. Even when you aren't watching.

I promise that I will ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

Remember this always,
Your Mother is always right. TRUST ME

Love, protect, and trust your sister always, and she will always do the same for you. TRUST ME, the world will want no part of being on her bad side. I will see to that.

If you find yourself amongst those who do not encourage your dreams, they are your enemy and deserve to be treated accordingly. (follow the rules)

Sunshine is precious and should be appreciated. Do not be in the business of wasting it by blowing it up peoples asses. (I take ownership of this ism and it is my gift to you as your first ism)

It is what we do when "things" stop working that defines our character and true abilities.

I am your biggest fan.

NEVER GIVE UP. EVER

NEVER QUIT. EVER

Believe in GOD, GOD believes in you

Trust your instincts and that your family will always love you. The rest of the world earns it.

Talk is cheap and people charge a boatload for it. Spend

your money and your time getting it done.

I LOVE YOU



HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! The truth of it, is that because of your Mother you and your sister have given me more than I could ever give to you, and have often been the teachers and I the student. I know you didn't pick me, but I am honored to be your Father first and foremost, and second your biggest fan for life. Thank you

  

Today I turn two

December 20th is the day that I celebrate two Birthday's. 

One tells me that I am 37 today. I can get this one out of the way pretty quick. It's been a crazy ride so far and I expect nothing less as I move on down the road. I regret nothing and am VERY aware of how blessed I am. If the me of today had to do battle with the me from anytime in my life previously....the me of today would destroy old me, or is it previous me. Makes no never mind, plus I laugh every time I picture this....I will require that the me of today, the very best me ever, will stand no chance against the me of tomorrow!! 

That is where we should all require ourselves to be. 

The other Birthday is my CrossFit Birthday. 

Today I turn two. This is the one I am most excited about. Two means that I am just a little guy when it comes to CrossFit, and just like any other second Birthday there is an awful lot to celebrate. So much happens in the infancy of things. 

My baseline certainly lent itself to success. I turned 35 and was 30% body fat at 235lbs. Worse to boot I could not run 200 meters, I wouldn't stop moving, but there was no fucking way I could run. Ask Mercedes if she remembers passing me time and time again. Perhaps Landon would remember walking out towards Hester's Crossing to make sure I was still alive. The very little I could do I couldn't do for very long. 

Hooked!! Hooked on training that would require me to become comfortable being uncomfortable every single time I step in the box, forever. LOVE IT. 

Hooked on the people, community, FAMILY!! If you are CrossFittin your little heart out and this part isn't by far the biggest reward CrossFit has bestowed upon you, you are either 

               A. An asshole or

               B. Lying about trying or "doing"

                   CrossFit. 

I have shared more of myself with my fellow athletes in my two years than I have with people I have known my entire life. That being said, CrossFit has strengthened my relationships with my sister (the one who started it all ALLICHOO!!) and my beautiful wife Molly a true inspiration to watch work. I have a family of people that I have met because of CrossFit that are my most treasured friends, biggest inspiration, and a family that I love so much that I would do anything to protect along with work my ass off hoping to never disappoint. 

 You will see anything and everything you would ever need to know about someone and who they really are demonstrated in one WOD. Don't believe me, take me to task....I dare you and double dog dare you. If you win I will get a tattoo of the character of your choice swinging a kettle bell ( we will see who is reading now). 

So today at two I am amazed at how far I have come and the fire within to become better grows hotter every day. There is no ceiling to the possibilities. I can do anything that I am willing to work my fucking ass off to take! That is right, TAKE, life doesn't just hand out the shit that matters and is worthwhile. We will have to take it!! No excuses, do the work. (Picture Rocky training for Ivan Drago Rocky IIII and you will NEVER lose, little known fact proven by science)

I am most thankful for the relationships that I have formed through CrossFit and especially for the ones strengthened because of it. 

 There are two people in particular that I owe it all. If it were not for the two of you I would still be drinking 80oz. Of Diet Coke (at least) and eating two packages of zingers (yellow frosting) for breakfast every day while thinking that maybe next week I will get my ass back in the gym....yuck gym...... How horribly boring does that sounds. 

So to my sister Allison Stanley, I love and owe all this to you first and foremost. Had you not made me try it out we would never be where we are today ALLIFUCKINGCHOO!!! You are a mother F'ing pimp!!! 

Mark Manning. If you don't know Mark you are missing out (and have heard me tell Mark stories anyway), if you do, you know exactly what I am talking about. You lit the fire sir and I WILL FOREVER BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN. Brother you are the embodiment of what any and every coach could and should dream to be. You sir got me stoked, you sir inspired me to want to become a coach, and anyone who has ever taken a Mark Manning class would agree that you sir are in a class above all others reserved for you and you alone. PERIOD. 

To all of my family. I know this and am reminded of it today as I see my Birthday well wishes. With the literal exception of four, every friend I have on Facebook is one I have made through CrossFit. Each and every one of you have had a tremendous and positive impact on my life and at the drop of a hat I could share how that is with you or anyone else in this world, and at the drop of a hat if you needed something I would line up to help out. We may not always agree, but I will always love you as family and be honored to call you my friend. I could not imagine a group I would rather surround myself with. Thank you for pushing me to be a better me so I can destroy the old/previous me when we do battle in my head movies!!!

Yep, that just happened, that is me on the eve on my CrossFit birth. Now once you are done wiping the throw up off your chin, cleaning up the drink that shot out of your mouth/nose, and or laughing your ass off....know this, if I can have success in anything, Anybody can, I have not been blessed with much in the way of natural ability and because of that I am walking talking proof that if you are willing to do the work...it will pay off. 

P.S. I LOVE this picture. Soak it in, plus that is one sweet stache. Also it is a reminder that MY WIFE REALLY DOES LOVE ME. 

THANK YOU

On the eve of Thanksgiving I find myself unable to sleep and compelled to give thanks along with making a request. Forgive me, this will ramble a bit as I get to the point. It is late/early and I can't let this go.

One year ago to the day my life was quite different than it is now as I write this. 

The Friday before Thanksgiving I recieved word that the position I had been recently hired for was being put " on hold" due to contract complications and that I was to stop the work I had been doing and that " they would be in touch once the terms had been renegotiated." At the time Abby was just over a year and a half old and Molly was less than two months away from giving birth to Bubba. Scary does not even begin to scratch the surface. A lot had already happened in the previous months and this was a blow that I was having trouble treating the way I had all the previous obstacles. How would we survive? How would I make sure that my wife and unborn son would receive the proper medical attention? What if Abby needed a doctor? How would I pay our bills? Keep a roof over our head? A vehicle? How would we eat? How do I make my family believe that we will be okay when I myself did not know how? 

For the better part of twelve years my motto had been this. Prefaced by saying we make one choice every single day, " you are either a victim of life or a student of living." ...................Now this was born of a time in my life that had been difficult, but at that time I did not have a family to take care of. I had encountered hundreds of people and shared this motto as the years rolled by, and through very hard work had been living a life where my worries or concerns were laughable compared to what was before me now. 

Times would get much worse before they got better.

 We quietly sold everything we had of any value, so we could pay Molly's doctor, our rent, bills, food. I sent resume after resume in, filled out many applications, felt defeated when I would not get a job that I considered to be a "sure" thing.

 Then we had to sell even the things we considered to be off limits. My truck which was the nicest vehicle I had ever owned was when I knew shit had gotten real. The cash we got from that went to the doctor, bills, food, and an $800 dollar 1993 Mazda pickup that had a Ford Ranger driver side door and an engine from a Ford Taurus. It had no A/C and no heat. Sometimes it started and sometimes I had to push start it ( was always a good warm up). I would continue to submit applications and resumes while doing any temporary work I could find as well. It was difficult to remain who I am during this time. Christmas was upon us and I avoided inquiries as to what I was getting for Molly or Abby. I found a couple of one day "gigs" skipped a bunch of meals and was able to get a few presents for the two of them. My gift was finding a way for my Very pregnant wife and beautiful little girl to feel like Christmas didn't skip us. Molly was busy as well, I received my most treasured gift for my birthday/Christmas last year. My first pair of Nano's (green digi camo). I will never throw them out and rarely wear them now so as to preserve them. I was so thankful for them that I couldn't even bring myself to wear them for the first month I had them. Every time I see them I am reminded of our holiday season the year before. Our struggles would continue and our ability to be creative in ways of providing for our family would be honed to an art form before it starts to get better.....

Fast forward a year. 

WE are still here plus one!

Thank you lord!! 

The last twelve months have been the most trying of my life. WE are still here. 

Our house has a lot less "stuff" in it and our drive way has a different vehicle parked in it. WE are still coming out of the hardest of times, but life is sweet and WE are still together. Stronger now than we have ever been. Stronger now than WE even knew possible. 

I am still the student struggling daily for a passing grade, refusing to be the victim.

So here it is:

I am MOST thankful for my relationships in life! DO NOT miss one opportunity to tell someone you love that you love them. Do not wait until "next time" to say thank you to someone who has helped you in anyway no matter how big or small. BE a person that people want to be around, kind, warm, happy, encouraging, and most of all: in the moment. Be present in what you are doing. Do not let the world consume you in a pursuit of material things. Don't get me wrong, I am very aware of nice clothes, cars, homes.....things, and have enjoyed them all. Always be thankful for what you have, remember that it can ALWAYS be worse and at this very moment it is for someone else, maybe even someone you know. When all of the "stuff" is gone our relationships that are real and worthwhile remain, love them, nurture them, and protect them at all cost. Because any and everything in this world can be taken from you, but who we are in OUR relationships is forever, it is your legacy, your most valuable gift to give, and what we should all be most thankful for. They are built through an investment of love and time, do not take for granted that time is on your side in this, no regrets, because we could be gone today or get a call that a loved one is no longer with us tomorrow. There will never be a better time than now to take the time to nurture, build, or repair our relationships. If you want someone to know you love them, tell them...NOW. If you are thankful, tell them...NOW. Let there be no assumptions in feelings or opportunities to come. 

I recently took part in a memorial WOD for Alex A. Viola. A young man killed in Afghanistan November 17th. Those hosting the WOD knew Alex personally and had served with him. I shared a blog entry by his sister on my Facebook page the morning of the memorial. READ It! Through the pain, his sister and teammates told stories of how because of their relationships with Alex their lives had been enriched. This is his legacy, it is his gift, and he must have understood that because those who spoke of Alex did so with such love and admiration that you knew they felt thankful and blessed to have had a relationship with him. 

Here is my request. DO NOT WAIT for everything in your life to be taken from you to understand this. DO NOT WAIT for news of a friend or loved one being taken suddenly to want an opportunity to tell them something. KNOW that our relationships are our most valuable gifts to treasure and be thankful for...........GIVE that thanks right now. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

Everything I needed to know about life I learned from Badger

BADGER

3 rounds of:

30 -squat cleans or just plain ol' cleans if you're a dick who has to remind us all that they are just "cleans"

30 -pull ups

800 meter run

Navy Chief Petty Officer Mark Carter

Killed in combat December 11, 2007 at 27 years old. 

Mark enlisted in the Navy upon Highschool graduation knowing that he wanted to be a Navy Seal. His teammates nicknamed him "Badger" after the small but ferocious animal, citing a wrestling match that Mark at 5'5" won against an opponent at 6'5". What resonated with me as I read more and more of what I could find about Mark is that every person who spoke of Mark made a point to say that he was forever upbeat. One teammate telling a story about the two of them out in the ocean very very cold and that he looked over to Mark who was grinning ear to ear and laughing. Others saying that he was the first to charge and always maintained the ability " to find the sunny skies in even the grayest of days."

November 11, 2013 Veterans Day

WOD -BADGER

5:30pm class at CrossFit Liberty Hill

I had gotten word that BADGER would be our WOD in honoring those who have and are serving for Veterans Day. I did a brief background check on the inspiration for the WOD. My day had proven to be a roller coaster of emotions. Sadly if it were not for Facebook I would have not been able to take part in any observance. Business as usual at the office with not one moment given in recognition of Veterans. Having served myself this did not sit well. 

While driving towards the box after leaving the office I began to think about how I could honor those so worthy of our greatest praises. I decided that a good start would be to attack BADGER with my classmates and continue to work as hard as I could until everyone of us finished. You either get it or you don't. 

This was my first time doing BADGER. I was fired up! Even more than usual, imagine that if you know me and were not there. WAR FUCKING CRY!!!! The class attacked this WOD in what I can only describe as THE MOST BEAUTIFUL demonstration of grit and resolve I have ever had the honor in taking part. BADGER is a gut checker!! Grind em' out, trading one practice in misery for the next. It is not a sprint, it's a fight! The class has a focus and intensity that forces you to push. Every single one of my classmates is a bona fide member of the Not Fucking Around Club. I did not want to disappoint any of them. 

I have every conceivable conversation you could imagine with myself.....push......man my back feels fucked up......oops there's that ankle flaring up.....stop being such a pussy Chuck.....just do the WOD, that is good enough.......I am on my third "run" grinding out the last 400 meters, I hear the feet behind me, I wave my arm for them to come on, I push to move more quickly, they are getting closer, I push harder, I am going to be passed, the man passes me obviously emptying "the tank" giving all he has in Honor of our Veterans and Mark whether he knew it or not. I am on Fucking Fire!! I push to bring it in now knowing I will work like a mad man until every one of us has finished. Coach comes over to see if I had "finished" as I continue, I nod yes as I grab hold of the bar. I had started BADGER on pull ups because of the class size and was repping them out 5 at a time as classmates came in calling time. As I transition to the SQUAT cleans I realize its just me and one other classmate left. This guy is a beast!! Focused, no bull shit doing work. I don't know where he is in his rep count, I'm SQUAT cleaning 95 pounds one at a time. Jeff turns to head out on his last 800 meter run. I rep out my last two SQUAT cleans and take off to catch my classmate. I fall in just behind and to the right of Jeff. We are both fighting for every step. He begins to slow and I begin to move just ahead, Jeff works to hold my pace. I fucking love this guy!! I begin to slow and now he sets the pace. 400 meters down 400 to go. Nobody is stopping now!! We have brief pep talks as we go, actually pushing ourselves to move more quickly. One step and the next that's all that matters. There is a sharp incline waiting for us to tackle as we finish our run. We attack it in full stride!! There will be nothing left when we bring it in!!! This moment stirs such intense emotion in me as it still does now typing it out that I slow just as we reach the bay door, and slowly turn in along the wall. I cannot look at anyone and keep walking, heading out the other side into the parking lot next door. Physically my body has a euphoric feeling of having been pushed to a seldom visited place. I can not control my breathing, my mind is a million places at once.....my family, those who have served, my faith, who I want to be, Jeff and his incredible push to finish just as he started "strong", and I can no longer keep it in check. I take a knee unable to stand any longer and while the tears start to flow I look up at the stars with such a sense of gratitude that I am overflowing!! Thank you Mark Carter. Thank you Jeff. Thank you 5:30pm. I pull myself together and head inside. I scoop up my two year old daughter and hug her tightly. She tells me good job Daddy and kisses me on the cheek as she often does and I begin to well up. My life will NEVER be the same!! I thank those who are left for the inspiration, and my daughter calls out the customary "peace out CrossFit" as we walk out. Jeff and his wife are in the parking lot. I want to give Jeff a huge hug and thank him for what he did for me, as Abbers and I get closer his wife thanks me for going out on that "last run" with her husband. I thank him for pushing me to finish and tell a brief story to his wife of a wild man who attacked a WOD with such ferocity from start to finish that I was honored just to be along for the ride. 

Before I bring this home I want to share this: Jeff's BADGER time was 50 minutes and 27 seconds. I promise you that Jeff would have taken 100 minutes to "finish" what he had started had it been necessary. Jeff did not need anybody to push him, he has that rare ability to push himself. I would not hesitate for a moment to take on any challenge that life in general or CrossFit could present if I could pick Jeff as a teammate! Jeff is that guy or girl in your box that is "straight blue collar" quoting the great Mark Manning. They show up and do the work. They do not complain, they do not grandstand, and if you catch their eye during the WOD they will give you a smile letting you know that there is nothing else in this world they would rather be doing. WAR CRY!!!! We should be so lucky to share a room with Jeff and should take notes every time we do. 

So here is what I learned from BADGER:

A life worth living is worth living for something bigger than yourself. The rewards of working for a bigger picture or higher cause will fulfill us in ways we cannot imagine. Dream big with no limits, make a declaration requiring more of yourself. As the world beats on you and then even begins to rationalize for you the reasoning in coming up short, fall back to whatever it is that is bigger than you!! Dammit if we don't make it, it will not be because we quit!!!! Realize that nothing should be expected, we will have to take everything we want, and because of that we are prepared to work harder than those amongst us. Remember it is not just about you. Love BIG, attack everything in your life with reckless abandon knowing that operating out of Love affords you that right. Remind others through your actions that now is the time because tomorrow is not promised. Be ferocious!! Take issue with any and everything that would hurt others at the drop of a hat anywhere and at anytime with no regard for the consequence. Take opportunities to celebrate those who have sacrificed their freedom to protect ours. Realize though that the biggest way to honor those is to take advantage of those freedoms you have every moment of everyday!! The flip side is the realization being that to squander or waste one moment of making the most of our freedom or opportunities is a slap in the face to everyone who has worked to ensure you have them. Don't be the fake flag waiver a couple days out of the year, just like you hear the adage "don't be a Saturday sinner and a Sunday saint." Honor those worthy each and every day in how we live our daily lives. Lastly and most important to me...Be the person who finds the sunniest of skies in our darkest of moments. 

Now if you find yourself calling bullshit, go back to my account of BADGER. It's all there. And because of it every breath I take is sweeter, I love bigger and for more than just myself, I am done wishing for anything or waiting, and I will honor my family, friends, and those who have given so much not just with a flag or Facebook post, but with how I live my life. 

Thank you Mark Carter " BADGER"

Thank you veterans of past present and future. 

Thank you 5:30pm CrossFit Liberty Hill

Thank you CrossFit. Without you I do not know how I would train to live a life worth living.