16th place, I'll take it.

Wow, I'm not gonna lie, when they announced WOD 13.3 I had so many mixed emotions.

First thing I thought was way back to last year WOD 12.4 and what it felt like to lift that jump rope up after doing 150 wall balls and trying to do a double under.  Which we all know are my nemesis.  Second thing I did was think well, at least we'll get the double unders out of the way. Immediately I had set a goal to get all of my double unders and a score of 240 reps.

Last thing I thought was, I wish they would be a little more creative, I've already done this WOD....and know that it's gonna suck.  But, (there is always a but when you have a negative thought) in hindsight I know why they did it.  So we could see an improvement from last year.

I couldn't for the life of me remember what my score was on this WOD last year so as soon as I got home I started digging in my documents on my computer and found last years scores.  Mine was 190.

Trying not to dwell on the negative...I contemplated my game plan.  I knew I would want to do this WOD twice, like I did 13.2.  I mean you can always have a bad double under day, you know what I'm saying. My plan was to get done with my "Karen" in 8:00 minutes and that would leave me 4:00 to do as many double unders as I could possibly squeak out.  I was hoping to start Karen off in sets of 15 and hold that as long as I could...moving down to 10 or 5 if and when it was necessary to keep moving.

Unlike 13.2 I didn't have any wild and crazy dreams about this WOD.  In fact, I was uncomfortably content.  I think that I immediately conceded that I would drop on the score board.  So, to not cause any further trauma to my mental state, I had decided that what drops can only go up.  Take this score with a grain of salt and pray EVERY night for clean and jerks to show up for 13.4 and kick some serious ass then...:0)

So, Friday morning I wasn't even nervous.  I coached and counted for the 2 Friday morning heats and my plan was to do this WOD alone with Jim in the comfort of knowing that if I did pee my pants on the double unders it was only him and I.  I mean, this is the man who will be changing my diapers when I'm old....so a little dribble would be ok. 

I briefly spoke with  Angela as she was leaving and in the last minute of preparation changed my game plan on the WOD.  In hindsight, I know my strengths and I should have gone with what I know I can do.....instead of listening to someone else's game plan.  BUT, (there it is again) I didn't and it is what it is. I won't even watch all the videos they do now on, "how to improve your score!"  I know my body, I know my capabilities, and I don't need anyone else changing my "Game Plan!"

As Jim got ready to start the clock, he reminded me "Carole, we're just doing Karen here....anything after that is a bonus!" 

Deep breathe.

3,2,1, GO!!

I started off like a bat out of hell and I was erratic and crazy.  I was getting no repped with airballs and short balls and no balls and messy balls.  It was a ball frenzy.  I couldn't get a rythm and I was ALL OVER THE PLACE.  I had heard "NO REP!" so many times that I actually grunted like a who know what...something that grunts when they are ANGRY.

So, I stopped doing wall balls....and pressed up against the wall with my medicine ball for support and I took like 3 deep breathes.  I regained control....because believe you me, I was out of control....and started doing sets of 15 wall balls....and then resting...and eventually moved to sets of 10 and then 5....so the second half of my wall balls were exactly like I had planned.  Work and then rest, work and then rest.  I finally was in a rythm and could actually hear my hips going into the squat and then pressing out and the ball hitting the wall...I kept saying click, click, boom.  Each click was my hip breaking the crease and the boom was the ball hitting the wall.  

The second half of wall balls flew by beautifully and at 7:31 I was standing in front of my jump rope.  I had none of those feelings that I felt last year.  My breathing was under control, my legs didn't feel heavy at all, and there I was just me and a jump rope.  Well, that's a little white lie, it was me and 3 jump ropes.  You just never know.

I was actually getting my double unders in sets of 7,8, 10 , one time like 15.  Now, remember I do a single jump in between so only my actual double counts.  So, it' like this single single double....1, single single double....2.  I like to make it easier on my judge.  LOL.

I was able to get 82 of my 90 reps in my 12 minute time cap.  New score 232.  I was excited about my score...of course I couldn't remember from Wednesday night what my last year score was so I had no idea I had improved by 42 reps until I got home...then I was more than excited.

I still wanted to shoot for the 240 reps....so, I went back on Saturday and tried again.  This time Mark was my judge and counter.  My goal was a sub 7 Karin and a score of 240 around the 11 minute mark.......LMAO......

Karen and I had some mixed emotions on day 2.  I was SO worried about my legs that I neglected the fact that Karen also makes you throw a 14# medicine ball 4 feet above your head 150 times using your SHOULDERS!!!!  Around rep 25 (of the ones that counted) my shoulders were BURNING!!  I had another ball frenzy as well....air balls, short balls, no balls, and dumb balls!!!  I think Mark started to feel so bad no repping me that he let 1 or 2 slide just so I wouldn't stand there and cry;0(  UGH.

Score for this day 218 with a Karen time of 8:30.  Yeah, Friday was good...I'll keep that score.

As I prepared for immense muscle soreness from Karen...I also feared putting my score on the web-site.  I knew I couldn't stand to watch my score drop drop drop.  I was SO freaking scared...that I never even looked at the leaderboard until Sunday to see where the other ladies were scoring.  I knew I couldn't handle another day of refreshing the leaderboard and watching my descent.

So, Sunday afternoon I finally entered my score and was validating scores when Mark popped up on my Facebook page.  He had Facebook chatted me to see when I would be approving everyone's scores.  I shared my fear of the leaderboard with him...so being the nice boy he is, he went and checked it out for me.  With my score and about 150 ladies entered, I was in 10th place.  OK, so this is what I said...."Carole, you're goal is to stay in the top 25....and you cannot check this again until 8:00 pm!"

8:01 pm.....my belly dropped ....I hit refresh with my son standing over my shoulder.....16th place!!!

Woot Woot!! SOLD.  I'll take it.  Come on 13.4....give me some clean and jerks.

I am in a 40 day Ladies Challenge at Church, do you think I can add that as a prayer request?  I told Brooke and Jim to pray for them....and I was just thinking the more people that prayed the better my chances were for this actually happening.  So, any of you reading this that want to help a sister out....this is my prayer.

"Dear God - some heavy clean and jerks would be nice for WOD 13.4.  I love you.  Amen"