Fact - 40+ people traveled from Alexandria, VA to L.A. to watch our own Jerry Hill compete in the CF Games Master's Division. He has been training for this, hard - but more on that later. After a quiet dinner on Thursday night (actually a loud, drinking, fun time) we saddled up early to put up the tent and get seats. This tent is awesome by the way.
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On Day 1 of the Games- the majority of us were wearing blue shirts with his big face on it. When 40 strong come cross-country and represent like that - for a masters competitor, you freak people out. The next biggest showing may have had 10 people, if that. And we were loud - really loud. I seriously almost passed out a few times from screaming. Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!
Here's most of our crew after the Chipper - now known as the One-Legged Freakshow.
And that awesome Murphy creation of a shirt:
A few other facts that I can recall from the weekend.
Fact-Jerry injured his hamstring a few weeks ago and re-injured it during event 5 of 7. When you are 45 years old and train anywhere near like Jerry did, it will punish you. Getting hurt is not a possibility, it is reality. Anyone who does not know what his training looked like, you can scroll back through. It was sick. Jerry's Training Blog.
Fact - We were all disappointed that he got hurt, and that he did not win.
Fact - What he accomplished by simply finishing the wod - after getting hurt on rep #2 of 250, is simply the most amazing feat I have ever witnessed. Period. And it is having an effect that I did not expect. Being back for two days and getting into the gym, I have noticed a phenomenon. I am not sure how long it will last, or perhaps it is the new reality. But I have flashed back to that moment over and over again in my head during my workouts and it keeps me going. How the hell can I quit, or slow down simply because I am tired, after seeing that?
What are you going to do when you are here? I saw what Jerry did, and there is apparently no choice in the matter but to Jerry-Hill-the F-Up: From now on, HTFU means Hill the F' Up!
Fact - Finishing 5th in the world, on one leg for half of the competition - is maybe more impressive than if he had won. I find it hard to imagine being prouder of him. How do you win a muscle up competition when you can hardly walk. I for one like to kip with my legs a little. So not sure how that happened. But glad I was there for it.
Fact - Gene Lamonica - the eventual winner - is one bad-ass dude. Taller and 25# heavier than Jerry, he was also astonishingly fit. Damned Terminator who never quit. And a nice guy. There is only one Jerry Hill in the world, but there is only one of this dude either. And he is a doctor. Hats off to that dude.
Hats off to Freddy Camacho as well. This dude is 47, came in 10th place and this is his girlfriend (Freddy is on the left) Just sayin'
Fact - We had fun. In addition to watching Jerry, we had close up views of some amazing performances. 5th row for the finals - that was amazing. We saw Annie, Rich and all the other best athletes do their thing. We got to do the wods (Grace and John Scott owned those heavy med balls). I hung with KStar, Kevin insulted Canada (Happy Bastille Day to you as well), I met Rob Orlando, Dave Lipson, Greg Amundson, Speallers' mom, and so many more CrossFit celebrities. I hung out with Jason Khalipa and his crew for 2 hours during the women's finals, and with his gym while he competed (Thanks Chad/Sue). And we had very close-up view to serious eye candy.
Fact Team CFOT is the best. I love these people. Yes, even you Kevin.
I only wish that everyone could have made it, although I might not have been able to pay. Better start saving!
Here we are at the last happy hour. Best time ever!
