Me, Crossfit, & Cancer: The Return

It started early this summer.  It ended last month.  I kept most of the journey to myself as to fool everyone into thinking that it didn't suck that bad.  It's a mentality left over from boxing -- don't let your opponent see your weakness or your strength.  So, I walked through it with a neutral demeanor, but with a smile.  

Crossfit helped a lot.  It gave me strength when I physically had none.  Imagining a sub three minute "Isabel" consumed most of my thoughts; getting back to that would be rough, I knew this.  BUT, I also knew that life challenges are pretty much cake at this point in my life.  As you see from my previous post, I finished "Grace" for Barbells for Boobs in 7:07 while going through chemo.  Funny, I was still pissed at myself for not finishing in under five minutes but was also elated that I even finished the damn WOD at all.  My next WOD would be the first official, cancer-free WOD.  I was contacted by Mike Koslap who is a freelance videographer who occasionally does videos for the Crossfit main page.  He asked if I would like to be interviewed and filmed while going through a WOD and of course, I said yes.  We met a few weeks later at Crossfit OldTown in Alexandria, VA to film.  Special thanks to Jerry Hill, owner, and Melissa Lopes, head trainer, for allowing me to WOD with them. 

More than anything, I wanted to expose the rampant issues of the ego-driven man that believes himself invincible.  Call him out a little, if you will.  The important part of this journey isn't Crossfit, it isn't even cancer, it's understanding when to realize that you have no control, and to accept that beautiful nugget of truth.  That, is where you'll find your true, authentic self. 

Take care, and watch this vid if you have ten minutes to spare.