This Michelle

My sister in law and I hashed for hours. First, we talked about the different messages society gives to women and then we moved into talking about men: how some are safe and others are dangerous. So confusing! So frustrating! My brother sat silent, drinking his beer. We kept talking. He paid the bill. We kept talking. He ushered us out of our first spot and walked us to our dinner spot. We kept talking.

At some point on our walk, we asked what he thought. "There's no reason to talk so much about it. It's an unsolveable mystery," he offered.

We kept walking. We kept talking.

We sat down, ordered dinner, and kept talking as we waited for our food. My brother said nothing. Then the crescendo: What's the difference between these "safe" men and the dangerous ones?!? Here, my brother interrupted:

"The safe men aren't Alpha Males."

And just like that ... as if the combination slipped into place ... he unlocked the mystery.

 I prefer the Alpha Male.

*Silence.*

A moment to process.

A toast ... and a new conversation.

Here's what I love about the Open. It is abundantly clear I have not been giving my all during my WODs. Here's an example: today, I hoped to get to 240. Before the WOD started, the three people in my group began talking: it was their second time, they hadn't made it through the Wall Balls the first time. I thought, "OH! I thought I could get through them AND the DUs." I looked at the board. I looked to see names i normally pace. NOT 240!

Right then and there, my only goal was to make it through the Wall Balls.

Just like that I told myself I couldn't do it.

So, with a fantastic coach beside me, I began my wall balls: 50 downs at 2:30. 100 down at 6:40. When I heard that, I didn't speed up! I slowed DOWN because I knew I would reach my "goal"!!! 150 at 11:27. And then 18 DU. If I had RESTED ONE MINUTE LESS in that last set of 50, I could have made it to 200.

So, I had a fantastic day off. Coffee on the patio, then work a little and write an article, then spend a few minutes enjoying the beach before I began to Crossfit, and, finally, a sunset. Lovely. Perfect, really.

Only ... when I went to workout, I was ATTACKED by no-see-ums. I'd heard about them; now I know. They're ferocious. I literally RAN back to my car with my gear (without working out), whipping my tshirt around to shoo them away. Then I enjoyed the sunset.