Guinness for Strength

It was pretty much a year ago when I told to Joonas that I decided to go back to Australia and start my journey of learning more about Crossfit. Few days passed and once when we were having  beers at my mates place Joonas came up with an idea that what if  I would go to Ireland instead of Australia and he would come with me. To be honest, I couldn’t be happier about those words. Doing the stuff what I love and sharing the experiences with my best mate. Win win. Big decision from a man who is happily married and even bigger sacrifice from his wife Anna. I think that I have never even thanked her for being such a good sport.

Not long after that I started emailing Crossfit gyms in Dublin and asked what do they have to offer and so on. I think Ronincrossfit was the one place where I didn’t sent anything, I just thought that I’ll pop in and see how it goes and how do I feel about it. After doing my first intro class at Ronin, I walked outside and remember picking my phone and sending txt to Joonas what said: I found the place, no need to see the other gyms anymore.

The warm and welcoming atmosphere was something what I haven’t experienced anywhere else. Even though I am not used to anything like that, from the day one I felt that I was part of something big.

Being a Finnish person and  trying to blend in with the Irish was not that natural for me. We are people who barely say hi to anyone, we don’t ask about your day and sure as hell don’t touch anyone without a good reason. Then we came to this place, where people are actually interested about you and your day. Guys are shaking hands and girls are hugging each others before the class. What the hell was this? It crossed my mind that it might be somekind of a conspiracy where people pretend that this is how humans really interact.  I have never been so wrong, this was the Ronin way.

I have had lots of different experiences during my stay at Ronin. The time when I learned to do Double unders, the time when I nailed my first muscle up or the time when I failed to perform at my best. Regardless of all of this different ups and downs, the very best memories I have from the two competitions what we had. Doing your best in a team when all the other people are counting on you is by far the best thing what I have witnessed here.

I could go on for hours about all the positive things and experiences what I have had here. Every day, every WOD and every person is different, that’s why it is still bit of a mystery to me how have you people been able to become as one. This is not something what you build with customers or with over the top athlete’s. This is what you get when you put your mind and heart into something what you really love.

Nearly ten months have passed, easily the fastest ten months what I have ever had. Always when I go back home I have felt bit sad, not because there is something wrong in home but just because I have had such a good time. This time is no different and I would have never thought that leaving this place would be so hard. It is not because of my job here or because I love the city or anything like that. It is just because Ronin has been the thing for me what I have been missing.

I would like to thank all the lovely people who made this such an awesome trip for me, especially the coaches. Jody, Eamonn and Danny who have done a marvelous job with coaching and being super supportive.

Till the next time we see again, Vado in filius

-Antti-

Virallinen kisatreeni nro 2 julkaistiin taas aamuvarhaisella torstaina, vuorossa oli vähemmän tekninen mutta enemmän hapottava treeni. 13.2 oli wodi nimeltään ja se piti sisällään pystypunnerrusta, mavea ja box jumppeja.

13.1 jäi harmittamaan sen verran kovasti, että erittäin innolla kävimme tämmöisen treenin kimppuun missä oli liikkeitä mitä olimme harjoitelleet enemmän. Noh mainittakoon, että box jumppeja on tehty ehkä 5 kertaa tässä viimeisen puolen vuoden aikana joten ei niitäkään turhan paljon olla opeteltu.   Joka tapauksessa oli 13.2 vähemmän tekninen ja vaikutti jokaiselle amatööritason treenajalle helpommalta kuin ensimmäinen kisatreeni.

Workout 13.2

Tiistaina tehtiin raskaita takakyykkyjä. Kaikessa yksinkertaisuudessaan voimaosuus näytti tältä. 5×3 High bar back squat 90%. Kyykyt menivät molemmilla melkoisen hyvin ja painoja ei tarvinnut skaalailla.

Metconi oli pitkästä aikaa todella raskasta suoritettavaa. Ei sillä, että olisi ollut niin paskana, mutta itse liikkeet olivat todella kuormittavia ja varsinaista “hengästymistä” ei tässä treenissä päässyt käymään. Elkää ymmärtäkö väärin, kyllä siellä joka ukko ja akka haukkoi happea ja makasi maassa kun kellossa täyttyi tuo 12 minuuttia, mutta lähinnä sen takia, että rautaa liikahti suhteellisen paljon pienessä ajassa. Tästä vähän maun makua:

AMRAP 12 mins

2 front squats 70 kg
4 box jumps 30 inch
6 kb snatches @ 24kg

Itse olin erittäin tyytyväinen treenin kulkuun. Koko 12 minuutin ajan pystyin pitämään saman tahdin ja vasta viimeisellä kierroksella jäin aikataulusta vähän. Joonas pärjäsi tässä wodissa myös mainiosti ja teki 1 kierroksen enemmän kuin Kings courtin  suurin crossfittaaja.

Chewy!