One Year Ago - I Earned the Title: "Fittest on Earth"

I recall August 4, 2019 (one year ago) like it was yesterday...

I remember driving to the last day of the 2019 CrossFit Games. I was sitting in 1st place as I entered the final 3 events. I remember thinking that it would be amazing to be able to stand on the podium. If I could just hold onto one of the top three spots.

In 2018… I placed 4th and didn’t get to stand on the podium. I wasn’t super disappointed - as a rookie, I was just grateful to be there and do pretty dang good. Then months later, it was discovered that the 2nd place finisher tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. He was disqualified. Therefore, I was bumped to 3rd place. A couple of months later, I received a small Fed Ex bubble package - that contained the 3rd Place Medal from the 2018 CrossFit Games. It was pretty anti-climactic. Still honored to have received it, but I felt cheated of the experience of standing on the podium with Neil Maddox and David Levy.

The 3 events on the final day of the 2019 CrossFit Games were all back to back. My fate would be determined in about 25 minutes of total time on the field.

Event 1: 2 Rep Max Overhead Squat (5 Min Time Cap)

This event was tricky for a number of reasons.

First - the following events were minutes after this one. Therefore I had a tough decision on what shoes to wear. I would prefer to wear olympic lifters for overhead squats. However, the following events would be easier in Nanos. With very little time to change shoes… I decided to complete the overhead squats with the much flatter soled Nanos. 

Second - The event was set up on the turf field. That meant that I was lifting huge weight overhead on soft ground. In the warm up area, I practiced overhead squats on gymnastics mats to get a feel for what it would be like to lift heavy on unsteady ground. Lifting on the field was just like the gymnastics mat - you just had to keep your weight mid foot and focus on balancing everything just right. 

My first attempt was 245#. Nailed it. I was required to drop the weight from overhead (not back onto my shoulders). Then clean the barbell, re-rack it, and prepare for my next lift. Next... I went for 265#. Boom. Nailed it. With 90 seconds left... I decided to go for 275#. This was a PR for me. Got it done and took 3rd in the event (beating the people I needed to stay ahead of). I actually didn't even need to hit 275... but in the moment, I didn't know that. I wasn't going to leave any stone unturned.

Two minutes later... Event 2 started.

Event 2: Bicouplet 1

12-9-6 reps:
Snatches 135#
Bar muscle-up
8:00 Time Cap

This event was a blast! This is in my wheelhouse for both movements and strategy. I new that this workout would require pacing and intentional breaks in order to avoid redlining (having to stop because of muscle failure). I planned and executed the snatches as single reps (no touch and go here). And broke up the Muscle ups into two sets (7/5 and 5/4) on the first two rounds and 6 unbroken to finish. 

The finish line for this event was 70 yards down the field. I booked down the field after my last muscle up and found that there was only one other guy down there (Robbie). Robbie's performance in this event helped him climb to a podium spot only to lose that spot months later after testing positive for PEDs.

My time: 4:56 (2nd place)

I was cooked. The field was hot... I just wanted to lay down and recover. However at the 8:00 time cap... there was a 1 minute reset... then event 3.

Event 3: Bicouplet 2

21-15-9 reps:
Snatches 85#
Chest-to-bar pull-ups
8:00 Time Cap

This workout looks simple on paper... but the fatigue from the previous two events (and two days of competition) made this workout an absolute burner. 

My plan was to break the snatches and pull ups into 3 sets (7,7,7 then 5,5,5, then 3,3,3). After my first set of seven snatches... I knew there was no way I'd be able to keep that pace. My game plan got tossed out and I did random numbers of sets just to get through! Same game plan on the chest to bar pull ups got thrown out. 

Regardless... I pushed and pushed... by the time cap, I has just 8 pull ups to go. I was spent, fried, pouring sweat, and experiencing the metallic iron taste that comes when I push myself to the absolute end of my capacity.

I took 4th in the event. 

As I walked down the field towards the exit, I hoped that I had done enough to earn a spot on the podium. I hoped that I had done good enough - that I hadn't disappointed anyone. It was a slow walk. I was tired - and the adrenaline was gone. 

After the final event (just as in 2018), all competitors are ushered to a room to await the results of the competition - then the top 4 are immediately taken for drug testing. 

I remember sitting there, anxious to know... and it took a very long 20 minutes before a judge came over with a scrap of paper with the results. She started with 4th place (Cain). Then 3rd (Robby). Then 2nd (Richard). 

When my name wasn't in the 4th, 3rd, or 2nd place spot, I swear that I had a mini panic attack thinking that I didn't even get 4th place. Then... she said it, 1st place - Jason Grubb. It was unreal. 

Off for drug testing (it was actually my second test of the Games... as I was also randomly drug tested on day 1).

Then the award ceremony for the 40-44 year old category.