Yesterday I accomplished a goal I’ve been waiting a long time to do.

I got my first, shortly followed by my second, muscle-up.  It took me 2.5 years of to get there.

Why so long?  One word – FEAR.

When I started CrossFit 2.5 years ago, I remember watching guys doing muscle-ups on the rings thinking it must be nearly impossible for a girl to be strong enough to do one.  A few months after that first day, a girl I didn’t know walked into the gym and did not one, but many in a workout.  I was speechless.  And, for the first time I thought, “I could do that.”

So, I began to ask questions, practice movements, and build strength.  One day I asked for help in working an assisted muscle-up on the high rings.  For the first time I found myself at the top looking down realizing how high up I was.  Did I mention I am afraid of heights?

Other girls who I’d trained with began to get their muscle-ups and I became embarrassed that I didn’t have mine yet.  I would grab the high rings and try in vain.  These attempts would always end in failure and I would  leave feeling unsuccessful and discouraged.   Fear was holding me back.

This week, for the first time in a long time, I devoted a few minutes of my training to working the different parts of the muscle up.  The sternum injury I’ve been battling finally seemed to be on the mend, and for the first time ever I felt real power in the movement.  The only thing left to do was grab those high rings and make it real.  Yesterday I chose to trust my body, trust my training, trust my coaches and not to let fear get in the way.

I didn’t get a muscle-up on my first try, or even my third, but every time I tried I felt myself get a little closer.  I didn’t get discouraged, I just kept trying and trusting.  I got my muscle-up.

If you chose not to be afraid, what could you accomplish today?

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