Since today was the third and final day of the 2014 CrossFit Games Masters competition it seems like the perfect time to sit down with CSC's own Games Masters qualifier, Sarah Ralston. This year Sarah finished The Open in 27th place in the world to earn the right to participate in the Masters Qualifer, where she finished where she finished 17th. Her efforts earned her an opportunity to compete at The Games in Carson, California. An invitation that Sarah unfortunately had to decline.
In this brief interview we discuss CrossFit, why she chose not to compete at The Games and her motivation for training.
Q: What did it mean for you to qualify for the 2014 CrossFit Games?
Sarah: To be honest I didn’t expect to qualify, so it was a happy surprise to be in the top 20.
Q: Was making the Games a goal of yours?
In this brief interview we discuss CrossFit, why she chose not to compete at The Games and her motivation for training.
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| (Sarah and Megan) |
Q: What did it mean for you to qualify for the 2014 CrossFit Games?
Sarah: To be honest I didn’t expect to qualify, so it was a happy surprise to be in the top 20.
Q: Was making the Games a goal of yours?
Sarah: Not specifically; I wanted to do the best I could in the Open and the
Masters Qualifier, and not have any expectations for the outcome.
Q: What did it take to reach this level athletically?
Sarah: I have to hand it to the coaches
and athletes at CSC on this one - all I do is show up and do what I’m
told (yes, Adam really DOES know best). I am not a trainer and I would
have no idea what to do if it weren’t for the coaches helping me and
pushing me every day. I do the regular gym programming and the extra
Olympic lifting programming and work on skills as I have time. Plus
nothing is more motivating than a great (and always fun) group of people
to work out with!
Sarah: It’s hard not to get caught up in all the hype surrounding The Open/Masters Qualifying WODs, so I kept reminding myself that The Open is supposed to be FUN, and when it stops being fun, I am missing the point. I gave each Wod my best effort and left it at that. Adam, JB, and everyone at CSC were especially great - we all pushed each other to do our best. As a result, I think everyone exceeded even their own expectations and had fun at the same time!
Q: So
obviously the Games are happening right now and you're not in
California. Why did you decide not to accept the invitation to compete?
Q: What's the secret with the leg sleeve? Does it give you super human power?
Q: What was your mindset during The Open and the Masters Qualifier?
Sarah: It’s hard not to get caught up in all the hype surrounding The Open/Masters Qualifying WODs, so I kept reminding myself that The Open is supposed to be FUN, and when it stops being fun, I am missing the point. I gave each Wod my best effort and left it at that. Adam, JB, and everyone at CSC were especially great - we all pushed each other to do our best. As a result, I think everyone exceeded even their own expectations and had fun at the same time!
Sarah: There
are two reasons. First, I had the unique chance (and had already
committed) to go on a Buddhist Pilgrimage trip to Mongolia this summer
with the Buddhist group I belong to, and I wasn’t able to do both.
Second, I have a knee injury that wasn’t healing, and I didn’t want to
risk it getting worse with all the extra training I’d be doing for the
Games.
Q: What's the plan for going into 2015?
Sarah: After
this Year’s first ever Masters Qualifier, and seeing the Masters’
workouts at the Games, it’s obvious nothing is off the table for Masters
athletes as far as movements are concerned - so I have a big list of
things to work on for next year! It’s great to see performance
expectations for Masters athletes so high.
Q: Is there any advice that you would give other athletes (especially
masters) looking to optimize their potential and reach this type of
level?
Sarah: Thinking
about the whole ‘age’ stereotype and what we can’t do because we’re
older just holds us back. It might take us a little longer to get there,
and longer to recover, but no reason we Masters (and women) can’t be
right up there with everyone else at the gym. I definitely put more
limitations on myself than the coaches do! Countless times Adam has
‘made’ me do something I swore I couldn’t do, then has turned to me and
said ‘See? I told you so’ when I surprised myself by doing it!
Q: Who is your biggest CrossFit influence?
Sarah: 'The
Todd', obviously. That boy can deadlift #550 and back squat #475 on a
diet of HunnyBuns and Old Crow. His Burpee-Naps are unparalleled. What’s
not to admire about that?
We could never ask for a better representative for our gym and the people we seek to surround ourselves with. Thank you Sarah - for smiling every day and inspiring everyone who meets you. Don't worry, we're not telling which Masters age group!
Do you have questions for Sarah? Shoot them to info@crossfitsixthcity.com. We will ask her and add them to this post!
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| (Thrusters in Open WOD 14.5) |
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| (Wall balls in Masters Qualifier) |
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| (Pull-ups in Masters Qualifier) |
Reader Questions
Q: What's the secret with the leg sleeve? Does it give you super human power?
Sarah: Haha I was it was a bionic leg! The sleeve is actually to cover a full-leg compression sock. I have chronic swelling in my calf/ankle/foot from an old injury and the compression helps with this (and leg pain) when I workout.
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