An Open Letter to the Metropolis Queens

Ladies,

Tomorrow is the eagerly anticipated Hail to the Queen 2013 competition.  I am proud and excited to be heading back to this competition with such an amazing team of CrossFit Metropolis women - we've come a long way from the early days when EJ, Sandy and I braved this event on our own.  

The advice I want to offer is not my own.  It comes from the early days of CrossFit Metropolis when these rules were written in chalk down at the corner of the blackboard:

1. Introduce yourself - shake hands w strangers and friends
2. Give it your all, but don't take yourself or the WOD too seriously
3. Celebrate achievement - yours and others
4. Enjoy yourself

Eric's "house rules" formed cornerstone of everything that Metropolis was, is and should be.  Take them with you tomorrow.

Introduce yourself - shake hands w strangers and friends

We're CrossFitters.  We compete every single day at the box.  Events like this are special in part because they are as much about community as they are about competition.  Our Metropolis community belongs to a larger CrossFit community - and it's a pretty incredible thing to be a part of.  Take the opportunity to meet people from other boxes.  Cheer on the random girl next to you.  Reach out to the girls who aren't traveling in a pack.  Someday you may venture to a competition alone - so share the love.

Give it your all, but don't take yourself or the WOD too seriously

You all train damn hard.  You owe it to yourselves to give it your best tomorrow.  Focus, stay positive and dig deep.  Give it everything you've got so that, at the end of the day, you know you did your best.

And if it doesn't work out the way you're hoping, shake it off.  There will always be another WOD to conquer tomorrow, and another competition to look forward to.  

Celebrate achievement - yours and others

Only two women will "win" tomorrow - and I hope they're both from Metropolis - but every one of us will have an achievement to celebrate.  Having the balls to compete is worth celebrating.  Being part of this incredible team is worth celebrating.  The one really awesome WOD, the unbroken set, the perfect snatch - let's make sure we celebrate all of those things.

In our early days, we didn't send the biggest groups to local competitions - but we've always sent the loudest.  When a Metropolis woman is competing, let's make sure that she hears our cheering.

Enjoy yourself

Duh.  Let's make this an awesome day.

In short, be Metropolis tomorrow and all will go well.

-Coach Gym Belle-

PS -There was also something on the old blackboard about remembering to flush.  Keep in mind that tomorrow's event is an all women's event.  Expect long lines at the ladies' rooms.