I love hearing athlete testimonials!  I told you at the AWOD's that we literally stop our day when we receive one here at the office and pass it around to all the staff.  We know that if you guys aren't getting life changing results from our program then we are just focused on the wrong things here at the corporate office.

Well, here is a testimonial that really struck me and I wanted to share if with each of you as well.  I also want to give a huge shout out to Karen, Luan and all of our amazing coaches and volunteers who made Tribal Wars II an enormous success!

Thanks Brad for the vote of confidence.

Forrest

The Day After Tribal Wars
By Brad Hawley

As I sit here with my knee throbbing and everything from hip down feeling as though it has been beaten with a hammer, I realize something very important.  I have a long way to go.  You see, I came into Iron Tribe as what I considered a fairly decent athlete.  One that has completed numerous triathlons, endurance runs, and could also seriously compete with guys 10 years my younger on a football field, basketball court, or even in a snowboard terrain park.  Simply, I have always felt capable and confident when it has come to physical activity.  After completing the 101 course at Iron Tribe, I still had a sense of confidence that probably border-lined cockiness.  It didn’t take long for that to change.

I have now been a member of Iron Tribe Fitness for 6 months and my perspective is entirely different than what I would have expected.  I have realized that while Iron Tribe markets itself as a gym that can create one’s best possible physical self, it is much more than that.  The real product is an absolute and clearly defined “changed life” that encompasses one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well being. 

As I drove to yesterday’s Tribal Wars event, I felt as though our team would compete well and may even have a chance to finish with a top ranking.  While a 7^th place finish does not satisfy the competitive side in me, it does stir an important emotion that will make me push harder and harder.  Humility.  A feeling that I am sure most have had as new and also experienced crossfitters.  Yesterday, however, I experienced humility with subsequent awe.  You see, yesterday I witnessed strength, talent, and desire like I have rarely seen.  People lifting more weight than they should be lifting, running faster than they ever have, and enduring pain all because they are striving to be their best, both as individuals and as contributors to a team’s larger goal. 

Iron Tribe is unique.  I travel a lot for work and have been afforded the opportunity to visit a number of other boxes both in the US and in other countries.  While crossfit generally seems to unite people into common objectives, there is nothing like the atmosphere that our management and training team are creating at Iron Tribe.  There are subtleties that I have noticed and am now trying to not take for granted.  In addition to my appreciation for the organization, the use of technology, the branding, and the talent in our coaching staff, it is clear that the main purpose is to transform inner and outer selves.  The encouragement I felt yesterday from the coaches, fellow competitors, and our “fans” without a doubt made me want more.  

What I have realized is that while I badly want to beat Chuck Andrews, James Drake, Chris Rives, and Clay Conner, I am also in awe of their physical capabilities and mental toughness.  I am inspired to train harder so that I can compete at a level that gives me the opportunity to work beside them.  Someone recently wrote on the Iron Tribe blog “steel sharpening steel,” referring to Jordan coaching Robert.  This is apparent in so many levels within the Iron Tribe community.  When I WOD next to Jimmy Brady, I don’t think he realizes that he is helping me a better man.  Heck, I don’t think that I realize it.  I just want to beat him…  but only by half a second or by one pound.  The sheer fact that he and all of the other athletes are pushing themselves to their limits makes me push myself to my limit.  While this absolutely results in a stronger, faster me, it also makes me push harder in the other parts of my life.  When I am too tired to pick up my kids, provide encouragement to my wife after a hard day, or power through business travel, I know that if I can push through yesterday’s WOD, I can absolutely commit myself to life’s more important daily tasks.

Thank you Iron Tribe coaches and managers for creating an environment that fosters individual betterment.  Thanks to Tra Griifin and my team for pushing through those damn pistol squats yesterday.  Thank you to Jordan, Robert, Jessica, Clint, and Mike for getting me to today’s version of Brad Hawley.

Thank you to everyone who WODs with me on a daily basis and to everyone that inspired me through their determination at Tribal Wars.  And thanks to Lee Patterson, Warren Beason, and Julie Warren, a few “OGers,” for having this newbie on your team.  Every day, I plan to get a little stronger and a little faster.   

Watch your back Chris Groban.  Next year I am gunning for you.  

I've had the unique opportunity to be on both sides of the fence at the first two Tribal Wars. Last year as a competitor and this year as a coach. I joined Iron Tribe in March of last year and shortly there after was the 1st ever Tribal Wars event. Being the competitor that I am I knew I wanted to compete because I thrive on competition and I believe that competition brings out the best in all of us.

Being on the competition side I never really worried about or focused on what others around me were doing. My team and I were trying to come up with strategies that would put us in the best position to win. I really didn't get a chance to see what others were doing or be a part of it while the competition was going on.

Fast forward 1 year... I'm now sitting on the other side of the fence as a coach and a judge (Sorry to the athletes who were getting upset with me for no repping them on the pistol squats). This gave me an opportunity not just to judge the competition, but to see how different teams were working as a group to for a common goal.

This past Saturday gave me a little more perspective of how awesome this event was. I've been involved in team sports my whole life and one of the main things i love about competing with a team is the accountability. Not only going hard because internally I just can't give up, but going hard because my team expects it from me.

I hope everybody in attendance, competitors and spectators, had an awesome time because I know the whole staff did. If you weren't able to compete I promise it's worth coming out and doing it because you may do things you never thought you'd be able to do. Not just because you're wanting to set records for yourself, but because you have 3 other people wanting you to accomplish the same thing. So go ahead and start planning your team for next year because it'll be even bigger.

Mike C.

Well, I was going to blog about the entire Tribal Wars event, but I don't wanna.

I do however want to discuss some of the triumphs I heard about! It is amazing, competition really does bring out the best in people. Robert always says that these competitions will do more to help you improve than anything. I wouldn't know because I have never actually done it, but I certainly saw evidence that proved him right at Tribal Wars. (That's right, Robert. I said it. You were right.)

For starters, I saw several women that had never done a pistol squat in their life, knock out a ton of them! Michelle did one and then looked completely shocked that she did, and then did more and more. (Jess saw this, so Michelle, you will be pistol squatting from here on out....FYI.)

And tons of people PR'd. Amy Young got a personal record with her Rack to Overhead by about 15lbs, if my math and memory serve. David Morris hit a big PR as well. As well as many many others.

That was really great to see.

I also had friend who was really disappointed with her first WOD and felt really defeated and then pulled it together and KILLED her second WOD. I mean she did all her DU's unbroken, from what I remember and did the GHDs like I do sit ups. I would say who this is, but she doesn't like a lot of attention drawn to her, so we'll just call her "Pandi Batterson". This person is a friend of mine, I would like to honor her privacy. You understand. 

Anyway, it just goes to show you that you never really know what you're made of until you truly test it.

Although my husband took this a little too seriously. He told me from the start that he was not going to let go of the bar on toes to bar during the last 50 seconds for anything. He didn't really plan on the bar letting go of him. But these things happen. (He's fine, but he can only walk in a circle and bangs his head against the wall every time the phone rings - other than that you could never tell he fell on his head.)

I may even actually compete in something one of these days. I am THAT inspired. Hey, stranger things have happened....Like Martin thinking he can do Toes-to-bar for 5 solid minutes like some sort of spider monkey. (Seriously, what's wrong with him?)

It was a great event, and as always, Luan (with Karen!) keeps his perfect record of awesome events in tact. Luan, you're the best! Everybody had a great time!

Blessings,

Gates

Philippians 4:13

Hey Tribe! 

     I hope you are all recovering from the incredible Tribal Wars competition this past weekend. I honestly can't remember the last time I was this sore! Totally worth it though. Thanks ITF for an awesome competition and tribe fellowship-y'all went above and beyond!

     Here's the thing Tribe. I joined Iron Tribe last September, and I am addicted. And I know that you are too; you can't help but love it. So, if you enjoyed the weekend as much as I did, or if you missed out and are kicking yourself for not participating, I want to challenge you to consider your second chance. I'm sure being around ITF you've heard of the garage games, right? Well May 26th, there is a garage game in Atlanta (see link below). The competition is bracket style triple elimination. They have already posted majority of the WODs and details for the day. Here's the thing the registration fee increases tomorrow 5/15. In other words, check out the link below and get yourself registered! I've only competed in one other garage game, but it made me love crossfit even more. And don't think that you're not ready for a "garage game." Trust me, you are! This past weekend, Luan and the ITF gang delivered a competition way more challenging than the garage game I participated in this past February. Plus, there's a RX and a scaled division, so no excuses. There is also a Braves home game against the Nationals the Friday night before. You can make it a weekend trip. Sarah Pigg, Mallory Pope, and I are! Anyway, check it out, register, and represent ITF on the 26th at the South Atlanta Showdown. If you want more details, want to carpool, or want to know where we're staying etc. just shoot me an email at craig.lucinda@gmail.com. What are you waiting for Tribe? I know you want more!

http://www.thegaragegames.com/events/south-atlanta-showdown/