photo courtesy of Crossfitter and future Crossfit Games Winner Megan Burdine 7/22/13
Have you ever said, "I can't"? Of course you have. This little pistol of a woman is my inspiration. Take a look at this pint-sized powerhouse. She's a ginger, and she's got the edgy spark in her personality to support it. She's 125 lbs, and she lifts more than a lot of adult lifting men. She's a relentless competitor, and one of the friendliest, most easy-going people you will meet.
Sharon is smack dab in the middle of the 2013 Crossfit Games - she's no stranger to it, she was there last year too. But this year, she's got her eye on the winner's stand, and she's only a few events away from stamping her name all over it. Crossfit, Shmossfit you say... This competition represents the fittest "normal people" on Earth. Ok, most Crossfitters aren't exactly normal, but that applies to our general thought processes. I'm talking about parents, co-workers, brothers, sisters and friends. Not olympic athletes, not athletic prodigies, just people that go to a different gym. Sharon is a realtor. She helps people buy and sell homes for a living. When she's not driving a home buyer around to find their picket fence, she's clean and jerking, pulling, pushing, jumping or climbing.
She also celebrated a big birthday this past year. She's 60. Think of the 60 year olds you know. Ok, forget that, think of the 50, 40 and 30 year olds you know. She defies any number, allowing strength, power, and dedication to rule out agey aches, pains, fat, muscle loss, and weakness. How does she do it? She dedicates herself to her workouts, has excellent trainers in Amanda, Dave, and the other coaches at Crossfit Frederick, and kicks up the serious factor when competitions get close. She doesn't live like the Amish. She has a boat and enjoys that life when she can. She has a cocktail or two with her friends. She eats well most of the time but might have a cheat here and there. She just keeps everything in check and pushes, pushes, pushes herself.
I admire most that she makes a decision to compete and does not give up. She has a wonderful husband, Ted, who supports her and is always right there at her events.
Look at that other beasty handsome husband in the background - who does he belong to?
As she started this journey to the games, in the Crossfit Open, I had the [pleasure?] of doing Open 13.5 RIGHT. NEXT. TO. SHARON. Needless to say, she advanced, while most of us, err, did not. The Open starts with 10s of thousands of Crossfitters around the world, and narrows it down to the best of the best, allowing only the strongest and fittest to head out to California to compete. She's there right now, with two more days of competing ahead of her.
So, Sharon, Go Get IT!! You make all of us Crossfit Frederick proud. Even the live announcers said, "Like a Boss," as you pulled that 70 lb. sled across the grass and back like it was a bag of feathers. We are humbled by you yet basking in your success right along with you. You have a great group from CFF out there supporting you. Next year, I hope to be another screechy screamer in the actual crowd for you - I'm confident that the hollerers there for you this year are loud enough without me.
If anyone hasn't seen her events, go to www.games.crossfit.com or you can watch the video of the push/drag/pull event here: http://games.crossfit.com/video/push-drag-pull-women-60-heat-1-2. Sharon, you continue to inspire me - now I'm gonna get off my computer-staring butt and go do some thrusters and runs.
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