The Dread

When M told me about her (second ever) WOD at CrossFit Palo Alto this morning, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Her class (along with all other Tuesday classes) did "Uphill Fran" today -- and given that I'm a Monday/Wednesday/Friday guy, I missed it.

Uphill Fran is our gym's twist on CrossFit's signature workout, turning the Fran formula of 21-15-9 thrusters and pull-ups on its head. Oh, and it also adds 3 rounds of 400 meter sprints for good measure. Here's what Uphill Fran looks like:

• Run 400 meters
• 9 barbell thrusters
• 9 pull-ups
• Run 400 meters
• 15 barbell thrusters
• 15 pull-ups
• Run 400 meters
• 21 barbell thrusters
• 21 pull-ups

As with most CrossFit WODs, the mere thought of Uphill Fran gets me both excited and nauseous. So on the one hand, a (very small) part of me was jealous that M got to try this workout before I did -- but a much bigger part of me was relieved that I didn't have to suffer through it today. In the end, I'm happy to kick back and enjoy my off day.

After all, as Freddy from CrossFit One World pointed out, rest days are important not just for your body, but for your head:

The rest day is your day to get your mind fresh again. Think about that anxiety you get when you first read what the workout is. We often experience what I like to call "The Dread." Nervousness, anxiety, making up excuses on why you don't need to workout that day..."The Dread" can kick your ass. We need that rest day to get a break from "The Dread." I don't know about you, but I never experience "The Dread" while I am contemplating sitting on my couch and watching "So You Think You Can Dance" reruns on my TIVO.

I don't know about the "So You Think You Can Dance" part, but I'm certainly glad The Dread won't kick in until 5 a.m. tomorrow.