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This year I have competed more often than in the past, most recently in the December 14th NLI Battleground III competition. The NLI is a SoCal competition series that I have participated in numerous times and at this event I was able to hop on the podium with a solid third place finish. I’m happy with the performance especially in the Snatch ladder event. The lifts started at 165# and went up to 235#. I was able to clear the ladder easily to get a first place finish in that event. I felt amazing through the full ladder, I wish they had left me some time at the end of the event to add weight and maybe hit a Snatch PR! The rest of the events went well also, I was especially happy with my 3rd place spot on a max rep deficit handstand push up floater event that in the past would have been tough for me. This year is all about crushing weaknesses and building my strengths. Next up: the 2014 OC Throwdown and Wodapalooza! BUTTER!

I’m excited to share this awesome post by my little brother and coach, Jonathan Kinnick. Such a great insight into CrossFit and life and how many parallels can be found between the two. Love this!

“This is what CrossFit has taught me about life:

ALL people have weaknesses. Most people are content to hide them or downplay them, focusing the attention instead on their strengths. CrossFit challenges us to identify our weaknesses, and work hard to turn them into strengths. Whatever your “goats” may be, find them, and work on them. Whether it be strength, flexibility, or double-unders, don’t avoid them, don’t ignore them.

The same is true in life. We each have our own struggles. It may be anger. It may be bitterness, or resentment. We may be judgmental, or selfish, or self-righteous. But if we soberly examine ourselves, we can identify these shortcomings and work to address them. And we should.

I expect my coaches to care enough about me to point out the chinks in my armor. I expect my friends to care enough to point out the flaws in my character. Not in order to tear me down, but to allow me to grow. And that’s a rare and difficult thing. It takes tact, and empathy, and compassion.

Granted, some people come into the gym so beaten down physically and mentally that they don’t need anyone to tell them how terrible they are. They already know. They need someone to lift them up. Someone to encourage them on their air squat progress and point out how awesome it is that they showed up.

And that’s where some people are in life, too. They are so overwhelmed with their shortcomings, they can barely function. They don’t need someone to point out their flaws. They need to be loved. They need to be encouraged. They need to be lifted up.

They need hope.

It’s the responsibility of good coaches, and decent humans, to recognize where someone is, and act accordingly.”