Valley CrossFit - New Location!

5pm class at VCF!

On our way to Carson for the 2012 CrossFit Games (post to come soon), six of us from NorCal CrossFit decided to hit a WOD at Valley CrossFit, just like last year!  I really wanted to stop by because every time I've been here, I had a ton of fun, learned new things, and got to play with some cool new equipment that we don't have at our gym.  But on top of that, I really wanted to see the new location in person!

We arrived here way earlier than expected and the gym was actually closed.  Just as we were about to leave to checkout CrossFit Mean Streets, one of the trainers pulls in and lets us in.  Great timing!!  They let us hang around and do our own thing for a bit until the 5pm class.  So many new equipment to play with!  They now have ski ergs, the Rogue Cannonball grips and the giant basketball-size version of that, Rogue matador, watt bikes, 30# med balls, and a section of the Killer Kage!  I'm sure I missed a bunch, too.

Congratulations Jason!

Jason Khalipa - 5th place overall at the 2012 CrossFit Games!!!

Congratulations to our trainer, Jason Khalipa, for finishing fifth place overall at the 2012 CrossFit Games!!!!  After a rough start that put him in 19th place coming into Saturday, Jason went beast mode and placed 2nd place on four of the five workouts later that day.  A huge and impressive comeback!  By the end of Saturday, he was in 4th place!  Jason killed it and his performance was phenomenal!  J's got a lot of heart and determination, for sure.  It is his best finish yet since winning the games in 2008.

Over 200 members from our gym came down to Carson last weekend to support him.  Many more watched it live at home.  Down at the Home Depot Center, we went all out: Khalipa t-shirts, cutout letters, posters, body paint, and even a life size (well it was as tall as me) cutout of Jason's face.  Haha, Jason's #1 fan club and support group.

2012 Redwood Empire Olympic Weightlifting Championships

Colin, Liz and I representing NorCal CrossFit @ the Redwood Empire Championships

Last week I competed in the 2012 Redwood Empire Olympic Weightlifting Competition, hosted by Myles Ahead Weightlifting.  This was my first oly meet I've been to and competed in so that was interesting.  Getting up on stage alone to do a lift in a singlet with all eyes on me was pretty nerve-racking.  Regardless, I learned a lot and I am glad I did it.  It was nice to establish a baseline total.  

The venue was pretty cool.  It was at La Plaza Park in Cotati.  The "stage" was in a gazebo and there were haystacks scattered around it for seats.  The competition started at around 9:30am and went until night time.  Lightweight women and masters went first, then lightweight men and masters, followed by heavyweight.  Weigh in for each class started 2 hours before.  Unfortunately, I missed my intended weight class by 1kg.  No big deal though, as I still lifted with the little kiddies.

Redwood Empire Championships: Results 2012 | 2012 Info | Results 2011
2012 PWA Schedule

Roasted Chicken with Black Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms

The best homemade Primal chicken dish ever.

I absolutely love mushrooms, especially wild exotic ones and I have been meaning to make a Primal dish that can really showcase the flavors.  The problem with wild mushrooms is that they are hard to get a hold of, let alone fresh.

Last week, while in Santa Rosa, I stumbled upon some dried Porcini and Morel mushrooms for a reasonable price at Savory Spice Shop (btw, best spice shop ever).  An ounce of dried Porcini mushrooms costed me about $8 and $16 for Morels.  This would have probably costed me much more at Whole Foods, if they even had any.  I also had some canned whole black truffles from my trip to Italy.  With Truffles, Morels, and Porcini mushrooms all in stock, I was prepared to create some glorious wild mushroom dishes.

This is, hands down, the most awesome homemade chicken dish I have ever made.  Thanks to a combined effort with Colin, another foodie.  The entire chicken alone (including the breast), was so soft, tender, juicy, and full of flavor!  Even better than the gourmet Rotisserie chicken at Calafia or RoliRoti.  Covered with the awesome truffle and Porcini sauce, it was no joke, super mouth-watering!

Progress / Memorial Day Murph

Me after doing Murph on Memorial Day 2012.

I go to the gym daily, Monday through Saturday.  I usually do some strength work and/ or skills practice and then the class.  This is my gym routine, and with routines, at least for me, sometimes it is hard to see my progress or how much I have improved since x date, especially if I do it every day.
About a month ago, it came to my attention, how much I have improved in one year.  Like most CrossFit gyms, we too did Murph on Memorial Day.  Conveniently, the last time we did Murph was also around that time last year (05-07-2011, to be exact).  I've done Murph twice since starting CrossFit in January 2011.