Saturday morning, a pack of vehicles caravanned from Norcal Strength and Conditioning to Level 10 CrossFit in Oroville.  The crew: 10 anxious athletes ready to take on the challenge of their first ever strength and conditioning competition and their family/friends/coaches pumped to see the action go down.  These people put time in every week at the gym working to get stronger and healthier by throwing weight around, running laps, jumping on boxes, rowing for meters, swinging kettle bells, pushing sleds, dragging tires, throwing slam balls…the list goes on and on.  They stretch, they roll, they mobilize.  They have taken their health into their own hands and have committed to a life of eating better, exercising regularly and caring for their bodies.  The Newbie Throwdown was a way for these dedicated Norcal-ers to go show others and themselves that the effort they put forth is working.

There were 3 workouts throughout the day from which we had 5 top 3 finishes.

• The first of three workouts was 4 Rounds of 250m Row, 5 Bar-Facing Burpees, 10 Kettle bell Swings (Men 24kg, Women 16kg). Our very own John Kraus came in 3rd for the men with a time of 7:31 and Jenna Hunter came in 1st for the women with a time of 7:55.
• The 2nd workout wasRun 400m….15 Barbell Push Press (Men 95lbs, Women 55lbs), 15 Box Jumps (Men 24″, Women 20″), Run 200m, 15 Barbell Push Press, 15 Box Jumps, Run 200m, 15 Barbell Push Press, 15 Box Jumps….Run 400m.  On the men’s side, Shane Gower came in 2nd with 9:20 and Jenna Hunter took women’s 1st place with 9:02.
• The 3rd workout was a 6min AMRAP of sorts.  Every minute, on the minute the athletes had to run to the fence and back (~200ft) and then choose from 6 movements which to attempt.  They were scored with each rep of the movement counting toward the following number of points…(Pull ups 6 pts, Push ups 5 pts, Lunges 4 pts, Double Unders 3 pts, Ball Slams 2 pts, and Sit Ups 1pt).  The athletes could opt for any of the movements but couldn’t do the same movement 2 minutes in a row.  There was strategy to this workout…what movements do you choose to get you the most points but not get you to fatigue?  It was interesting to see the course that each athlete took.  For the final workout Jenna Hunter came in 2nd on the women’s side with a score of 586.

Overall we had 2 athletes that finished in the top 3….Shane Gower took 3rd for the men’s side and  Jenna Hunter took the whole shebang for the women’s side.  The pictures below show the final placings for the event.

Men’s Results 

Women’s Results

In addition to the podium finishes, Norcal was represented in style with everyone exceeding my expectations as a coach and their expectations coming into the competition.  Meeting at the gym Saturday morning, the nerves could be felt from miles away.  But once the first WOD began and adrenaline started to settle the true heart and determination of these people shined through!  The day was full of encouragement, pushing one another, and supporting one another.  There were moments that I literally had tears pouring down my cheeks because I was so proud of what each of you accomplished.  It was a day of firsts, a day of excitement and day of seeing what a family the Norcal community really is.

Matt was the other coach at the event and also has a few words for you all….

“I would just like to say to all that were in attendance to the Newbie Challenge in Oroville this past weekend that it was great to see all of you. All your smiling faces, game faces, shouts, and cheers for all the competitors who were putting their bodies to the test was awesome.  Your support helped push our athletes to their very best.  I saw things that tugged at my heart, made me laugh, inspired me, and made me very happy to be a part of our great Norcal Community here in Chico.  It was great to coach you all that competed and help you throughout the challenge.  Thanks for listening to my rambling and madness.  It cost me my voice for a few days, but it was definitely worth it.”

Thanks to all who competed and all who came out to support.  Check out some pictures below of the day’s action.

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Written by Jenny

Jenny LaBaw has been an athlete her entire life. As a 3-sport collegiate athlete, she competed in soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field. Post college she fulfilled her need for competition through endurance races ranging from 5K’s to marathons. Jenny’s athletic emphasis now is focused more on strength challenges, but she continues to be tempted by the occasional running race. Outside of competition, Jenny enjoys many outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, and camping with her boyfriend, Marcus and lab, Ziggy. With her love for sport and exercise, Jenny chose a career as a personal trainer so she could share her passion of health and fitness with others. Attending Cornell College, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education: Fitness and Wellness. Prior to Norcal, she has trained in gyms, private training studios, and coached soccer. Jenny has had an amazing opportunity to travel around the country coaching water skiers. Her 7+ years of coaching experience has allowed her to work directly with a wide variety of people; from children trying to discover their coordination to adults wanting to shed a few pounds to professional athletes looking to be the best in the world. No matter what walk of life you are coming from, Jenny’s mission is to help you realize your potential and get you there. She will prove to you that you can be stronger, more fit, and healthier than you think you can be. With her inspiration, motivation and dedication, she will challenge your body, encourage your mind, and help you to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Jenny will help you be your best!

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