I'm pretty thrifty. In fact, one of my friends always used to tease me about a shopping trip
we went on years ago. I was holding up a shirt and said "I like it. But, I don't like it for 20 dollars." That's as honest as I can be and described my shopping to a tee. Marshalls, Gordman's, TJMaxx, Ebay.....I want nice things-at cost. Then, I started to CrossFit.
I started like anyone else. Just too plain tired to really give a shit what I was wearing. Crappy t-shirts became 'gym clothes' before they hit the garage sale pile. I also didn't focus a lot of attention on my hair and make-up prior to going to the gym. This hasn't changed. 'Gym Nicole' looks like my strung out twin sister who may or may not ask you for a dollar. Then I watched the 2010 CrossFit Games.....
These ladies didn't look like very fit, strong homeless women. Their outfits were......cute. Coordinated. Not old maternity shirts with baby food stains. Did these things exist? I looked for that Nike swoop-did anyone else make work-out clothes? These were world class athletes and they weren't just "Doing it". THEN, I spotted the Omega. It was tiny and on all the shorts, tanks and bras. A tiny silver beacon, beckoning my name...
To Google! It must be a nod to these nut jobs and their love of Omega-3/fish oils. Wow. That's dedication. But no.....and I gave up my search.
Fast forward to the 2010 HOA Challenge. I'm seeing the omega everywhere, so I ask this chick in a BEAUTIFUL hoodie "Hey, what is the brand that you are wearing? I'm seeing it everywhere today."
"Lululemon."
Lululemon. It just sounds wonderful, doesn't it?
"Do they sell it around here?"
"Sure. There is a store at Plaza Frontenac and they are online."
So, I looked online. And, that Christmas, my wonderful, supportive crossfitter husband gave me some Lulu of my own. Now, he's not married to the homeless lady at the Box and I'm not wearing a breastfeeding bra to WOD. Everybody wins.
And, then I pr'd in my Lulu. And I'm superstitious. I need more Lulu.
So, when I went to my Level 1 Cert., I visited my 1st Lululemon store. I was feeling pretty great, having just passed my exam and thought "Hey! I'll buy one of those hoodies! To remember this weekend."
Now, this was above and beyond my normal level of spending-remember, I'm thrifty-BUT, I was celebrating. Then, an important chain of events followed.
#1. Husband called. "Where are you at?"
me-"A Lululemon store. I may buy a hoodie to celebrate...."
husband-"Yeah, you should. Get some other stuff too, if you want."
me-"Yeah, I might. It's pretty salty, though."
#2 Then, the sales associate came up.
"Did I hear that you are celebrating?"
me-"Yes, I just passed my certification to become a CrossFit instructor."
Lady Lulu-"You know, you get a discount as a CrossFit instructor."
No. No, I did not.
An hour later, I was sitting in my car in their parking lot. Just sitting there. Staring into space-dazed and confused. What have I done? Who was this person with bags upon bags of Lulu in her mom-car? I've never spent so much on so little in my life. And, I drove home.
And, it happens every time I go into a Lululemon. I think they pump in extra oxygen with just a smidgen of meth. I thank goodness that the nearest store is 4 hours away. I can control my urges online. But, not when that Luon touches my skin...
But, I felt SPEC-FUCKING-TACULAR in my Lulu. And then, I expanded my CrossFit clothing horizons. Inov-8s, the new Minimus shoes, Life as Rx'd shirts, Rokfit, Lovefit, 2Pood, more Converse. So many tube socks, my lesbian friends are envious. My most recent addition: a kettlebell tattoo.
The main focus of CrossFit is strength and conditioning, nutrition, discipline and community. But, I have a theory. We lift like men, we spend our days with weight lifting chalk all over us, our palms are callused, rough and quite often bloody. It's a hot, sweaty enviorment with metal music, some vomit, a few cuss words and lots of emotion. And, my cute WOD gear makes me feel like a girl. I need it.
I'm not too keen on all the new CrossFit clothes on mainsite-nothing against Reebok-I just like my Lulu.
I do LOVE that they used CrossFitters as models, though.
I think that we need Reebok. CrossFit has grown so fast in the last few years-beyond the expectation of the founders, I believe. And, in order to facilitate the needs of all the new athletes, we needed a big sponsor-aka $$$$$$$$$. No one thinks about how much it would have sucked if people who wanted to compete in Sectionals couldn't, due to the sheer volume of athletes. It grew so big, so fast. I have a lot of confidence in the people at HQ-they've done pretty well and have taken us to this point. They are the delegates, if you will, for our community. I wish people would put more trust in that. If you want to complain, go ahead. I think they(HQ) thought it through very well. I find it hard to bitch about a program that is busting it's ass to try and make EVERYONE happy-you just can't. But, they're trying. But, I do prefer the 'grassroots' clothes. The witty affiliate shirts, the speed shorts etc.
And, I don't agree with all the complaining about the Reebok Games uniforms. If I was lucky enough to make it to the Games, you could put me back in a nursing bra and a Wham t-shirt. I'd just feel happy to be there. That's on a whole other level than what you wear to the Box. Paid=professional. The winners will be paid well. Plus, it's just a weekend. I'm willing to bet that if you ask a top 20 athlete if they care, they don't. I put that on the same level as complaining about side boob
or bare bottom pictures on mainsite. Get over it. If I was at HQ, I'd post a picture of a scrotum sack on a kettlebell, just to weed out the elitists and complainers. But, that's me.
I'm not expecting any job offers from HQ in the near future. :)
I just want to drink my kool-aid enjoy the 2011 Games, like the rest of us.
And, I plan on it. I'm going to kick back on my couch and watch the athletes, the crowds and the update shows-in my Lulu-and just be inspired.
And. maybe get some ideas for a new outfit or two....
Let's face it. I'm not a top 20 Games athlete or a clothing model, but cute clothes make you feel happy. And, I believe in the power on Luon.
