Beast Mode: SweatFest in Lane 101

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Our Zumba family by the athletes’ area, where we found Audrey applying ice on her thighs. (Hannah Victoria Wabe)
CAGAYAN DE ORO. Our Zumba family by the athletes’ area, where we found Audrey applying ice on her thighs. (Hannah Victoria Wabe)

LAST Saturday, my zumba mommies and I were invited by our fellow sister, Kimberly Parrel-Roa, to the annual SweatFest. It was held right by the Roa Family’s Lane 101 commercial compound and hosted by Crossfit Cagayan.

We all came in matching zumba shirts to show our full love and support for our two girls, Audrey Ramos and Charish Bitaizar.

Most of the mommies who were present skipped Zumba class to be a part of the cheering squad. For the few who attended a dance class, they did not finish the session to make it in time for the SweatFest event. The beautiful thing about zumba is that it is more than just physical fitness.

We mommies share happy vibes when we “party” to melt both our fats and the negative vibes away. The mommy camaraderie extends off the dance floor. It doesn’t even matter how long we’ve know each other, but we all share a bond because deep down, we are all the same! Even if we are busy with work, family, hobbies, and other obligations, we all still keep on pushing to give life our best shot. And of course, life feels better when we’re dancing!

For many of us in the group, this was our first time to witness a crossfit competition. In all honesty, just looking at the crossfit athletes doing the tough challenges outdoors in the sweltering heat of the sun made us (the viewers) really tired. And what more the competitors! Beast mode was definitely ON. The gruelling workouts not only tested endurance and physical limits, but they also challenged mental prowess and character. Who has the will and resilience to go on in spite of the pain?

And true enough, our two zumba sisters showed beyond reasonable doubt that they both have the grit. Charish is a newbie who had the guts to stick it out and commit to joining. For someone who just started crossfit training a month ago, she suffered some setbacks but still managed to do well. Honestly, she wanted to pull-out a few days before the event, but she still managed to push forth even if she was afraid. Now, that is real courage.

Our other sister Audrey, also showed she is made of strong mettle. Don’t let her small and lithe frame fool you! She can carry a 120pound barbell.

In the first round, comprised of several sets of lunges and squats while carrying a 25kilo dumbbell, she was seconds away from finishing her task. She was actually leading that heat, but unfortunately, she suffered major cramps on her thigh area causing her to fall down twice. Nevertheless, she tried her hardest and got back-up.

We met up with Audrey in the athlete’s area, where she was busy applying ice on her thighs. Her husband, Ironman Joel was massaging her legs and giving her a pep talk. She was looking pale and drained. That’s why I was surprised when she told me there were two more rounds that she had to do at a much later time. If it were anyone else, they would have thrown in the towel. And like the true athlete that Auds is, she didn’t give up!

She was able to win the sled round after the break—which requires pulling a set of very heavy metal weights three times (200m run, with basic sled; 200m run, 45lbs sled; 200m run, 90lbs sled). And what’s nice about Audrey, she wasn’t only doing it to gain a medal. She was clearly having fun. She wanted to be an example to her 3 girls who came to watch her: that it’s not always about winning but how you try your best and enjoy the process. All of us honestly believe she could have been number 1 if not for the cramps in the first heat. In spite of that, she cinched the gold in our eyes.

I also have to note here that it was a pleasure to watch Auds because her number one cheerer is her husband, Ironman Joel Ramos. It really tugged at my heartstrings because in the event where she fell on the floor, he immediately rushed nearer to be in her line of vision. He was shouting encouraging words to her and assuring her that everything would be alright. It was really a sight to behold! It’s an affirmation that marriage works if you are a team who love, believe, and support one another.

The SweatFest is something that all of us should watch and experience at least once in our life. There are many inspiring personalities and many lessons to be learned even just by watching. Most of the crossfit athletes there noted that their efforts are not just for the event but their way of life. Pushing themselves to their limits teaches them more about themselves.

Congratulations to those who earned a medal and to those who competed in the Sweatfest. In whatever endeavor we embark on, we never lose—either we win or we learn.

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