Up before the sun, running shoes on, coffee in hand, and on my way to yet another competition. However, this time I was not the athlete competing. Today I supported my fellow Gem City CrossFit junkies at the Buckeye CrossFit Wodtoberfest competition, also my first experience at a formal CrossFitevent. Gem CIty had 3 teams of two participating among 60+ others. 
It’s important to understand I’m not used to sitting on the sidelines. I am the athlete. I am the one pushing myself to the edge, downing Gatorade and Gu, sweating through every layer of clothing, and most importantly getting the medal to prove it. But today it wasn’t my show.
Today was different.
I learned to be a spectator.
Ill be honest, there was a point on the drive up I was jealous, and trying to reason with myself as to why I wasn’t also an athlete today. However, the “what about me” attitude didn’t last long. As soon as I walked in, I was in awe, just plain old proud to be a part of such a display of athleticism. I greeted my crew and from the first event was like a proud Mom cheering on her kids at Senior Night.
So great, I embraced spectating, pulled out my pom poms and lost my voice cheering on my fellow CrossFit addicts. But what’s the real takeaway?
It has nothing to do with pom poms, that’s for sure.
It’s about leadership. Yes, LEADERship, not DICTATORship, or BOSSship, or Leader(it’s really about my success)ship.
On Friday, one of my fellow leaders had 3 of her 4 associates win 3 of the 4 departmental awards for this year. My team received nothing, hardly a shout out. WHY? Because she is purely a spectator, constantly cheering on her team, relishing in their success, always ready with Gatorade and Gu.
So maybe it is about pom poms… Ill be taking the ones I earned today to work with me on Monday.
Linchpin Katie 