Everything Happens For a Reason

Things happen for a reason. At the time those things seem like the worst things in the world, but down the road when you look back, you can find the positives. This is how the last few years have been for me.

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Since starting CrossFit in 2011, my goal was always to make regionals and I’ve put in a lot of daily work to finally made that a dream a reality in 2016. Then 2 weeks after the Open finished, I did something real “funky” to my knee in training. I knew that this wasn’t a niggle that would just go away, but I tried to manage it as best I could. I then received treatment twice a week,completely avoided using my legs completely and crossed my fingers that come regionals I would be okay.

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Regionals weekend rolled around and went by so fast! I wasn’t happy with the outcome but proud that I made it and considering my knee managed to get through the weekend. When I got home, I then got an MRI, went to see a surgeon and as it turned out I tore my meniscus and required surgery. In July 2016 I had surgery with a lot of ups and downs, but I finally resumed regular training on the 1st December 2016.

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Coming into the Open in 2017 I had no plan on trying to qualify. I only did the Open to set an example for my awesome members at CrossFit MSD but, I surprised myself and managed to qualify again. During the Open, my focus was my training long term and I didn’t skip a workout, I didn’t adjust my training at all, and I only repeated a couple of the workouts. So to qualify for a year I wasn’t actually trying to qualify was a big confidence boost that I really am a regionals athlete and didn’t fluke it the first year.

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Now, you wouldn’t believe this, but 2 weeks after the Open, I hurt my shoulder. You can imagine how pissed off I was, but I knew I could manage it if I stayed smart. Then all the workouts got released for regionals and every single WOD was shoulder heavy. This wasn’t going to be good! I actually had more fun this year at regionals though than the previous year. I just took it all in, talked more, had more laughs and #enjoyTheProcess. The weekend was a battle, getting work done on the shoulder multiple times per day and knowing that I was literally going at 70% all weekend long.

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The final day came around, warming up the event 5 which had 45 muscle ups in it, I knew that was going to be a challenge but I was ready to go. But,whilst warming up my 1st muscle up HURT A LOT! I did more warming up, came back again and it hurt even more! I got a bit emotional, talked to my best mate who was my coach for the weekend and we decided that I had to pull out so I don’t further injure myself. This was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I was gutted. A whole year felt like a waste.

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Now back to the main point on how everything happens for reasons. Had I not hurt my knee in 2016, I wouldn’t have come as far as I did with my upper body work and aerobic work which allowed me to get through 2017 with an injured shoulder. Without all the upper body work (pressing movements) in 2016 because of the injured knee then I would not have been able to work on my biggest weakness and go on to qualify in 2017. Then how was hurting myself again in 2017 a good thing? Well, It’s taught me that after the Open finishes, I don’t need to ‘get fit for regionals’ I was already fit. Just keep trusting the process, and you will be able to show everyone and yourself what you a truly capable of. It’s also now given me a fire in my belly that used to be there, but somehow got lost along the way.
All of these ‘bad things’ that happened, happened for a reason and have shaped me to become a better human and will become a better athlete from it all. The adversity will make my better. I will continue to enjoy the process, get myself back to being healthy and always know that everything happens for a reason. It may seem bad at the time, but there is always positive on the other side.

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Bring on 2018! I’ll be back, I’ll be better and I’ll be keen!

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Mason Doherty

TBC Ambassador

CrossFit MSD Owner & Athlete

2017 34th Fittest Man in the Pacific Region